The recent article on housing and the RCMP was focused obviously on the force requirements, but in reality housing availability and housing costs are a recruiting and retention encumbrance not only for the RCMP but for doctors, nurses and teachers.

The B次元官网网址渃ost of livingB次元官网网址� absent housing costs is a non-starter argument because the other costs of living are pretty much the same across the province. Housing is the core issue.

Personally, I think itB次元官网网址檚 time government B次元官网网址� and taxpayers B次元官网网址� accepted the fact that quality health care starts with having a doctor. Not some doctor who works part time in a clinic you have to access occasionally because you canB次元官网网址檛 get a doctor, but a doctor you see regularly with whom you have a rapport.

This costs money because a housing support system has to be funded to help new doctors get up and running, perhaps for 10 years post-graduation and five years post-relocation.

New doctors have huge debt. Maybe writing off that debt or part of it to enhance cash flow for new doctors will make housing costs a lesser proportion of their expense.

The insanity of continuous bitching but with no real creativity on how to approach the issue will see no changes.

Alex Currie

North Saanich