Image Credit: Flickr / Province of B.C.

By Kamloops-North Thompson MLA Peter Milobar

Sound Off

SOUND OFF: As crises continue to mount, where are your tax dollars going?

Sep 29, 2022 | 3:23 PM

THE FALL SITTING OF THE LEGISLATURE gets underway next week and the BC NDP government will have much to answer for after a summer of inaction.

Far too many British Columbians continue to struggle to access health care. Whether it’s an ambulance, a family doctor or emergency medical treatment that they’re seeking, the process is still far from easy.

This week, the NDP finally released their long overdue human health resources strategy, which fails to provide the short-term relief needed to address our worsening healthcare crisis. The document is basically a collection of value statements and actions to be developed, rather than a plan with clear metrics and timelines. It’s not very reassuring to British Columbians and, in particular, to the healthcare workers who are burned out and desperately seeking swift action from this government.

The latest group to sound the alarm is the B.C. Radiological Society, which wrote to Health Minister Adrian Dix to warn about a possible ‘tsunami of cancer cases’ coming our way if a delay in medical imaging isn’t addressed by the government. These delays are leading to longer waits for diagnoses, specialist referrals, surgeries, treatments, cancer care and more.

Prior to that, dozens of specialist doctors wrote to Dix, noting one million patients are facing delays to see them — getting sicker and weaker as they wait months or even years for this type of care. It’s unconscionable to expect these patients to simply live with the pain and uncertainty for that long.

Rogers Pass

Rogers Pass highway closure extends into third day

8h ago

Highway 1 Closure

UPDATE: Highway 1 west of Kamloops reopens following downed power lines

9h ago

Chase Beach Clean-up

Chase Environmental Action Society organizing beach clean up

12h ago

People are rightfully frustrated with the state of health care in our province, and those who are among the one in five British Columbians without a family doctor — or the 4 in 10 here in Kamloops — will gather on the legislature lawn on October 22^nd to remind the NDP that everyone deserves one.

Meanwhile, communities continue to deal with increasingly violent incidents on our streets as repeat offenders continue their crime sprees with virtually no consequences. Last week, the government released some of the results of its ‘creative solution’ to these crimes — a delayed report — which completely missed the mark and basically excused the behaviour of people who harm innocent victims. After more than five years of David Eby and the NDP’s catch-and-release approach, there is no reason to believe this government is capable of taking the action needed to improve public safety.

The lack of action is particularly frustrating when you consider this NDP government is taxing us $12 billion more this year, with no results to show for it. People are struggling with inflation and rising costs at the gas pump, grocery store and more. If they’re going to have to cough up more tax dollars on top of that, those funds better be put to good use addressing our health care and public safety crises, among other important priorities.

Disappointingly, when the C.D. Howe Institute recently assessed governments’ fiscal transparency, the BC NDP’s results were less than impressive — receiving a failing “D” grade and a warning that more work is required to clarify how B.C. tax dollars are being spent.

You can bet our official opposition team will use the fall session to press the government to do its job and ensure British Columbians can actually see their tax dollars at work — through better health care, safer streets, and more supports for those who desperately need them.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or Pattison Media.