I Told You So! House Incentive Idea Ignored Here

To The Editor;

A year ago I wrote to then Mayor Randy McLean, with copies to RDOS Director Brad Hope and MLA Harry Lali, proposing that Princeton and District could likely solve the Doctor recruitment issue by purchasing three nice houses and offering them to Doctors in exchange for their services.  The first three doctors who applied and were accepted would be able to move into the houses free of charge, and taxes paid.  For each year they provided service in the area, they would receive a 10% interest in the house, so that after 10 years they would own it, free and clear.  If the houses were $500,000 each, the cost to Princeton and Area H would be $1.5 M plus interest, one quarter of the cost being proposed for the Aquatic Centre at the time.  Based on the same calculations, The cost per household would only be about $32.40 per year over 20 years - one quarter the cost of the proposed Pool. 

 
This proposal was not even considered worth discussing by the politicians of the day, their glib answer was that financial incentives to attract Doctors would not work.  Fast forward one year.  All over the TV this evening was the exciting news that the town of Nakusp (pop. 5000) had bought a house for $280,000 and was providing it rent free for the first year and at reduced rent the second year and by doing so had attracted a Doctor to sign a two year contract.  All he has to pay the first year is the utilities.  RENT FREE was enough to attract him - not the prospect of OWNING a home after 10 years.  YUP!.... bad idea - no merit in it at all.... You can't attract Doctors by offering a monetary incentive..... 

I say to the local politicians - Princeton Council and RDOS Area H - I TOLD YOU SO !!!

Bob Sterne,
Coalmont, B.C.