By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: August 08
MLA Tom Christensen is being pressured to launch a public discussion over the expansion of Vernon Jubilee Hospital. Jeet Dukhia and Vic Schrauwen, both engineers at VJH, are concerned about the new diagnostic and treatment tower being constructed through a private/public partnership. “He (Christensen) should have a forum to tell the public the government is building the hospital with P3 money and not the government’s money,” said Dukhia. “He’s our representative and he should address the concerns of the public.” Dukhia says it costs more for private companies to borrow money than government, so that drives expenditures up. He is also concerned that lease payments from the government will divert money away from health care. “They should ask the public whether we want it done by P3 or public,” he said, adding that B.C. has a budget surplus and that could help finance new health care facilities. Dukhia and Schrauwen are also concerned that the public will have little say in how the tower is run, and that services will be cut to meet the needs of shareholders.
The Interior Health Authority is currently in discussions with Infusion Health, an international consortium, to design, construct, finance and operate the tower. It could also include maintenance of the existing hospital. But Schrauwen is convinced this will lead to privatization of health care. “Once they have control of the hospital for 30 years, they will get into other things,” he said. Christensen is unwilling to have a public meeting on P3s. “I’ve met with them and they have expressed their concerns,” he said of Dukhia and Schrauwen. Christensen insists that public/private partnerships are an efficient way of providing facilities and they are common in B.C. “What I am interested in is ensuring a top quality project in a way that’s cost-effective for taxpayers,” he said. Christensen denies services are at risk through private/public partnerships. “It’s unfortunate that people who don’t like P3s point to some concept of inferiority. But when services are audited, they do as well as those done in-house. P3s have saved millions of dollars,” he said.
9 comments:
Would be interesting to hear Christensen's own opinion instead of the "quotes" approved only by
Gordon Campbell.
Christenson must go
He does not listen to his constituents
He is patronising to his constituents and he rarewly anwers letters
He has been asked by the Vernon and Districts Taxpayers'Association on several occasions to tell us who Infusion Health are
He really is a waste of time
He does not even respond!
He will get the message from the voters who pay his salary next election!
Does his lack response remind us of the typical runaround being offered by the Vernon Tax Payers Association.
It sems that the Vernon Tax Payers are learning well from our local politicians in not being Open and Transparent. But they sure can be defensive.
One too many plays
I love the Taxpayers Association
I think they are the coolest thing to hit our political scene in years!
They have a great spirit as an organisation and I love the Robin Hood analogy
They sure seem to tick off some of the boors on this board
In particular one who it seems hates "plays' and 'actors'
Small wonder then they betray such a tiny intellect
KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK VERNON TAXPAYERS
Thee is too much to be done yet to take back our City Hall from the bad guys
Robin Hood Forever!
Once again, A mythical cartoon character making representation for the Vernon Taxpayers..It still remains, the Vernon Taxpayers are not OPEN or TRANSPARENT. This is the same group professing our politicians must be OPEN and Transparent,and yet, they fail to provide us the taxpayers with their consitution or mandate.
Can you say.."The pot calling the kettle black".
The lack of Transparency and Openess will unfortunately hurt this group which in the beginning, had a well meaning intention
Speaking of tiny intellect
Just remember Mickey Mouse.."Practise what you preach"
'US the taxpayers'????
Who are you the Inspector general??
Wow the gall
These people are taxpayers who work together on issues they see as important
They are not beholden to you or anyone else for that matter
They participate in the public debates and let the voters decide becuae they care enough to get off their butts and take action for the common good unlike sideline bitches!
They do not have anything to "show"
They speak their minds and you do not have to support what they say
And yes they are right to insist that our politicians should be transparent and open
and not allow special interests deciding the course for our community
What is it that they hide according to you?
It sure seems to bother you
That must be because you are not accepted by these people or they do not accept your ideas or what you represent!
They do not tell anyone how to vote
No one asks you to identify yourself
No one gives a rip
Grow up and find something constructive to do with your life
The Taxpayers Association is the best thing to have happened in years
They are individuals who work together for their common good and anyone who wishes to participate constructively is welcome
You sound a disgruntled individual who if I had to guess is rejected by this group of
activists
Methinks you doth protest too much!
I suggest everyone ignore this obvious anti social character who has not had one constructive thing to say on this thread and others
You are on ignore
RH
A little sensitive to public scrutinity are we!!!...Mickey is mad..
Grow up and realize that the public also want answers not evasive and defensive comments..
The clock is ticking..bye bye Mickey!!! Act One..Take two
This taxpayers association certainly doesn't tell anybody who to vote for.
They sure spend a lot of time telling us who not to vote for.
Time to get off the pot and back some real live candidates and then we'll see who it is that is supposedly representing the taxpayers interests. Should be rather illuminating.
Elections, particularly where there is an opportunity to question candidates and find out where their values lie is the acid test for anybody seeking office. We'll see if these folks have some answers rather than criticism. Interesting that Councillor Beardsell also seems to follow this same MO.
Can you say meet the new boss, same as the old boss....
This is to the Pro and Anti Vernon Tax Payers Assocation authors..."GROW UP"...
At first the comments were amuzing and even somewhat interesting.
However, they are now caustic and condesending..Both parties must be more tolerant of each other's views without getting defensive or rude....If you have nothing constructive to say..PLEASE DON'T WRITE ANYTHING...PLEASE...
Let the matter of support be decided at the polls in November..
Post a Comment