May 20, it was Hampden. Provincial Municipal Affairs Minister Kevin O’Brien was in town, MHA Darryl Kelly in tow, to hand over the keys of a new $220,000 fire truck. May 26, it was Wabana, the same minister and another Tory MHA, and the keys were for a $232,000 pumper.
June 6, Buchans, and another pair of politicians. Another fire truck. June 10? Harcourt-Gin Cove-Monroe-Waterville. Same day? A $198,000 rescue truck for Trinity Bay North.
June 13? A new rescue truck for Marystown, O’Brien and another Tory, and another press release trumpeting the province’s funding of fire equipment. There have been 20 such press releases this year alone.
Here’s a sample of the Marystown release, quoting fisheries minister and area MHA Clyde Jackman.
“The Marystown Fire Department has a strong and proud history of delivering top-quality volunteer service to their neighbours and friends, all with the support of their municipality,” said Minister Jackman. “I take great pride in being part of a government that not only recognizes the contributions of our volunteer firefighters, but also assists in providing the tools they need to do their job effectively.”
Great pride in being part of a government?
Hopefully, Jackman isn’t taking the same kind of pride in taking part in the annual “we’re giving you a fire truck” political dog-and-pony show. Sure, this is a provincial election year, and sure, we’re going to hear plenty about any political announcement that can be trotted out to squeeze in a few more votes.
But not on the backs of this province’s firefighters, the vast majority of whom are volunteers sacrificing their own time doing dangerous work.
Just look at the issue pragmatically for a moment. At great personal risk, volunteer firefighters are not only protecting the lives and property of their neighbours and friends — they are also saving the provincial government millions upon millions of dollars.
Fire service is a basic responsibility of government, and every time a volunteer shoulders a part of that responsibility for free, the municipal and provincial governments save money.
Millions upon millions upon millions of dollars of money — cast against that the fact that the province’s funding for fire equipment is just $3.9 million this year.
By comparison, Kevin O’Brien’s office alone — including travel to hand over the keys to new fire trucks — will cost taxpayers $305,000 this year.
Long before politicians seek praise for the relatively small contribution of money towards necessary equipment, they should be grateful for the hard work and dedication of volunteers, and should be working even harder to free up the money fire departments need to replace seriously outdated equipment.
It’s hard to believe that politicians want praise for providing the sort of equipment that constitutes basic fire protection in North America.
They should be ashamed of turning a necessary service into a self-serving political football — and ashamed of making firefighters say “thank you” for basic tools.
Provide the necessary equipment, thank your lucky stars there are people out there willing to risk their lives, and get the heck off the podium.
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
John Smith...Get your name on the government gift list, you just might get a fire truck in your stocking next Christmas. Tell us more about that High School newspaper. Sounds like you have a persecution complex.