All Boyle village council wants for Christmas is a hospital in decent repair.
Okay, so the done-by-Christmas timeline isn’t realistic. And there are probably a few other items on council’s wish list (an anhydrous ammonia tank that sprouts wings and flies outside of village borders of its own volition, perhaps?). But the aging floors, heating and plumbing systems at the Boyle Healthcare Centre have to be nearing the top of the list, and the sooner the hospital is renovated, the better.
While no one has said serious health hazards are present in the aging building, the village’s chief administrative officer has gone so far as to say that lifting tiles are more than an eyesore: they can harbour some pretty nasty stuff. And asking for improved heating and plumbing is a far cry from asking for new wallpaper: we’re beyond the realm of the cosmetic here. With that acknowledged, we have to ask: what else is wrong with the building?
Boyle village council would do well to take detailed stock of all the issues in the hospital as soon as possible. An explicit, specific case is a strong one when it comes to convincing the province to foot the bills for upgrades.
In the meantime, we can keep adding to the wish list: wouldn’t it be nice if one of those 99 Alberta Health Services executives donated a chunk of the $3 million paid out in bonuses last year to cover the renovations?
Now that’s an even lovelier dream than visions of sugar plums dancing through one’s head.
