By Greg Fry

Kamloops seniors facility in hands of Chinese government

Feb 23, 2018 | 3:32 PM

KAMLOOPS — Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo Conservative MP Cathy McLeod is sounding alarm bells after control of a number of seniors facilities in B.C., including one in Kamloops, was seized by the Chinese government.

The Chinese government seized control of Anbang Insurance Friday and its chairman has been prosecuted for economic crimes.

Ottawa approved the sale of Retirement Concepts, which owns Kamloops Seniors Village, to Anbang Insurance in March 2017.

The Conserative Party has been questioning the deal ever since.

“Certainly, I think it’s important for us to have a good business relationship with China but I think there is critical infrastructure or companies that really require more due diligence,” she says. “So, what’s happening is it took a lot of pressure for the government to even agree to do a security review of the Aecon takeover. They’re simply not doing their due diligence to see if any sales are in the best interests of Canada or are a concern.”

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(Earlier this month a billion dollar takeover of Canadian construction company by China was pushed back so the federal company could conduct a security review of the agreement.)

McLeod says it raises the question of whether we want our senior care facilities to be owned by a foreign country.

“And I’m not sure the answer to that is yes,” she says.