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Why were we left out, says Sandspit

Sandspit representatives want to know why their community has been left out of a new medical transportation service for the islands.Northern Health and Eagle Transit started the new service Feb. 1. It provides a bus connection to every ferry and daily service between Graham Island communities. Patients who need to travel for medical appointments pay a low fare thanks to a subsidy from Northern Health, but the service is also available to members of the public.At last week's Moresby Island Management Committee meeting (Feb. 20), representatives said they were shocked to see Sandspit has been left out, and voted to convey their concerns to Northern Health."We've been totally excluded in this," said Warren Foster. "We need to officially complain that they have excluded us. We need to make a formal issue of this."Some members thought the oversight might be easily corrected once brought to Northern Health's attention, as Eagle Transit provides an airport shuttle service to and from Sandspit every day. Northern Health spokesperson Sonya Kruger said the person in charge of the medical transportation program wasn't available this week, but did say the new service on the Charlottes has been going well so far, with passengers on almost every run.