Delta South’s five provincial election hopefuls saved their best performances for last in the final all- candidates forum held today at Tsawwassen United Church.
Liberal Ian Paton, New Democrat Bruce Reid, independent Nicholas Wong, the Green’s Larry Colero and B.C. Action Party candidate Errol Sherley participated in what turned out to be a lively event, organized by Friends of Delta Hospital, with some back-and-forth among them.
The forum began with an introduction by Dr. Robert Shaw, head of the medical staff association at Delta Hospital, who noted doctors at the facility don’t like the limelight but reluctantly had to step forward a couple of years ago when the surgical program was in danger. Saying things are much better now, he thanked the community members who advocated for the hospital and others, including outgoing independent MLA Vicki Huntington who was in attendance at Saturday’s event.
During their introductions, Paton once again reminded the audience of his family’s long connection with the hospital, adding it’s not only an acute care hospital but a community facility that’s been saved.
Reid spoke of the importance to set up urgent family care centres manned by physician assistants and nurse practitioners who could ease the load off emergency wards. He also said his government would establish a ministry of mental health and addictions. Colero noted it was the Liberal government that continued to increase MSP premiums and funnel those dollars into general revenue, while Sherley said the hospital continues to need a strong voice.
Wong, going over the cutbacks by the Liberal government going back to 2001, said he’d fight to ensure Delta has a 120 bed hospital with the same services other communities receive.
“I’ll fight for a hospital based on what we deserve and our population,” he said, receiving a boisterous applause.
Asked what they would do to deal with the “tsunami of seniors” in the health care system, Wong spoke of the need to provide more alternate care options, while Sherley said accessibility is the number one issue, one that can be alleviated with more walk-in clinics. Colero talked about his party’s extensive plan for an integrated approach, while Reid, who noted he’s at the front of the tsunami, talked about having more family health care centres and providing care that enables more seniors to stay at home.
Paton said it’s important to have a strong voice for the community, adding Delta “will have a fantastic announcement later this summer” regarding a new residential care facility that will replace the current one at the hospital, bringing more beds.
In addition to hospital and healthcare issues, the candidates answered questions on a wide variety of topics ranging from transit, tolls, education as well as international human organ harvesting.
Asked for their take on agri-tourism and other business opportunities now available for farmers, Paton noted it’s important to save farmers, not just farmland, and that farmers are looking outside the box. Saying saving the ALR is important, Reid said the premier seems only focused on money, while Colero warned of the government opening up farmland for industrial uses.
Sherley noted the ALR needs to be locked, but is steadily shrinking in South Delta.
“You can’t eat money, I’m sorry,” he quipped.
Wong agreed eco-tourism and agri tourism are viable industries.
All the candidates spoke about their opposition to the proposed Terminal 2 expansion at Roberts Bank with Paton noting farmland that’s now covered up with gravel at the TFN should be used for any future industrial expansion in South Delta.
A few individual questions were posed near the end of the forum including one query to Paton whether he’d retain his council seat if he won. He responded that he’d have to talk to the mayor but, in order to do an effective job, he’d probably have to step down, prompting a municipal by-election.
The election takes place May 9.
