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| Last updated at 2:02 AM on 08/10/09 |
Getting back his privacy 
CORNER BROOK
The Western Star
Paul Oram apparently couldn’t take the heat. The controversial minister of Health left politics Wednesday, because he says his health is suffering and there was too much pressure on his family.
What did Oram expect when he accepted the portfolio when it was offered by Premier Danny Williams only about three months ago?
All Oram had to do was ask the man he replaced what the job entailed.
Ross Wiseman was under immense scrutiny nearly every day of his tenure — trying to explain some unacceptable actions of those under him.
The Department of Health is like no other in government, and Oram should have known what he was taking on.
The people in this province are willing to let go some shortcoming of the politicians they put in charge ... but they aren’t willing to see their health-care system eroded because of money, incompetence or political convenience.
Those who work in the field of health care deal with life and death issues every hour of the day, every day, and they should have at their disposal everything they need to perform their jobs to the best of their ability.
And that costs money ... lots of money ... but taxpayers could care less about cutting costs where their health system is concerned.
When they, a family member or a neighbour need medical care, they want the best care they can get.
Oram never seemed to grasp that reality. Maybe he wore blinders because of his successful business background.
As a private citizen and business owner he can now run things any way he feels is best — something that eluded him in politics.
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08/10/09
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Gregg from NL writes: This is good news. Paul Oram was in the process of tearing down an already eroded Health system and in Newfoundland, that is one huge step backwards. Maybe Premier Williams can find someone competent this time, and one who is not so eager to destroy the poor health system we already have.
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| Posted 08/10/2009 at 7:47 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Jack from Gillams, Newfoundland and Labrador writes: In many ways, I'm glad that Paul Oram left due to the considerable harm he was causing to rural Newfoundland and Labrador clinics with the removal of X-Ray and Blood Collection/Analysis service in Flower's Cove and Lewisporte.
Maybe if he wasn't pro-Avalon and didn't hurt Newfoundland and Labrador's rural roots, which is what built this province, he wouldn't have taken the negative criticism.
Dr. Phil McGraw had an old saying you choose the behaviour, you choose the consequences , and when Mr. Oram wanted to get rid of essential rural clinics in favour of major centres like St. Anthony, Grand Falls-Windsor, or Gander, the consequence was severely jeopardizing the province's health care system and putting individual lives in danger in having to travel over 100 KM's just to get x-rays or blood analysis.
The only solution to the Health Care crisis in this province is have a Government minister who has expertise in the Health Care or Medicine fields. In other words, Paul Oram or Jerome Kennedy would not qualify.
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| Posted 08/10/2009 at 7:56 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Chris from NL writes: Heaven forbid we try and make health care sustainable.
I mean who cares if we have to borrow 10,000,000 today, spend it this year and pay it back over 20 years. We can just keep doing that over and over, and hell, why not just increase our borrowing to cover off the interest and pay THAT back over 20 years.
I mean long-term borrowing for current operations is sound fiscal policy.
OR,
We take it on the chin for now, get the government to invest a bit more in business to increase it's tax base and start paying for operations out of current year revenues.
It's not rocket science people, you can only spend what you make.
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| Posted 08/10/2009 at 8:08 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Chris from NL writes: Heaven forbid we try and make health care sustainable.
I mean who cares if we have to borrow 10,000,000 today, spend it this year and pay it back over 20 years. We can just keep doing that over and over, and hell, why not just increase our borrowing to cover off the interest and pay THAT back over 20 years.
I mean long-term borrowing for current operations is sound fiscal policy.
OR,
We take it on the chin for now, get the government to invest a bit more in business to increase it's tax base and start paying for operations out of current year revenues.
It's not rocket science people, you can only spend what you make.
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| Posted 08/10/2009 at 8:08 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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me2u from NL writes: Well, I suppose that alot could be said about Paul Oram but let's face it, he wasn't the person for the job to begin with and now, he supports that notion with his resignation.
If Danny continues to micro-manage his cabinet, this will only continue to happen. Danny proudly said yesterday how there are four lawyers in the cabinet. Now, there is the biggest error. You hire a lawyer, you don't let them govern.
By the way, I am glad that Oram didn't make six years as he is now not entitled to a big, lucrative government pension. I wish that one of these politicians would stop putting the blame on their health, their family, the media etc etc., and give the real reason they are resigning!
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| Posted 08/10/2009 at 8:39 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Ted from NL writes: Before we thank our lucky stars for Oram's departure, we should consider his successor. Danny's let his biggest dog out of the cage for this one and Jerome the Junkyard Dog is no easy pup to deal with. We saw that with the nurses though we did see some flexibility in the end. I fear the physicians looking for their new contract and the rural people of the province could be in trouble now. Ruff Ruff!!!
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| Posted 08/10/2009 at 9:20 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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me2u from NL writes: You got that right Ted! I agree with you 100%!
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| Posted 08/10/2009 at 9:33 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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MoonBuggy from NL writes: Isn't the eligibility for a pension still 2 elections and 5 years served? If so, cha-ching for Paul.
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| Posted 08/10/2009 at 9:39 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Frank Blackwood from Richmond Hill, Ontario writes: I think many people are overlooking the real concerns that we have for MLA Paul Oram, and many other politicians. They enter into politics because they had this vision when they were attending elementary school, I want to be a politician or doctor when I graduate from high school. They leave school and go on their own discovery trail, seeking as to what is better for themselves. They either follow through with their dream goals or enter into something else. They are what we call people who want to help people and they become community leaders. When they present themselves as a political hopeful,their credentials are based on what they have done for their community and expertise. They have a clean slate of respect and admired and appreciated by most everyone. The community folks even hate to see them move away from their roots to challenge a new adventure.
I have seen many well respected community leader's names become Mud once they enter into politics. All of a sudden they are no longer the pride and joy of the community. Well, I do feel sorry for Paul Oram as he took on a role that was a real mess and the talk of worldwide media because of the boggled cancer testing. Mr. Oram was perhaps expecting to have better leadership and support from his boss, in permitting him to use his own insight and common sense
into doing something about the esclating health care problems around the province. However, this was not the case and Mr. Oram got blamed for everything despite he said Premier Williams was once a good mentor.
Premier Danny Williams has been standing on thin ice for a long time and Minister Paul Oram is the scapegoat of the premier's very poor, arrogant, iron fisted leadership. The Premier is sinking slowly as more cracks develop in the tin ice beneath him, and he will still make the life of many more politicians very stressful as he continues to take away from the people what they have enjoyed for many years,eg. good health care services with the professional people to see that it is well implemented well to get back the trust and care the people deserve.
The premier is scaring everyone away from Newfoundland and Labrador with his dream that oil will be the magical cure of all our financial problems, even though the oil is still bubbling beneath the surface. Maybe someday, but it's today,not the future that we are so concerned about when we have such a mess challenging us now.
Let's not be so harsh on our well respected community leaders who walk away from the present day horrors of politics and poor leadership within government, to protect their own health and peace of mind. We would all do the same as Mr. Oram when the rapid pulse beats and high blood pressure signals that the stressful, risky, road ahead will decide between life and death.
Frank Blackwood
Newfoundland Writer
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| Posted 08/10/2009 at 3:32 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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