Dear editor,
Numerous citizens are fast losing faith in our elected officials in Saskatchewan. Various citizens in the southwestern part of the province have taken the time and energy to write the premier and the minister of health concerning the problems with the Cypress Health Region. These citizens, many of them seniors, wrote in good faith to their elected officials and most have not had any response, especially from the minister of health.
For the majority of people writing their elected officials is not an easy task and not one undertaken lightly. I would presume our elected officials would be prompt in their response to their citizens, but alas this does not seem to be the case. A number of people have been waiting over three weeks for any response and the minority that did receive a reply from the premier were extremely disappointed. The response was not well considered and proceeded to blame things on the previous government. This might have been the case when they took office and for the first year, but now they own the problems and should do something to fix them. The responses are nothing more than political platitudes and rhetoric, reminiscent of a party in opposition not a government with concrete plans or solutions. As a governing party, they can only attribute problems on the past government for a maximum of 18 months; after two years, it is for sure their problem.
Moreover, it is astounding the lack of obvious interest shown by these elected officials, to the concerns of the citizens of the Southwest. They have a duty and obligation to respond to these concerns. Maybe they expect the problems will go away if they ignore them, or perhaps they really do not care about rural citizens. I surely hope it is not the later but as one continues to hear nothing from the minister of health and only platitudes from the premier it looks as if they do not care.
Do they not remember we pay their high salaries and for their wonderful perks? They work for us not the other way around! Perchance these same ignored citizens will disregard these politicians at the ballot box.

Alan S. Howard
Eastend, Sask.