More than Felix's political life at risk!

Felix Collins needs to take some real responsibility for Route 90. From Riverhead on through St. Vincent's the main road is vicious. That is not an exaggeration and frankly probably not strong enough.

Ambulances, school buses, delivery vehicles, commercial traffic and residents are risking their lives driving this Route.

These are not pot-holes they are death traps and those who have to regularly drive this route are taking a real risk each and every time.

What's worse is the deterioration is now at a daily level so that familiarity of the Route does not matter.

Ambulance drivers who serve the many communities Riverhead, St. Mary's, Gaskiers - Point La Haye, Mall Bay, St. Vincent's and Peter's River - are taking on much more risk than should ever be necessary while trying to save lives.

Felix Collins must be locked in the Cabinet as clearly he is ignoring the infrastructure disaster in his district. He must be a Cabinet knob as he certainly does not appear to have the power to get things done.

I invite the all local media to pop out to Route 90 - only an hour out of the capital city and judge for yourselves. This is well worth the drive - but don't let the tremendous scenic beauty take your eyes of the road - I mean the actually metre by metre in front of you.

While the plentiful moose are still active - there is no way to watch for them without being killed by the road.

So Felix - is this what Tory prosperity looks like? Is this what the oil money has brought?

You have 20 kilometres in your Cabinet endowed district that needs a road.

Knock knock - who's there - Felix - Felix who? Felix the cat locked in the Cabinet. The residents don't need a meow - they need a roar - and they need it now.

The story in the Telegram should be a real wake-up call for the Minister - and good on Barb Sweet for reporting on the situation. This blog is just an exclamation point for Minister Collins before somebody dies. Driving the road to review the state of your kingdom will not cut it.Where do you live?

Here's a sample:

This is when it's frozen - imagine when it thaws - every week or so

the Telegram, Pharmacy, Robbery, Government

The Telegram - today's edition deals with the continued violent crimes affecting Newfoundland and Labrador Independent Pharmacies. Barb Sweet interviews an owner and hears first hand the suffering local pharmacies are experiencing due to Government cuts.

One statement in the story reads as follows:

Among the changes announced in the 2013 provincial budget to the Newfoundland and Labrador Prescription Drug Program (NLPDP) was one that forces pharmacies to sell generic drugs at 25 per cent of the cost of brand name or patented drugs at the end of a four-year period.  

This is a factual error the cuts to 25% of brand have already occurred. There have been 5 cuts in one year. There was no time to absorb the cuts or try to find ways to remain viable.

The government ignored the Dr. Locke report on pharmacy and ignored the numerous attempts by local pharmacy organized under the Council of Independent Pharmacy Owners to meet with officials, Ministers and the Premier. This has gone on for 5 years.

The robberies are horrific and this essential community service is under constant threat.

Owners and employees have no idea what to expect anymore - other than more of the same.

The government's insistence not to recognize the CICPO means a majority of independent owners continue to be ignored as government tries to do its bidding with an association which represents all pharmacists - not pharmacies.

At a time when the population is aging and governments are looking for ways to save - the local pharmacy is one of the few options available to it. Their attitude toward the CICPO and its members has been nothing more than disrespectful.

When all failed and CICPO members became involved in the last election campaign - the government got worse. They punished.

Make no mistake - Kathy Dunderdale and Susan Sullivan are making it very tough for independent pharmacies to survive - and apparently they don't really give a damn.