HARRISON – NDP’s criticism of Lake’s fill-in doctor plan is hypocritical
NDP cut beds at RIH and broke its promise on Interior cancer center.
WOULD WE ever accuse the BC New Democrats of hypocrisy?
Only if the shoe fits.
Health Critic Judy D’Arcy dismissed measures announced by Health Minister Terry Lake Thursday aimed at giving more people access to primary care, and helping to relieve the ongoing shortage of family doctors. She dismisses the announcement as little more than a convenient photo op ahead of next year’s election, even though Lake has already announced he won’t be running.
This model promises to increase the number of doctors in walk in clinics, greater use of nurse practitioners and other medical professionals, and a renewed emphasis on doctor recruitment. D’Arcy claims it’s an approach the NDP has long been promoting.
That’s easy to say. At some point we do have to look forward, but past behaviour shouldn’t be discounted either.
The New Democrats, when they held power, made a number of decisions that didn’t do a lot for health care in Kamloops, nor to address the doctor shortage province wide.
If we recall, it was the Glen Clark government that dramatically reduced the number of patient care beds at the Royal Inland Hospital. It was the NDP which cut back on the number of doctors being trained in B.C., arguing the province didn’t need as many.
And while a lot of people are tired of the reminder, it was the Harcourt NDP that delivered the ultimate double cross, promising to site the Interior Cancer Clinic in Kamloops before an election, and then opting to send it to Kelowna after the party was safely elected.
Improving access to primary care isn’t a mere photo opportunity for a politician, and it’s not as simple as waving a wand. We don’t know whether this could have been put into play a good deal earlier. But the measures promised will be welcomed by most, regardless of how close the announcement might be before the next election.
Listen to Jim Harrison’s editorials weekdays on Radio NL, and to the Jim Harrison Show at 9:08 a.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Contact him at jharrison@radionl.com.
ArmchairMayor.ca 
So, according to Jim, an opposition party should never criticize a governing party if that opposition party failed at something, or made bad decisions while in government.
Thanks for parrotting the Liberal line, Jim, (seriously, did Terry Lake write that for you?) but that’s the stupidest thing ever.
That’s how our system of government works. We have governing parties and we have opposition parties. Governing parties make laws and regulations. Opposition parties point out the flaws of those decisions. The role of the opposition is to oppose, for God’s sake. Just curious, Jim, if you were calling the SoCreds and Liberals hypocrites during the 1990s, since we’re reviewing ancient history. If you weren’t, do you know what that makes you? It makes you a hypocrite.
By the way Jim, your credibility would be much improved if you could bother to spell Judy Darcy’s name right.
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Comments coming from both sides must indicate that an election is looming on the horizon. Ergo, the need for photo ops and black and white comments.
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Yes indeed. It was the NDP government that reduced the number of Dr’s to be trained at UBC. If I recall it was also the NDP MLA Cathy McGregor who must have had a half dozen or so photo op announcements over several years that her Government was going to built the tertiary phsyciatric facility here in Kamloops. Yet her Government never budgeted 10 cents to build it. It was the Liberal Government of Gordon Campbell who actually built it. For some reason everyyone thinks that with a snap of their fingers Drs. can just be recruited. Bottom line we need to train more Drs. in this province.
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The worthy note that needs to be written is BC has not had the NDP in power since the year 2000…almost 16 years have passed. Sure an awful long time to improve on anything Jim.
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Exactly Pierre. The Lieberals have done absolutely nothing for healthcare except increase the number of bureaucrats we have to pay that do nothing.
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