B.C. parties express support for new patient tower at Nanaimo hospital
All three major B.C. political parties have expressed support for building a new patient tower at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital, which has long been requested by health-care advocates and doctors.
“Every human being north of the Malahat needs to get better patient care and building a new patient tower will do that,” said Nanaimo and District Hospital Foundation CEO Barney Ellis-Perry.
The foundation and Fair Care Alliance say a 600-bed patient care tower is desperately needed to meet the growing population and one with the country’s oldest demographic. The current tower was built in 1962 with space for 346 beds.
“On any given day we have over 400 patients in the tower. That means they’re in hallways. Some of them are in what used to be closets,” said Ellis-Perry.
BC NDP Leader David Eby made a surprise announcement pledging the party’s commitment to it at a town hall event in Nanaimo Sept. 26.
“If we earn the trust of British Columbians in this election, and we’re returned to government, we’re going to build that new patient care tower at Nanaimo hospital and make sure the people of Nanaimo are looked after,” he said to a cheering crowd.
The following day, B.C.’s Conservative leader and the Nanaimo-Gabriola Island Green candidate said their parties were in support of seeing the project through as well – and took aim at the NDP for not having committed to the work sooner.
“This government has ignored everything north of the Malahat for too long,” said Conservative Leader John Rustad. “I’ve talked to the health-care professionals that are there. So the new facility that needs to go in Nanaimo will certainly go ahead under a Conservative government.”
Green candidate Shirley Lambrecht called the investment “long overdue.”
“Frankly, I think the announcement last night was basically damage control,” said Lambrecht. “We have a catchment area of almost 500,000 people up here who are being underserved by the health-care system and it’s about time. I think the province really needs to get its priorities straight.”
The chair of the Fair Care Alliance is keen to see a plan and details on how the parties would address a second request for a catheterization lab.
“We currently are the largest population in Canada that live below the standard of care for cardiac care – and what that means is 90 minutes from PCI or heart attack to a cath lab and that is just really not possible with the transportation modes that we have here,” said Donna Hais.
At the time of the interview, the Alliance and Hospital Foundation were aware of the NDP’s announcement. The groups had also received signed pledges by the riding’s candidates from a recent rally that they would work with elected officials to see the two projects through.
“We’re pleased that they’re listening to the community and the outreach from the community saying this is definitely a priority and this is what we need,” said Hais.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian former Olympic snowboarder wanted in Ontario double homicide: DOJ
A Canadian former Olympic snowboarder who is suspected of being the leader of a transnational drug trafficking group that operated in four countries is wanted for allegedly orchestrating the murder of an 'innocent' couple in Ontario in 2023, authorities say.
Ontario school board trustees under fire for $100K religious art purchase on Italy trip
Trustees with an Ontario school board are responding to criticism over a $45,000 trip to Italy, where they purchased more than $100,000 worth of religious statues.
A photographer snorkelled for hours to take this picture
Shane Gross, a Canadian marine conservation photojournalist, has won the title of Wildlife Photographer of the Year.
Tobacco giants would pay out $32.5 billion to provinces, smokers in proposed deal
Three tobacco giants are proposing to pay close to $25 billion to provinces and territories and more than $4 billion to some 100,000 Quebec smokers and their loved ones as part of a corporate restructuring process triggered by a long-running legal battle.
More Trudeau cabinet ministers not running for re-election, sources say shuffle expected soon
Federal cabinet ministers Filomena Tassi, Carla Qualtrough and Dan Vandal announced Thursday they will not run for re-election. Senior government sources tell CTV News at least one other, Marie-Claude Bibeau, doesn't plan to run again, setting the stage for Justin Trudeau to shuffle his cabinet in the coming weeks.
Robert Pickton's handwritten book seized after his death in hopes of uncovering new evidence
A handwritten book was seized from B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton's prison cell following his death earlier this year, raising hopes of uncovering new evidence in a series of unprosecuted murders.
Former members of One Direction say they're 'completely devastated' by Liam Payne's death
The former members of English boy band One Direction reacted publicly to the sudden death of their bandmate, Liam Payne, for the first time on Thursday, saying in a joint statement that they're 'completely devastated.'
Israel says it has killed top Hamas leader Yayha Sinwar in Gaza
Israeli forces in Gaza killed top Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, a chief architect of last year's attack on Israel that sparked the war, the military said Thursday. Troops appeared to have run across him unknowingly in a battle, only to discover afterwards that a body in the rubble was Israel's most wanted man.
Indian government employee charged in foiled murder-for-hire plot in New York City
The U.S. Justice Department announced criminal charges Thursday against an Indian government employee in connection with a foiled plot to kill a Sikh separatist leader living in New York City.