FORSETH – The ‘We really needed another press release’ department

SERIOUSLY, the B.C. Liberal government decided in its wisdom (and of course the wise stewardship of our tax dollars) that there had to be a media release to announce the purchase of four palliative care beds for Kamloops.

While the beds cost $30,000 each to purchase, I wonder how many people it took to write, re-write, and approve each step through draft to finished product, and how many hours were needed to get quotes from MLAs Terry Lake and Todd Stone, along with Interior Health board chair John O’Fee.

And remember too that the media relations official for the Ministry of Health, along with David Weir, the communications manager (B.C. Centre for Palliative Care) and Tracy Watson, (communications officer, Interior Health) all had to be available for what must have been back-to-back interviews about this earth shaking announcement.

Sounding suitably somber, and specific to the situation, Terry and Todd had this to say:

“This funding will help support Kamloops residents … ensuring their dignity as well as maintaining their comfort during what can be a very emotional time for themselves and loved ones,” said Health Minister Terry Lake.

“… the funding … will ensure that more Kamloops families can use to these services and can do so in comfort,” said Kamloops-South Thompson MLA Todd Stone.

John O’Fee, who has been politically active on the local, provincial, and federal fronts, was also included … “Those nearing end of life and their loved ones deserve timely, well-co-ordinated, compassionate care as close to home as possible.”

Now, before anyone accuses me of being critical of palliative care patients getting these new beds, that is not my intent.

My intent is to again point out that the B.C. Liberal government will find any reason at all to turn the every day expectations of what they should be doing, into a #WhoCaresNews story.

In Kamloops, I’m Alan Forseth.

Alan Forseth is a Kamloops resident and former member of the Reform Party of Canada, the B.C. Reform Party and the B.C. Conservative Party. His blog is My Thoughts on Politics and More.