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Health clinic poster hoax leads Esquimalt residents astray amid doc shortage

Developer dismayed by false information in posters telling residents to email council
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Lexi Development Group is notifying the public about false information circulating on a flyer about its proposal in Esquimalt. (Courtesy of Lexi Development Group/Facebook)

A developer that currently has a proposal before the Township of Esquimalt is alerting the public about posters falsely claiming people can register for the companysa国际传媒檚 would-be health clinic in its new building.

Lexi Development Group took to social media on Feb. 24 to say it was dismayed by the false information being circulated and implored the public not to heed the flyersa国际传媒檚 instructions.

The posters, titled Family Doctor Clinic Opening Soon, call on people to register for the clinic by March 28 by contacting the townshipsa国际传媒檚 council email address, which is listed on the flyer.

The handout also tells people to put sa国际传媒淩egister me LEXI Health Clinicsa国际传媒 in their email subject lines, stating the clinic isnsa国际传媒檛 limited to Esquimalt residents and asks the public to share the information with their friends and family.

sa国际传媒淭here is a possibility that the perpetrator seeks to sow discord and compromise the integrity of Lexisa国际传媒檚 recent application with esteemed council members, potentially swaying outcomes in a negative direction,sa国际传媒 the development company said in a Facebook post.

Lexi currently has a rezoning application before Esquimalt and the townsa国际传媒檚 council on Monday (Feb. 26) was presented with the latest plans for a 12-storey, 82-unit building at 899 Esquimalt Rd. Those plans include an on-site medical clinic.

Council received around 140 emails over the weekend from people requesting to be added to the clinicsa国际传媒檚 patient list, Esquimalt Mayor Barb Desjardins said during Mondaysa国际传媒檚 meeting.

sa国际传媒淚 just cannot express to you the harm and the hurt this hoax has caused to our community,sa国际传媒 Desjardins said before Lexisa国际传媒檚 application was considered.

Those trying to be linked up with a family doctor must do so by registering through B.C.sa国际传媒檚 , the mayor added.

sa国际传媒淭he need for a family doctor is, in our community, very real,sa国际传媒 she said.

This hoax comes as the has reached a crisis point, according to experts and Greater Victoria residents.

The community of Colwood has been without local family doctors since its only walk-in clinic closed in 2022, leaving 21,000 people scrambling. Only recently it was announced that the town would get a re-opened primary care clinic.

Current data indicate one in five British Columbians and 100,000 Greater Victoria residents lack a family doctor. Signs decrying the situation can be found on lawns all over the region. The issue has prompted rallies on the lawn of the BC legislature.

The developer said the poster appears to try to manipulate public perception and it intended to alert law enforcement about it.

sa国际传媒淲e extend our sincere apologies for any inconvenience caused by this situation. It is important to note that Lexi Development Group bears no responsibility for these actions,sa国际传媒 the developersa国际传媒檚 Facebook post said.

The proposal receiving first, second and third readings was defeated due to a tie vote by council.

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About the Author: Jake Romphf

In early 2021, I made the move from the Great Lakes to Greater Victoria with the aim of experiencing more of the country I report on.
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