RE; Closure of Invermere Dialysis Unit

On January 21, East Kootenay News Online Weekly featured a story laying out three views of the Invermere Dialysis Unit closure. Invermere’s Mayor Gerry Taft and Columbia River-Revelstoke MLA Norm Macdonald both spoke out against the closure and vowed to work with government to make the case for the re-opening of the clinic. And because of their effort, Interior Health is now reconsidering the closure.

The third view presented in e-KNOW was that of B.C. Liberal candidate Doug Clovechok, who defended the closure unequivocally. Not only was he quoted in this paper, he also sent a 300 word letter to other area newspapers insisting that the government and Interior Health had made the right decision.

Last week, in a Columbia Valley newspaper, it was reported that IH has now agreed to a freeze on removing the dialysis equipment while the situation is being reviewed. We have the efforts of Mayor Taft, MLA Macdonald, and members of the Kootenay East Regional Health District board to thank for this. But when Mr. Clovechok was interviewed for this story he claimed that the decision to close the dialysis unit “didn’t sit well with him from the beginning.” Hard to believe, when he made such an effort to make it known publicly that he supported the closure!

Mr. Clovechok is asking the citizens of Columbia River – Revelstoke to support him in his bid to become our MLA. He wants to be our representative in Victoria! But when he had the opportunity to fight for an important life-saving service for Columbia Valley residents, he first chose to defend its removal. And now, when others who were doing their jobs representing their constituents have begun to achieve some success, it appears that Mr. Clovechok is trying to take some of the credit!

Mr. Clovechok, that’s simply not good enough. Why would the voters of this riding elect someone who is more interested in representing Victoria to us, rather than representing us in Victoria?

Bob Campsall,

Invermere

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