YOUR PERSPECTIVE: The Legislature is in session – Can the NDP answer for their inaction?

The first week of October brings with it not just the anticipation of Thanksgiving, but also the start of the fall sitting of the Legislature in Victoria. With so many critical issues facing British Columbians, and a long summer of inaction from the NDP, I look forward to being back in session questioning government on their record and ensuring they are accountable to British Columbians.

It’s been a difficult few months for B.C., dealing with a number of growing crises. On the top of everyone’s mind is certainly the health care crisis, which we have seen worsen across the province this summer. Whether it’s an ambulance, a family doctor or emergency medical care, cancer treatment, or a specialist appointment, the process of getting needed health care is becoming more difficult in B.C. Tragically, people are now losing their lives as a result of this crisis.

The B.C. Radiological Society is the latest group of health care workers to sound the alarm about the problems in our health care system. They recently wrote to Health Minister Adrian Dix to warn about a possible ‘tsunami of cancer cases’ that will overwhelm B.C. if government doesn’t address the delay in access to medical imaging. Despite the hard work of health care workers like radiologists, the stress on our system means that British Columbians are dealing with longer waits for diagnoses, specialist referrals, surgeries, treatments, cancer care and so much more.

People are rightfully frustrated with the state of health care and the repeated lack of action from government. This week, our BC Liberal Caucus called for MLA Adrian Dix to resign as health minister, as he has spent years making promises, but delivering no results for a system in desperate need of relief.