As much as we decry with great regularity the impact of fractured governance in this region on taxpayers and residents, there is an occasional upside. The decision by Colwood council to move ahead to establish a full-service primary care clinic is one of these.
Council identified a critical community need – identified as such by 70% of residents – outside their jurisdiction and acted. With their decision, it's the second regional municipality to take direct action in what is by most measures an emergency situation. Sidney provided a loan to assist with establishing Shoreline Medical several years ago.
As the board of directors of Sidney’s Shoreline Medical are discovering, the easy part is behind them. Mayor Doug Kobayashi and the partners in this venture face bigger challenges to grow and operate the clinic than they overcame to establish it.
Ironically the role of municipalities in contracting doctors and nurses to deliver health-care services in rural Canada began in the 19th century. Medicare was supposed to end all of that. It apparently has not.
Kudos again to the Colwood council and the leadership of Mayor Kobayashi. The region could use more of the same on other issues.
John Treleaven, chair
Grumpy Taxpayer$ of Greater Victoria
