We really need the benefits of being part of Canada. We lag far behind all
of Canada and the U.S. in some pretty basic services. I'm talking about the
things that everyone needs for a decent life-hospitals, schools, doctors,
dentists, running water, proper sewage treatment, a healthy diet. We're not
being fair to ourselves or our children when we say no to Canada, when we
say we don't need better access to hospitals, when we say we don't need
more doctors and better education.
We have the highest rates of tuberculosis in the Western world. And so many
needless infant deaths, so many underfed, unhealthy children and adults.
Some of our small hospitals have to completely shut down for a few months
when the money runs out to pay the people to work there. That's just no good.
And it's no good that too many Newfoundlanders don't have proper food and
inoculation to prevent diseases or the medical care to treat them.
It's time to put an end to this. Confederation will do just that. It will get
us the modern health care and education we all deserve. If our "Newfoundland
Heritage" means poverty and disease, it's not much of a heritage. I choose
Canada. Canada will provide the money to get us the services we need.
