Image Credit: Flickr / Province of B.C.

By Doug Collins

One Man's Opinion

COLLINS: New measures for health don’t cut it

Dec 9, 2022 | 4:40 AM

THE NDP GOVERNMENT HAS A NEW LOOK, a much younger look, filled with a diverse group of people full of energy. Time will determine what they can accomplish. Based on the number of band-aids used to date, it probably won’t be much.

With staffing levels at hospitals and the number of police officers so low, all the announcements the government’s making are hollow promises so far.

And they won’t change until the method of delivering health care and police service changes. Interior Health alone is filling the air with ads for qualified workers. Other health authorities are doing the same.

But the major problem, which exists everywhere, isn’t being addressed. And the problem is simply that there aren’t enough new people coming into the system to effect change.

One new program to bring new people on board won’t be ready to start taking students for another five years. Fast-tracking internationally trained doctors will help a bit, but the numbers won’t make much difference to the overall shortage.

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And when we do get more people on board, who is going to want to go to Dawson Creek or Port Hardy or Lillooet, when they can be in the Lower Mainland, where the need is just as bad?

Finding incentives for doctors and nurses to come to Kamloops is only a stop-gap measure.

Even with a $5-billion surplus, the government doesn’t have enough to solve this one problem, let alone affordable housing, shelters for the homeless, climate change disasters in the making, and so much more.

As we get closer and closer to an election in 2024, we have to keep a close eye on promises made by all parties. I don’t think there will be many promises by anyone that don’t smack of political smugness and rhetoric, with no hope of any of them coming to fruition.

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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.