Strathcona "Hospital"?

The residents of Strathcona County are fed up.  They are being vocal now, loudly expressing their disappointment and frustrations to the Provincial Government of Alberta. They might be hearing us, but they are not listening.

At the last Strathcona County Council meeting I asked Marianne Stewart, vice-president for Alberta Health Services' Edmonton zone, why the government is insisting on calling an emergency and walk-in Care Centre a Hospital? She replied that Alberta Health Services "preferred" using the name "Community Health Centre" but they were  politically directed to use the term "Hospital".  She was even quoted by The News' Catherine Griwkowsky,  and re-quoted by Jodie Sinnema in the Edmonton Journal saying:
"I think there was some discussion at the political level to make sure it was called a hospital. That came from our government...Quite frankly, this was a political decision."

I later asked her when Phase two would be announced and how many beds would we be getting for the hospital, when we actually get a hospital. Shockingly, she replied that they had  no set date and no written plans in regards to the number of beds.
The government committed to a hospital when Ralph Klein was Premier. We still do not have a hospital.  In 3 years - 2013, is when we are getting Phase I.  Let me reword this, 2013 is the date Phase I is planned to open. When will we be getting our "real" hospital with beds?  Health Minister Zwozdesky  did not know but he had this to say to the Edmonton Journal:

"It's not a delay. It's a phased-in approach to meet the community's needs. There's lots of things happening in the health system in different parts of the capital region and this is one of the most important ones, that's for sure, and that's why we kept moving on it as quick as we could."

What is wrong with his comment?

1- Not a delay? Is that why the government said that due to the economy construction would be delayed?

2- A phased-in approach to meet the community's needs? Well, not according to the studies released about Strathcona County's needs.  They said that residents and the surrounding Capital Region needed a hospital immediatly.  And those studies were done four years ago!

3- They "kept moving on it as quick as" they could? When did Ralph Klein commit to a hospital?

With all due respect Minister Zwozdesky, Strathcona County residents have a good memory. They are not naive and can clearly read through your rhetoric. 

As for publicly stating that Strathcona County public officials and election canditates are only speaking out because it is an election year, well you are mistaken. 

I have been working diligently for 23 years to get this hospital.  I celebrated with all residents when the Premier committed to building a hospital in Strathcona County. 

The residents have expressed their frustrations, they feel let down.  I not only hear them, I am listening to them. I am encouraging our three MLAs: Iris Evans, Dave Quest and Ed Stelmach, to be a voice for their constituants. And I shall support them in this challenge. They have championed this cause in the past.

Elections or no elections, I WILL continue to fight and lobby in the name of all Strathcona County residents for a REAL Hospital until we get one!

Sherwood Park gets non-hospital by Jodie Sinnema - The Edmonton Journal
Politics at fault for ‘hospital’ moniker: AHS by Catherine Griwkowsky Sherwood Park News