This afternoon I am out and about with my little band of volunteers.  

There are four of us.

We are in Alexander Road and the streets off it.

It is a beautiful day. Blue sky and warm.

Polished to Perfection

My stump speech is now polished to perfection. I now need only a few seconds to launch into it.

Behind the first door I knock on is an elderly man with a Scottish accent. I think to myself, no problem.

Before I can properly introduce myself he growls that York Region employs too many people and slams the door in my face. I am left bemused: What about the Police? What about our water supply? What about… 

He is gone.

Three men in a garage

Now I am talking to three men in a garage. They get me talking about Liz Truss. And Brexit. And what’s happening in Britain. I tell them I could talk for an hour on these issues but we are getting off-point. They say I can put a lawn sign up.

Now I am talking to a woman about health and social care. She works in that field. I tell her that health care and social assistance is one of the biggest employers in Newmarket. I want it to stay that way.

I mention Southlake and (in my view) the crazy idea of splitting Southlake into two. Ambulatory care at the Davis Drive site and acute care on a new site outside Newmarket, possibly up to 10km away. 

We are being told a split site solution is the way forward when, in reality, it will give rise to as many problems as it will resolve.

Months ago, I asked Southlake to see the minutes of the meetings that brought forward this recommendation. I was told my Freedom of Information request would cost me hundreds of dollars and I was given no timeline on when I would get the answers.

Kindred spirits

Now I am invited in to a house where two women quiz me on my environmental credentials.

The living room has a wonderful array of huge leafy plants.

I tell them we are kindred spirits.

And we talk about all sorts of things. How do we save the planet?

I am in no rush.

Gordon Prentice 21 October 2022

Note: The 2019 employment survey from York Region is the latest one available.