Well over five hundred people turning out for the rally in support of keeping the operating room open at the Charlotte County Hospital — becoming one of the largest rallies in New Brunswick in the past five years.
John Gardner, co-chair of the local group The Concerned Citizens of Charlotte County, says “this was truly grass roots at its finest, sending a message that the people have a voice, and want to be heard.” He says the rally was one of the biggest in the province since the opposition of selling NB Power.
The surgical program in St. Stephen is set to close next month on August 8th.
Gardner says there were many politicians in attendance, including St. Stephen Mayor Allan McEachern, and MLA’s from other districts. However, Gardner says he is disappointed our own MLA for our region of Charlotte-Campobello, John Ames, was not there. Gardner says Fundy-The Isles-Saint John West MLA Rick Doucet was also not in attendance, but he did send a reply saying he would be unable to come to the rally.
Gardner says the people want MLA John Ames to know he represents Charlotte County to government, and not the other way around.
He tells us the group has given the provincial government a deadline of Friday night to respond positively to the rally, meaning to at least postpone the closure of the operating room at CCH, or they will “turn up the heat.”
Gardner says Premier Brian Gallant will be in St. Stephen on Monday for New Brunswick Day celebrations, and if nothing is done for the Charlotte County Hospital by that time, the group will ask residents to clearly tell the Premier and other electives exactly how they feel about the closure while he is in town.
(Photo credit to John Gardner – Pictured above is co-chair Trudy Higgins speaking to the crowd)
