Minister non-committal on additional VJH beds

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star  Published: August 05, 2011 1:00 AM

Health Minister Michael de Jong insists resolving overcrowding at Vernon Jubilee Hospital is a priority but there’s no timeline for new beds.  The ministry continues to review options to reduce capacity, including possibly opening acute care beds in two shelled-in floors in the new tower. “The number one priority is that patients in Vernon and the surrounding area receive the highest quality care possible. We understand there are pressures,” de Jong told The Morning Star.  VJH is funded for 148 acute care beds but on average, there are 165 patients daily. As a result, patients are placed in hallways and surgeries have been cancelled. De Jong, who was in Vernon in April, says that besides acute care beds, there is also a need to look at long-term and residential care.  “I’m expecting a comprehensive list of options,” he said of the review being done by his staff. However, de Jong would not give a specific date as to when a decision may be made and he points out that there are other factors besides construction costs. “We have to find the money to staff the beds.” It’s estimated that it could cost about $10 million to complete each of the shelled-in floors and then $10 million each annually to operate the floors (with 30 beds each). De Jong is aware of the petitions and the recent public rally demanding the two floors be opened. “It’s exactly what you would expect from a community that has a history of being as connected as Vernon has been,” he said. “People care about their hospital.” De Jong also has praise for Vernon-Monashee MLA Eric Foster’s lobbying efforts. “He’s been tenacious on a daily basis,” said de Jong.
But while he admits there are challenges at VJH, de Jong points to the $180 million patient care tower. “It’s one of the largest capital investments in health care in the province,” he said. “People acknowledge the government has taken efforts to address the pressure.” In May, NDP leader Adrian Dix visited Vernon and blasted the Liberal government over VJH. “The issues haven’t been addressed for a long time because the Liberals take the Okanagan for granted,” said Dix. “How does it make sense to cut taxes for large corporations but you can’t fund basic services?” De Jong is quick to dismiss Dix’s comments.  “For Mr. Dix to suggest the government hasn’t been addressing the pressures within the financial pressures it faces is purely politicking,” he said.

Lumby care bed expansion begins

by Castanet Staff - Aug 4, 2011 / 5:00 pm

The building of 46 publicly funded residential care beds in the North Okanagan moved forward Thursday with the signing of a contract with inSite Housing, Hospitality & Health Services. “This is great news for the North Okanagan,” says Vernon-Monashee MLA Eric Foster.  “This is a brand new facility that will be built in Lumby adjacent to the Health Centre, making it a very convenient location.”  In response to Interior Health’s request for proposals for the design, construction and operation of the new beds, eight proposals were submitted. After careful evaluation, inSite emerged as the successful proponent. “Interior Health is pleased to once again be working with inSite,” said Norman Embree, IH Board Chair.  “We know that this new facility will provide the appropriate level of care in the best possible setting.” inSite operates senior’s independent, supportive, and assisted living communities throughout the province. Interior Health has partnered with inSite in the past to operate or mentor assisted and residential care villages in Sicamous, Revelstoke, Lake Country, Kelowna, Keremeos, Golden, Barriere, Ashcroft, and Grand Forks.  They were also recently announced as the successful proponent to build 71 new publicly-funded residential care beds in Salmon Arm.  “We enjoy a strong working relationship with Interior Health and we look forward to expanding this relationship to the community of Lumby,” says Carole Holmes, inSite’s Board Chair.  Work on the new facility is expected to begin in November with estimated completion in November 2012. The new facility will be built on two lots adjacent to Interior Health’s Lumby Health Centre on Norris Avenue. The 46 beds are part of 527 residential care beds announced by Interior Health last December. The new units are needed to meet the growing needs of an aging population.

Premier Responds To Hospital Group

Written by Peter McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM Wednesday, 27 July 2011 

Polson Tower Rally on Canada Day

The citizen's group pushing for more bed funding at Vernon's hospital, has received a response from BC's Premier. Peter Hill, organizer of a rally attended by 200 outside the Polson Tower on Canada Day, sent an email to Christy Clark a week after the event, and heard back from the Premier this week. "It wasn't just the normal generic stuff that you sometimes expect from some politicians, but actually she did say thank you and appreciated the contents of the email." Hill is upset at comments from Shuswap MLA George Abbott who told the Morning Star he's not convinced more acute care beds are needed at the hospital. Hill says, "It's a sad reflection (when he) does not respect those who are hands-on, namely our doctors, nurses and surgeons." Hill says the medical experts are the ones who have to work in the often overcrowded facility every day. Hill --who has been meeting with hospital staff and local politicians--says a BC government financial rep was recently at the site. "He actually did a tour of the hospital just this past week, so obviously something is in the wind." Vernon Monashee MLA Eric Foster told Kiss FM last week he continues to press for the funding to put beds in the two shelled in floors at the top of the new tower.  "I've got a path worn between the Solicitor General's office, Minister of Health's office and now talking to the Premier about it. We're just trying to figure out how were going to pay for it." The new beds and equipment would cost about 10 million dollars per floor, plus another ten million a year to staff it.

MLA on New Leader, Premier

Written by Peter McIntyre Sunday, 27 February 2011 21:36107.5 KISSFM

Liberal party members say the desire for a new style of leader was a key reason why Christy Clark won the leadership race. The former radio-talk-show-host and former deputy premier became BC's new premier with a third ballot victory, defeating Kevin Falcon 52 percent to 48.  Vernon Monashee MLA Eric Foster says Clark portrayed herself as an outsider to Gordon Campbell's government.  "I think that people in the party wanted to move away from, sort of, the last little while, and that was one of the reasons that might have swayed people to Christy. She offers a tremendous amount." Foster's two choices for leader were George Abbott and Falcon. He admits Abbott's third place showing was disappointing. "We got our people out. I thought we did well (but) I thought we would have more support than that, and when you work on a campaign that's not successful, there's a bit of disappointment, but in this business you have to get over that."  Foster (pictured) feels the Liberal caucus will support Clark even though just one backbench M-L-A supported her campaign. The incoming premier--who has been out of elected politics since 2004---says her top priority is to put families first. The new premier is the first woman to hold the job since now-Coldstream resident Rita Johnston in 1991.

MLA Recall Campaign Organized

  Peter McIntyre Tuesday, 26 October 2010 16:37 107.5 KISSFM

It looks like Vernon Monashee MLA Eric Foster will be part of a recall campaign, starting in the new year.  A group has been formed to organize the petition, expected to begin in January.  Spokesman Rod Baziw says they plan to hold signature collection events, similar to what was done with the anti-HST campaign.  There are 45,206 registered voters in the riding, and 40 percent, or 18,082 valid signatures, will have to be collected over a two month period.  Baziw says they need volunteer canvassers and people can get more details at a meeting Sunday Nov 7, 2:30 at the People Place, or at www.vernonrecall.com.

Legal fees anger MLA

Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: October 21, 2010 6:00 PM
Vernon-Monashee MLA Eric Foster expects the public will be upset paying the bill for two former bureaucrats who leaked confidential information.  The provincial government will cover the $6 million in legal fees Dave Basi and Bob Virk spent defending themselves over seven years. On Monday, they pled guilty to breach of trust and accepting a benefit related to the bid process for the sale of B.C. Rail.“I am not thrilled about this. I am not pleased they (Basi and Virk) put taxpayers in this position,” said Foster.  “We just wasted a bunch of money on a couple of criminals.”

As part of the plea bargain from Basi and Virk, the government stated it would not try and recover legal costs. Foster says he will approach government officials to understand the process better. “I’m not sure why the decision was made. They broke the law,” he said of the former ministerial assistants. “There has to be a rational reason as to why this is done.”  Attorney General Mike de Jong has indicated that Virk and Basi don’t have the ability to repay the $6 million.  Basi and Virk have been sentenced to two years less a day of house arrest. They are also facing 150 hours of community service.  Opposition parties are demanding an inquiry into the events leading up to the sale of B.C. Rail. De Jong has stated an inquiry isn’t needed, and Foster stands behind that decision.  “There would be another waste of money,” he said of an inquiry.  “These guys pled guilty and said no one else was involved.”  Foster doesn’t believe the recent court case is a reflection of problems within the government bureaucracy. “Most everyone in the public service are honourable people,” he said.

New impaired law takes force

September 18, 2010 12:00 PM Morning Star:

A local politician supports Canada’s toughest penalties for impaired driving and excessive speeding. Starting Monday, police across B.C. will have the option of imposing an immediate penalty on anyone who fails a roadside breath test. Instead of issuing a 24-hour suspension, police will have the option to impose a 90-day driving ban, a $500 fine and impound the vehicle for 30 days. “It’s an important piece of legislation, something the public, opposition and police have been looking for,” said Vernon-Monashee MLA Eric Foster. “Police in our area have bumped up their road checks and they are still getting a lot of impaired drivers. Hopefully, this new message will get out there.”

The fee for reinstating a suspended licence will be increased from $100 to $250, and drivers will also be billed $700 for towing and 30 days of vehicle impoundment. Failing a roadside test will also mean mandatory participation in B.C.’s “responsible driver program” at a cost of $1,420. The changes mean one failed roadside test could cost a driver $3,750 before driving again, and that is before any criminal code charges and suspensions that may also result.

A blood alcohol reading in the “warn” range between 0.05 and 0.08 per cent can result in a three-day driving ban, a $200 “administrative penalty” and another $250 fee to have a driver’s licence reinstated. Drivers may also have their car impounded for three days and be billed for towing and storage. A second test in the “warn” range within five years carries a seven-day suspension and possible vehicle impoundment, and penalties totaling $550.A third means the vehicle is impounded for 30 days, along with $650 in penalties and a mandatory responsible driver program and an alcohol-sensing ignition interlock for a year.

Foster, who spent eight years as an RCMP auxiliary in Lumby, said the number of accidents he attended with serious injuries and fatalities as a result of alcohol is staggering. “Hopefully, these new rules will help people get the message that we are not going to have drinking and driving on the highways anymore,” he said. Drivers caught exceeding the speed limit by 40 km/h, street racing, excessively tailgating, or doing reckless tricks such as motorcycle “wheelies” will also face increased penalties. Vehicles can be impounded for seven days after one offence, 30 days for a second offence within two years and 60 days for a third offence. That’s on top of the existing penalties for excessive speeding, including fines up to $483, three penalty points and a driver-risk premium of $320 a year on the next three years of car insurance.

Solicitor General Mike de Jong announced the changes to the Motor Vehicle Act this spring, responding to an increase in impaired driving cases reported by police.

Recall campaigns could put targets on the backs of these MLAs

Vaughn Palmer, Vancouver Sun June 11, 2010

Amid much speculation of recall, organizers of the campaign against the harmonized sales tax have yet to reach a consensus on which B.C. Liberals should be targeted for ouster from their seats in the legislature. No rush. The cap on recall won't be lifted until November. With the intervention of Christmas, the petitions probably won't begin circulating until the new year.From this distance, here's my estimation of the dozen or so best prospects, balancing several considerations. State of the voters list. Local enthusiasm for the initiative petition. Government margin of victory in the last election. The likelihood that organizers want to be active in most regions of the province. (read observations on the 12 candidates)

(excerpt) Vernon-Monashee. Liberal MLA Eric Foster was elected with just 37 per cent of the vote, the lowest share of any winning candidate in 2009. Despite that, the petition drive has lagged a bit behind other ridings in the Okanagan, suggesting the local organization might not be as strong as it could be.

NDP accusations have local MLA on the attack

Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: December 03, 2009 6:00 PM

Eric Foster is lashing out after the NDP accused him of “failing to stand up for his Vernon-Monashee constituents.” Foster is angry Nelson-Creston MLA Michelle Mungall has issued a press release challenging his activities since being elected in the spring. “I don’t know where Ms. Mungall gets her information,” he said. In her press release, Mungall takes aim at the harmonized sales tax. “When he was elected, Eric Foster said that Vernon-Monashee would have a voice in government, but instead of advocating on behalf of his community, Mr. Foster has sat quietly by while the B.C. Liberal government breaks promise after promise,” she said. “Despite running on a platform that promised not to bring in the HST, Mr. Foster has refused to justify why he is breaking his word to Vernon families.”

Foster says Mungall is off base when it comes to the tax. “To say I promised to never bring the HST in is wrong. The matter never came up during the election,” he said, adding that the government never initiated its policy until after the vote. Mungall goes on to accuse Foster of barely speaking in the Legislature during his first session. “I listened to what was going on instead of just beaking off,” said Foster. “It’s really easy for people to sit in opposition and criticize and not present options.” Mungall also raises the provincial government’s meat processing regulations and a recent NDP bill that calls for farm gate sales. “With as little as Mr. Foster has done for his constituents, I would hope he can at least come out in support of local food production when the legislature sits next,” she said.

Foster is quick to defend his actions. “I’m working my butt off to see if we can resolve this,” he said of local food processing concerns. Foster added that he hasn’t had a chance to take a stand on the NDP bill because it was just released. “To say I’m sitting silent on this, I didn’t hear from them until the last week of the Legislature sitting.”

MLA pressured to support bill

Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: November 28, 2009 12:00 PM

Vernon-Monashee’s MLA is being urged to break party ranks and support changes to meat processing regulations. The NDP have introduced a bill in the Legislature that would allow farmers to sell meat directly from their property to local customers. Currently, all meat must be processed through approved facilities. “I hope our MLA will look favourably upon this as an option,” said Buffy Baumbrough, a North Okanagan Regional District alternate director. “That (farm gate sales) is a solution put forward by the regional district and it’s a model that exists in other countries.”

Director Rick Fairbairn says the current rules are costly for small farmers to access processing, and both processors and producers have closed. “We need to allow agriculture to survive in the rural communities. They have stifled free-enterprise,” he said. Support from the bill is also coming from Wendy Aasen, with the North Okanagan Food Action Coalition. “Any effort to revisit this legislation and make it more flexible for small-scale and specialty producers is a step in the right direction,” she said. “I think what is needed is a more flexible inspection that facilitates on-farm processing and direct sales for non-retailed meat.” Aasen is encouraging people to contact local Liberal MLA Eric Foster and demand that he support the NDP bill. “In my personal opinion, even if the bill as it reads isn’t acceptable to the Liberals, perhaps they could provide one of their own,” she said.

Foster won’t speculate on whether he will back the bill. “I haven’t seen it yet. There could be a lot of things in it beyond farm gate sales,” he said. Foster also won’t say if he believes farm gate sales should be allowed in the province. “There needs to be some way to assure producers they can sell their product whether it’s through farm gate sales or another mechanism,” he said. Foster insists he is dedicated to finding solutions over the concerns about meat processing. “It’s the thing I’ve spent the most time on since I got here (Victoria). There are safety concerns about food but at the same time, there is a concern for small producers.”

The bill was introduced by Nicholas Simons, MLA for Powell River-Sunshine Coast. “Even as increasing numbers of British Columbians are looking for local food choices, the centuries-old tradition of the family farm is at risk,” he said in a press release. “I hope that MLAs from both sides of the House can come together to support local food and B.C. farmers by backing this bill.”

-------------

Morning Star Editorial: Foster must represent public

Vernon-Monashee MLA Eric Foster is correct for taking a cautious approach when it comes to a proposed bill regarding meat processing regulations. Obviously he has to read the document and consider its potential implications before saying yay or nay to it. After all, there may be parts of the bill that either don’t help farmers or consumers, or don’t put enough emphasis on public safety. However, we would hope that Foster will seriously consider the proposal and simply not ignore it because the bill is authored by a member of the NDP caucus. Because if that were to occur, it would just reinforce a public perception that MLAs are there to represent the interests of themselves and their party and not the residents of their constituency. Turning this into a partisan game would be unfortunate as meat processing has been an issue of considerable concern for the people of the North Okanagan.

And the reason it is so important is so many people are increasingly concerned about where their food comes from and the potential impact the traditional food system (trucking items for great distances) is having on the environment. The government’s changes in meat regulations have also made it extremely difficult for small processors and producers to operate, and that has had serious economic consequences in the region. Foster is encouraged to look at the content of the proposed bill so he can determine whether he supports it or not. But his final decision should be based on what’s good for his constituents and not because it may go against his own party.

NDP Issues Warning to Local MLA

Fri, 2009-08-21 08:37. Starlee Speers-Vernon 105.7 SUNFM:

NDP MLA Adrian Dix was in Vernon Thursday to rally against the proposed Harmonized Sales Tax. Dix says only eight Liberal MLA's need to vote against the HST in order for it to fail. He says Vernon Monashee MLA Eric Foster should listen to his constituents."It's particularly important here in Vernon because at MLA Eric Foster has the lowest percentage of the vote of any MLA in the Province. I don't think there's any chance he would have been elected had he told people he would be supporting the vote to bring in the HST." Only a handful of people turned out to the rally at the bottom of hospital hill, but Dix says a large portion of signatures on the petition are from Vernon.

Demands heat up for park closure

Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: August 08, 2009 12:00 PM

A lack of government action over wildfires has Coldstream residents seeing red.The Ministry of Forests has not closed Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park despite demands from municipal council and people living nearby.“I’m surprised it’s been taking this long for the government to make a decision. It’s a serious issue,” said Coun. Richard Enns.A formal request for the closure was sent to Forests Minister Pat Bell Thursday.The Friends of Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park has also been pushing for a temporary closure to minimize the potential of a wildfire occurring.“The frustration has been with the total lack of response,” said Ray Worley, society president.Not only is there a concern that a blaze could threaten adjacent neighbourhoods, but that it could destroy the park and its recreational values.“Close the park to save the park,” said Worley, adding that a similar risk led to the park being closed during 2003.The Ministry of Forests insists the request is being taken seriously.“We are analyzing the situation on a daily basis and are now giving notice that an order for an access closure may be required. We are also drafting an order for an access restriction so that we can move quickly should the decision be made to close the park,” said Lisa Barrett, with the public affairs bureau.

Barrett added that the ministry is consulting with B.C. Parks to consider a closure.“One of our recommendations to B.C. Parks is that they increase park ranger patrols and messaging to park visitors to inform them that there is a high fire risk and that they must be careful.“Weather conditions are predicted to cool down somewhat in the near future and this may reduce fire risk. However, if things do not cool down as expected, the order may be implemented.”

When contacted by The Morning Star, MLA Eric Foster indicated he is pursuing the matter.“If they feel it is necessary, they will shut it down,” he said of the ministry.Foster would not say whether he favours a temporary closure of Kal Park.“The ministry shuts down industrial operations when conditions are too dangerous so I’m sure they are looking at it,” he said.

----------------

Ministry has dropped the ball: Morning Star Editorial: August 08, 2009 12:00 PM

While the Ministry of Forests insists it is reviewing the wildfire risk in Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park, there is little sense that anything will actually be done.And a lack of confidence definitely arises when the ministry states that it is engaged in consultations with B.C. Parks and other key groups about a possible closure of the park. First off, who are these other key groups? Are they actually on the ground like Coldstream council or residents or are they stuck in some office in Victoria? And given the usual pace of consultations, snow could be on the ground before a decision is made on Kal Park.Forestry officials go on to say that the situation is being analyzed daily and a restriction order is being drafted so they can move quickly. But even if closure occurs tomorrow, it wasn’t quick enough. Given the extremely dry conditions and the popularity of the park, the threat for fire is immediate. An order should have been issued last week. The District of Coldstream and the residents all know there will be substantial public inconvenience if the park is closed, so the demands for such action don’t come lightly. One also has to wonder why this year is bring treated differently than 2003 when the park gates were locked? Ultimately, the Ministry of Forests has bungled this situation and shown that it is more geared towards putting out fires than preventing them from beginning. Hopefully closure of Kal Park comes soon or the risk of wildfire will continue to escalate.