Mcneil talks healthcare, environment, forestry
There is no quick fix for healthcare problems such as a shortage of primary care, Premier Stephen Mcneil said Wednesday.
While he agrees that the province must do more to hire and retain more family doctors, given the number of Nova Scotians without one, “I say this respectfully, that there is no one perfect solution to that primary care (challenge),” Mcneil said during a meeting with the editorial board of The Chronicle Herald.
“I would argue that it became a focus at one point that there was only one way to do this, there was only one way to deliver primary care and that’s not the case.”
Mcneil emphasized the need to build on the collaborative care model, which uses a multi-disciplinary team including doctors, nurse practitioners, nutritionists and other health-care providers.
“There also has to be a level of understanding among healthcare professionals that we need to let everyone practise to their full scope. Everyone, whether it’s the family practice nurse, whether it’s the pharmacist, who has a role in how we deliver care,” Mcneil said, referring to the existing role of pharmacists providing flu shots and their future role in curbing over-medication, particularly for seniors.
In the wide-ranging, hour-long discussion, the premier was also asked about the province’s handling of the Boat Harbour cleanup in Pictou County. The harbour has been polluted by decades of effluents from the nearby pulp mill, now owned by Northern Pulp, and one plan is to pipe the effluent away from the harbour.
Local fishermen are worried this could affect the lobster grounds offshore.
The premier reiterated that the province plans to meet legislative obligations to have Boat Harbour cleaned up by 2020 and the pipeline plan is being considered as part of the “science-based” approach to a solution.
“We’re committed to doing it, we’re going to clean it up but it was never our intent — nor will it be — to move it and pollute somewhere’s else, and to affect what is the backbone of much of our rural communities, which is the fisheries,” he said. “So how do we best address that and what is the right solution? We haven’t come to that yet.”
In answering other questions on the environment, Mcneil said he intended to implement the recommendations in a forestry review expected in February. The province has hired Bill Lahey, the president of the University of Kings College, to conduct an independent review of forest prac- tices such as clearcutting and the use of pesticides.
“I asked him to do this work because I need a path forward so his report will be accepted. Without seeing it, it’s hard to (say for certain) but my intention is to implement the recommendations he puts forward.”
Also Tuesday, in a year-end interview with The Canadian Press, Mcneil confirmed he wants to stick around for a third term.
Mcneil said he believes he has work to do beyond his second term, which only began May 30 when the Liberals won their second consecutive majority government.
“I have every intention to be seeking a third mandate,” said Mcneil. “I’m very proud of what we have been doing.”