Premier Clark has Vernon Jubilee Hospital in mind

By Jennifer Smith - Vernon Morning Star Published: February 26, 2012 1:00 AM
The fate of Vernon Jubilee Hospital’s two shelled-in floors could be revealed as soon as next month. Premier Christy Clark told The Morning Star that the local hospital situation is on her government’s radar and an announcement could be made in a month.  “It’s something that we are considering,” said Clark, after opening the B.C. Winter Games in town Thursday and speaking to B.C. Liberals at Sparkling Hill Friday. “We are still working through all our capital spending plans so we should have an announcement on that one way or another pretty soon.” While few hints were given as to what that announcement could be, Clark credits Vernon-Monashee MLA Eric Foster for ensuring that Victoria is well aware and does not forget about the constant overcrowding at Vernon Jubilee, and therefore the need to open up more acute care beds. “You have a really effective MLA,” said Clark, whose budget was ironically released the same day that VJH hit the 193 in-patient mark, one more than the old record of 192. “Eric is a very passionate and persuasive man so we certainly know how important this issue is to the people of Vernon.” But the premier also pointed out that the budget, which is controlling spending at two per cent, is called the most conservative in all of Canada for a reason. “I think these economic times really demand a careful and prudent government,” she said, adding that not everyone will get what they want.

That includes teachers. Back to work legislation is being prepared for teachers who have been on a limited job action since the start of the year, still teaching but refusing administration duties such as report cards. The B.C. Teacher’s Federation calls it a bullying tactic, and is calling for a day of action Monday, which is not expected to affect students. But considering what the teacher’s demands for a 15 per cent wage increase and benefits over three years would cost said Clark, it’s all about the bottom line. “The only way to get that is to go to the taxpayers and ask for more money and I am not going to go to taxpayers to raise their taxes in order to give raises to government workers, not in these tough economic times.” While she values the work that government employees and teachers do, Clark says raises cannot be justified. Her goal is to look after taxpayers’ dollars, and the soft economy is once again a factor considered with all spending. Although the economy is still fragile, Clark says B.C. is doing much better than most, particularly more so than countries like Europe and the U.S. “Around the world we see Europe, the United States going through these awful economic times and there aren’t many places in North America that investors can come and know their money is safe. “Well British Columbia is one of those places because spending is controlled, because taxes are low. We don’t want to upset that.” In fact, Clark is working on promoting B.C. further, and that includes Vernon. “There are huge tourist opportunities here in the Okanagan obviously, everybody here is so good at it – Predator Ridge, Sparkling Hill, all the things that go on around the lakes, the wineries, Silver Star. There’s so much to sell.”  Clark was so impressed while at Sparkling Hill Thursday that she invited the general manager on a trade mission to Japan and Korea. But what really impressed the premier during her nearly 24-hour visit, was Greater Vernon’s volunteer spirit at the Games. “Unbelievable, unbelievable. Just incredible community spirit here, I was so proud.”