Walker said NRGH is grossly inadequate for current demand, with up to 60 patients being treated at any one time in storage or corridors because there are no rooms for them.
He criticized the NDP, the party he represented in the 2020 election for the Parksville-Qualicum riding, for not pushing forward fast enough.
“The biggest obstacle I see to getting things done is party politics. We have a government now that has a health plan for this area that was passed in 2019, and instead of admitting that it’s a failure and the number of people waiting to see a doctor has doubled, we’re just watching the waiting list get bigger and bigger. “
Walker added that the central island has been “forgotten by the government” on issues ranging from ferries to healthcare, leading to significant challenges.
The introduction of a catheterization clinic at NRGH, to perform cardiac care, has been a long-standing question from residents and medical professionals.
So far, there have been no promises of one in development at the site.
“I’ve been working with a person in this community who has identified a company in the United States that can bring a cardiac catheterization clinic to this hospital within three months,” Walker said.
He said the lab would cost $75,000 a month.
Higginson countered Walker by pointing to what she called “generational investments” in local health care, particularly to units at NRGH.
“We’ve put in a new intensive care unit, we’re building a new intensive care unit, we’re building a new cancer care center and when we put in all that infrastructure there was a very clear recognition that when you put in the infrastructure, you also need to improve the patient tower, which we have done.”
An hour before the debate, BC NDP Leader David Eby announced that a re-elected NDP government would push for a new patient tower at NRGH, increase capacity and modernize the hospital.
Representing the riding
Audible laughter erupted from those in attendance Thursday night when geography was brought up in relation to the awkwardly constructed riding.
Ladysmith-Oceanside includes residents from Qualicum Beach, Parksville, Nanoose Bay, Nanaimo Lakes, Cassidy, Yellow Point, Ladysmith and Saltair.
It effectively surrounds Nanaimo and presents a potential logistical challenge for the prospective Member of Parliament to ensure residents have easy access to their representative.
Higginson said he plans to advocate for two offices, one in Oceanside and one in Ladysmith.
“I think that’s the only way that you can only that you can really meet and represent this very strange anger that we all have.” We’re three communities that have, on a regular basis, been upset that we’ve been lumped together with Nanaimo and felt like Nanaimo was tainting our whole air.”
She added that it was also not cost-effective to have all staff located in the raid, as she sees value in having a strong presence in Victoria.
“It would not benefit this community to have all your staff up here.” Part of being part of a party is that you pool your resources and you have staff in Victoria who work … with the policy makers, with the decision makers in the committee … and with the staff who can work to produce reports for you .
Walker said that when he became independent in September 2023, his staff budget doubled, from two employees to six.
“One of the things that I see as a strength that I can offer this constituency is that I will be able to have an office in both Qualicum Beach and Ladysmith that is open full-time, that has hours that are extended to the point where people can actually find for service.
He said maintaining two constituency offices is “very difficult with a regular budget” that mostly leaves room for only two ridings.
Drug toxicity and mental health
Both candidates said the drug crisis and mental health challenges were among the toughest issues facing the riding.
Walker supports increased local resources.
“We are losing far too many people in our communities right now to the drug crisis. We have to make sure that there is on-demand treatment … when someone says ‘I need help’, that they get that help.”
He added that he would also advocate for more involuntary treatment options, telling the story of one local resident who went through the courts to get his son detained.
“He was admitted to Nanaimo Regional Hospital and the team there was amazing. But less than 24 hours later, he was discharged in a hospital gown and left without a follow-up. The challenge we have is not that the legislation is being broken, the challenge is that we have insufficient facilities to care for people who need help.”
Higginson largely echoed Walker’s calls for more funding, both centrally and within the community.
She touted the NDP’s investments, highlighting a recent push toward long-touted involuntary treatment beds, slated to come first to Surrey and Maple Ridge.
“We see the impact everywhere, this is our family, our neighbors and we have to keep the plan.” We’re starting to see results from that as we’re introducing more and more community treatment beds and we’ve just introduced a plan to have community intensive care beds that will really be very helpful for other treatment issues that we’re doing. in front.”
E&N rail line
Both Higginson and Walker provided their vision for both the Island Rail Corridor and BC Ferries.
Higginson said the BC NDP would look to “find the best use” for the rail corridor lands, noting there are many options on the table, from active transit to the return of passenger train service.
She said it was important for the province to gain control of the lands, “while respecting the four percent of the shares through the First Nations for future partnerships.”
Walker said the future of the line is very different now than it was a few years ago.
Eleven acres of land in Snaw-Naw-As territory was returned in March 2023, where Walker said the law was later drawn up by the First Nation.
He said he would like to see more active transportation along the line and eventually a sharing of ownership with First Nations.
Audience reception
The mostly positive audience broke into small applause on about half a dozen occasions, not overwhelmingly in favor of one candidate or the other.
A few stayed after the event to chat 1-on-1 with Higginson and Walker.
NRHD-sponsored hearings for the Nanaimo-Gabriola and Nanaimo-Lantzville ridings are scheduled for the first week of October.
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