If it Walks Like a Duck
The Old Man in the Hat
Recent provincial decisions to restructure health care delivery at Hotel Dieu Hospital have been predictable and demoralizing. Simultaneously raising people up with the relocation funds, and dashing them down with a loss of health services. Carrot and stick. Part, I am convinced, of an anti-rural master plan long in the making and pursued relentlessly by civil serpents in Fredericton irrespective of the red or blue party of power.
If only the province could be so single minded in pursuing debt reduction at all levels of provincial administration, but I digress. Recently reported comments by the Hotel Dieu Hospital Defense Committee question missing federal money for reconstruction. Clearly the POWERS THAT BE have other priorities. I am comforted that federal money has graciously dropped on the Moncton City Zoo.
ACOA, that wise dispenser of taxpayer money has bestowed its blessing on select felines to the tune of 300K. Perhaps there is a message in this that we can use to our advantage. Given that an empty portion of the hospital is no longer habitable by humans, we could utilize the empty space for our avian friends. I smell a grant application in the making. Let’s see… a test flock of ducks to monitor the local development of “bird flu”, requiring of course, new facilities for brooding (aka Maternity ward) .
An aqueDUCK could be easily constructed to allow easy access to the river during non- flood periods. The collection of excess eggs could be disposed of profitably at the local farmers market providing both a revenue source and fulfillment of the current Federal adoration of “market” solutions for inconvenient problems. And if the once in a century flood occurs yet again in the spring, no worries mate. Your investment is safe- ducks float. Please send the cheque ASAP.
