Read Letter - EDUCATION CUTS

By Evelyn Skura
Written Jun. 02, 2011
A letter written to Mr. Thomas Lukaszuk, Edmonton-Castle Downs

I am writing you in frustration regarding cuts once again to our teaching staff and support staff. It is very difficult to support a government that continues to undermine our most important public service, that being education and health care. For the last 10 years or so, it seems that we continually have to fight the same fight. This is outright mismanagement by the government. We see this as no different than running a household or a business. And it appears that through the constant bungling of government, such as constant reorganizing and massive buyouts of health board members, not to mention the "Cookie Fiasco of Stephen Duckett", for whom his reform attempt, of I believe 1.5 yrs, he was given somewhere near 3/4 million dollars? If you can't balance the books, you are failing the grade. Prior to Duckett's fiasco, Ron Liepert, the minister with an attitude past and present, dismantled the nine health regions, and again, massive payouts. Attempted closure of The Alberta Mental Health hospital is another example, and prior to that Ralph Klien's hospital closures and demolitions left Albertans with helplessness and bitterness. And now, minister Gene Zwozdesky, is attempting to right some wrongs, a day late and millions of dollars short, from launching of the Syphilis campaign, which his predecessor R. Liepert cancelled, to re-establishing Health Regions and attempting to improve Emergency Room assistance, and the lame Inquiry into previous intimidation of doctors which is a smoke screen and again wasted mega money for political posturing. As for education, it's the same bungling. The government requested a five year contract with the education system, but this year seems to be saying, oops, we miscalculated our budget, and because we have since lost billions of dollars with Mismanaged Generosity of Oil and Gas Royalty cuts, we seem to be short of funds. We have no problems paying our fair share of taxes as required for public services. If indeed we must pay more, so be it. However when the multi million dollar Oil and Gas companies profit, on the backs of teachers, nurses, doctors, students and the general Albertans, it appears that something is definitely wrong with the Drivers of the Bus or the Authors of the Book. We just want to see the Government be open and up front, which no longer happens, and if they can't manage what they were elected to do, then it's time for us, the voting public, to try something else. My husband and I have voted Conservative, but that will not continue, as we are very disappointed with government mismanagement and arrogance.

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