The NDP’s health critic says enough is enough on waiting for long-term care in Fort McMurray.
Dave Eggen says MLA Don Scott needs to stop towing the PCs’ party line about not building long-term beds.
“People need this kind of thing to make a balanced community,” he adds, “the population of older people here has tripled in the past few years and there’s no excuse.”
He says the Premier needs to speak up.
“Alison Redford likes to talk out of both sides of her mouth. Every day that you waste, you end up having a more expensive project down the road and people’s health and welfare is compromised.”
He says a decision like this doesn’t just affect people who might use that facility.
“It also affects the capacity of the hospital, because that’s where people end up if there’s no long term care,” he continues, “it also splits up family members and community when people know that those types of facilities are not available in Fort Mac.
The city has been battling for a land transfer from the province and feds for a facility downtown, and the province says land needs to be re-zoned for the planned Parsons Creek facility, which won’t be done for at least 2 years.
September 25th, 2013
