MLA report
June 20, 2009 by Norm Macdonald
Filed under BC government, Columbia Valley, Golden, Golden-Revelstoke, Kimberley, Kimberley-Cranbrook, Local news
Norm Macdonald MLA, Columbia River - Revelstoke, campaigning for May 2009 election (Photo by Bram Rossman)
On June 11th, the CEO for the Interior Health Authority admitted that IHA is currently experiencing a budget shortfall of $20 million, and that this budget crisis will continue into subsequent years. What does this mean for healthcare in this area? Without an increase in funding, there will have to be further cuts to clinical services and that is going to cause hardship for some.
The Campbell Liberals have shown by their continued underfunding of our health care system that they do not believe, as most of us do, that we have a responsibility as a society to provide quality, accessible and publicly-funded health services to all British Columbians.
Many would also say that the appointment of Kevin Falcon, a strong supporter of Premier Campbell’s privatization agenda, to the position of Minister of Health Services is another clear signal that there will be an even more dramatic decline in health care services.
Over the next nine months, IHA will be cutting $20 million in spending in health services across interior British Columbia. In this community, we have fought to retain every health service that we have, and I am concerned that there will be further losses unless we continue to fight.
Rural British Columbians deserve access to a reasonable level of health services within their own communities. For example, our children should be born close to home. Our seniors should be able live either in their own homes, or in quality facilities, near to family and friends. And we should have access to palliative care so that our last days can be spent where we lived.
All of these services cost money. It is tempting to view these costs simply in terms of dollars and cents, and to move towards the centralization of services. But the provision of comprehensive health services in small communities provides a quality of life to rural residents that makes it possible for us to live here throughout our lives.
It will be up to each one of us to fight for the retention of health services. When a lack of funding effects the level of service provided to you or your family, you need to speak out. You can reach me by calling 1 (866) 870-4188 or by emailing Norm.Macdonald.MLA@leg.bc.ca.
Norm Macdonald MLA
Columbia River – Revelstoke
www.NormMacdonald.ca
Well Mr Macdonald, you say “many” would say that the appointment of Mr Falcon will lead to a more dramatic decline in health care services. Who are the “many” you refer to and how do they know?
You are an MLA so you should have some inside info that the rest of us don’t have access to, so let us know please. Just what health care services are going to decline under Mr Falcon’s stewardship.
Mr Falcon has been there for a few days so what has dramatically declined so far?
Strange how Norm MacDonald does not admit or realize that funding for the health care system and for housing the homeless in BC has increased dramatically over the last number of years ( 8?).
Yes, in the first years of the BC Liberals, they cut spending substantially, but by that time, the previous NDP gang had put BC into the tank for 9 years straight.!!!! Not one balanced budget. The NDP did, the Liberals didn’t.
Remember how the BC Liberals have gone out and purchased over 12 different hotels in Vancouver, Victoria, and Kamloops, fixed them up and then turned them over to non profit organizations to run.
Norm doesn’t and the NDP didn’t.
Or – how the BC Liberals have, through a triple P operation brought in the first new hospital in the Fraser Valley and the entire province long after the NDP promised and promised and spent and spent and spent ( $70M ) and accomplished nothing but empty pocket books. By the way, that new hospital? also includes a new cancer clinic completely under budget and earlier than scheduled.
Norm doesn’t and the NDP didn’t.
Amazing how quick Mr. MacDonald is to criticize but so slow to do some thing concrete other than talk for the Columbia Valley area. Still only talking and talking. Not doing as usual.