Simons named to shadow cabinet
New Democratic Party leader Adrian Dix has named Powell River-Sunshine Coast MLA Nicholas Simons as the shadow cabinet’s Community Living BC (CLBC) critic and deputy social development and housing critic.
Simons said he is pleased with the appointment and believes it is high time that CLBC be held more accountable.
“It reflects the importance of the sector, of the individuals and families and caregivers,” said Simons. “It’s a complex area, there’s a lot of advocacy required and I think there needs to be some oversight on what the government’s actions have been. They’ve done things that have been, quite frankly, bad practice.”
As CLBC critic, Simons plans to ensure the Liberal government doesn’t make public policy decisions without consulting the public and those who use the services, or have family members who use the services, provided by CLBC. He plans to act as a voice for those who rely on the services of CLBC and do not want to see them cut as a result of budget issues.
“When these decisions can be made without consultation with the people closest to them, I think you’ve got a problem,” said Simons, “and you’ve got a government that’s getting away with balancing their budget issues on the backs of the most vulnerable.”
In legislature on Wednesday, April 27, Simons asked the minister of social development, Harry Bloy, if he was aware of the $22 million in cuts to CLBC that have resulted in cut services and closed group homes for citizens with developmental disabilities. Simons said the standard response is that there have been no cuts, but to him closed group homes, growing waiting lists and a stagnant budget equal cuts.
Simons hopes that the NDP, as official opposition, will be able to show people in the current legislative session that there is a better way of managing the province and demonstrate to British Columbians that they have what it takes to lead.
Hospital beds for sale
Old bed frames were lined up outside Powell River General Hospital recently after a shipment of new ones arrived from Vancouver Coastal Health for the hospital, Evergreen Extended Care Unit and Olive Devaud Residence. The new beds are an improvement over the old and a welcome addition to the facilities, said Acute Service manager Lu Wuthrich.
The community has the opportunity to buy the used beds from Powell River Hospital Foundation for $85 including mattress on Thursday, May 12 starting at 10 am at the old Shoppers Drug Mart location in Town Centre Mall. The beds that will be sold are from Olive Devaud and are not the beds that have been left outside.
A number of beds have been donated to local organizations such as Powell River Association for Community Living. Any beds that are not sold will be either donated overseas to countries in need or, if their condition is poor, will be recycled for scrap metal.
