http://www.vernonmorningstar.com/
Regional politicians are demanding the provincial government start taking local health concerns seriously. The North
Okanagan-Columbia-Shuswap Regional Hospital District unanimously approved a provisional budget Thursday that would direct $100 million towards upgrades at hospitals in Vernon and Salmon Arm. "The reason we did this is to show the province we're serious," said Eric Foster, Lumby director. The hospital district would cover 40 per cent of the expenditures through property taxes, but the government must come up with 60 per cent for the work to proceed. "We want to send a message to the provincial government that we want to see these things move forward," said Rhona Martin, hospital district chairman. For Vernon Jubilee Hospital, the project is a new diagnostic and treatment tower on the Alexander wing site. It could cost about $54 million to construct. The district's decision came after presentations from Vernon physicians and the Interior Health Authority. "We're well aware of how the doctors are feeling about the conditions there and IHA was very frank," said Martin. Peter du Toit, VJH administrator, welcomed the district's actions."They're an important partner for us in terms of planning for the future," he said. While IHA must still present a business case to the Ministry of Health, du Toit is hopeful the IHA's support will force a commitment from Victoria. "This is good news for us. It means another part for the project is there," he said. In Salmon Arm, Shuswap Lake General Hospital hopes to move ahead with extensive renovations. Foster, who made the motion at the meeting, admits the projects will impact local taxpayers, but he believes there's no choice. "We've been going on for years about the hospitals. You're either in or you're out. If you want improvements, you have to step up to the plate." Martin cautions that Thursday's decision was just a provisional budget and a final document must still be approved. "Things could change but the directors understand the situation," she said.
Regional politicians are demanding the provincial government start taking local health concerns seriously. The North
Okanagan-Columbia-Shuswap Regional Hospital District unanimously approved a provisional budget Thursday that would direct $100 million towards upgrades at hospitals in Vernon and Salmon Arm. "The reason we did this is to show the province we're serious," said Eric Foster, Lumby director. The hospital district would cover 40 per cent of the expenditures through property taxes, but the government must come up with 60 per cent for the work to proceed. "We want to send a message to the provincial government that we want to see these things move forward," said Rhona Martin, hospital district chairman. For Vernon Jubilee Hospital, the project is a new diagnostic and treatment tower on the Alexander wing site. It could cost about $54 million to construct. The district's decision came after presentations from Vernon physicians and the Interior Health Authority. "We're well aware of how the doctors are feeling about the conditions there and IHA was very frank," said Martin. Peter du Toit, VJH administrator, welcomed the district's actions."They're an important partner for us in terms of planning for the future," he said. While IHA must still present a business case to the Ministry of Health, du Toit is hopeful the IHA's support will force a commitment from Victoria. "This is good news for us. It means another part for the project is there," he said. In Salmon Arm, Shuswap Lake General Hospital hopes to move ahead with extensive renovations. Foster, who made the motion at the meeting, admits the projects will impact local taxpayers, but he believes there's no choice. "We've been going on for years about the hospitals. You're either in or you're out. If you want improvements, you have to step up to the plate." Martin cautions that Thursday's decision was just a provisional budget and a final document must still be approved. "Things could change but the directors understand the situation," she said. $$$$$$$$$$$$$
Don Quixote Note:MY OPEN E-Mail sent to Min. of Finance, Min. of Health and Tom Christensen 10/31. No answer yet !
Could you please confirm that as a property tax holder in Vernon I have the distinct pleasure of helping the province to pay for hospital capital equipment costs (at a 40% rate I believe) through my property taxes and I can look forward to helping to pay for the hospitals in the larger lower mainland cities through my Provincial Income taxes? Is this what we in the HEARTLAND refer to as another Sunshine Tax?
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