Province not listening to local concerns, say city councillors

By Vernon Daily Courier staff http://www.dailycourier.ca/
City council asked him a series of pointed questions, but the answers from MLA Tom Christensen were anything but concrete. City officials released the answers at Monday’s council meeting and Coun. Barry Beardsell was not impressed with the provincial Liberal MLA, saying Christensen’s answers were “platitudes” that did not resolve any of the issues council has had concerns about for years. “I have to recognize a MLA can’t just bow down to council, but I would like to see something. We don’t seem to be getting anywhere,” said the three-term councillor.

Coun. Pat Cochrane was less critical of Christensen, but he agreed there are some issues that still need to be addressed. “I feel he is working on our behalf, but there are some things we need to push a little harder on,” said Cochrane. The lake foreshore issue has been ongoing and both Cochrane and Beardsell feel it is not being adequately addressed. Cochrane said for years the city has had concerns about the sale of filled in foreshore and access to the lake. “We just feel the concerns of the city are not being listened to,” he said.

The stretch of Highway 97 between Oyama and Winfield is another area of concern not only for Vernon, but other Okanagan municipalities. The stretch of road has been the site of several fatal accidents and was blocked numerous times due to these and other fender benders. Again, Beardsell was not impressed with the non-committal response. Christensen said the “Ministry of Transportation is preparing a business case to document the costs, benefits and justification of improvements to this section of Highway 97.” Christensen went on to say the “federal government has not yet informed our government what the criteria will be for potential cost sharing programs.” Beardsell said he interprets that to mean the provincial government has no plans to upgrade the highway without the feds helping to pay for the work. Cochrane said he was “personally surprised” the issue has not been addressed. “It certainly needs to be one of the top transportation priorities in the province,” said Cochrane.

Funding to Vernon Jubilee Hospital is also a concern for Beardsell. “To the best of my knowledge the Interior Health Authority doesn’t even have a documented budget for the next five years,” said Beardsell. Christensen was asked about future funding for the hospital and while he replied the “2007 budget confirmed funding will be available to move forward with significant improvements to Vernon Jubilee Hospital” no dollar amounts or timelines were provided. Cochrane said he felt Christensen gave a “pretty firm commitment on the hospital.”

Beardsell said there is a long list of issues he plans on continuing to pressure the MLA over. “I have to look at myself in the mirror so I have to keep on it,” he said. “Either he’s going to represent us, or he’s not.” Christensen was away Wednesday and could not be reached for comment.