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speakup

This week is an opportunity to look back and look ahead. This is my 26th column for This Week and what better time to review what has happened and what lies ahead than in my anniversary column.

One story that involves both looking back and looking ahead, I first mentioned in my second This Week column.

I wrote about the importance of St. Pat's Family Centre in providing important day care and after school activities, exercise facilities for adults and training many of the life guards that look over us and our children throughout Metro Moncton and beyond.

Two weeks ago, Moncton East MLA Chris Collins and I announced a Regional Development Corporation grant of up to $200,000 for renovations to the exterior of the St. Pat's building. Chris and I are working hard to get even more than that for the interior.

Also announced recently was money for the expansion of Mapleton Road to ease traffic congestion in that area, and Chris was very pleased to announce funding for much needed renovations at Moncton High School. We will be seeing a lot of this work beginning in the coming months.

My work of the last 18 months as Minister of Health has culminated in the changes to the administration of the system and a new provincial health plan.

So, what lies ahead? While there is still some work to do in the Health file, the work will not be as heavy as what has already been done.

Strangely enough, with the blessing of the Premier, I was able to do more to fix health care in this province in 18 months than the previous government did in their seven years.

Also, I cannot understand where the previous government thought up the idea that closing beds and closing hospitals was the way to fix health care.

They must have been getting their advice from accountants rather than the people on the street.

I look forward to continuing to hear from you about what you think is working, what you think isn't working, and what you think we missed.

People of Moncton may have noticed my face on the electronic sign on Mapleton Road and on some bus shelters and even mailouts have been sent to various neighbourhoods.

Included with my face is contact information. My e-mail address is right there along with the number to the riding office.

I want to hear from people in my riding if you require any help. I also want to hear from all New Brunswickers if you have any comments about how health care is administered in New Brunswick. That's what I'm here for.

I am often criticized by the Opposition for taking instruction from the people I meet and talk to at Tim Horton's.

This is criticism that I wear like a badge of honour, and they will simply have to continue criticizing me because you'll likely see more and more of me at Tim Horton's in the coming months and years.

My fellow MLAs on both sides of the Legislature would do well to follow my lead.

There is no better way to engage people and this is how many of the changes in health care began and how I will take direction in the future.

* Mike Murphy is the Provincial Health Minister and MLA for Moncton-North.

His column appears bi-weekly in Moncton This Week.

If you would like to reach him, stop by his office on Mountain Road or phone 869-6115.