BC Political Discussion: Election 2020 and Beyond

[logicbomb]

Originally Posted by hollywoodnorth

BC Liberals promise to bring back original bridge plan to replace Massey Tunnel

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/george-massey-tunnel-replacement-bridge-kevin-falcon-bc-liberals

Go Falco Go!

I hate the NDP and will be voting Liberal but there's just something so — screwed about this. One wrong doesn't cancel out another wrong. Scrapping the tunnel for a bridge may even set back any improvements as we redraw plans, consult with first nations and stakeholders again and we may once again sink money in a patchwork project to preserve the existing tunnel. ****ing no. Just build whatever to increase capacity at this point.

The whole issue surrounding the Museum and suggesting it's taking away from health care is stupid as well. We need a dramatic increase in funding year-to-year in addition to a massive upfront capital investment to bring sanity to our health care system. It will just not happen and this is why I am hoping the Federal government (Conservatives need to get their stuff in order) and just privatize the health care system.

You can address demand for housing and health care in the immediate future by reducing immigration and issuance of MSP enrollment in VISA's but no one will dare do this because "racism."

I am voting Liberal because we need austerity and someone to ruthlessly go after hot topic sensitive issues such as crime and failing social programs. **** the tunnel/bridge issue and the museum fiasco. This province is seriously ****ed at so many levels.

[chowhou]

Originally Posted by logicbomb

The whole issue surrounding the Museum and suggesting it's taking away from health care is stupid as well. We need a dramatic increase in funding year-to-year in addition to a massive upfront capital investment to bring sanity to our health care system. It will just not happen and this is why I am hoping the Federal government (Conservatives need to get their stuff in order) and just privatize the health care system.

How anyone can live north of the 49th parallel and advocate for the system of our southern neighbours is beyond my comprehension.

[dreambrother808]

Originally Posted by chowhou

How anyone can live north of the 49th parallel and advocate for the system of our southern neighbours is beyond my comprehension.

It also reveals someone living in a fantasy world completely out of step with the vast majority of Canadians. If conservatives want to commit further political suicide, go ahead.

[CanSpice]

Originally Posted by logicbomb

The whole issue surrounding the Museum and suggesting it's taking away from health care is stupid as well. We need a dramatic increase in funding year-to-year in addition to a massive upfront capital investment to bring sanity to our health care system. It will just not happen and this is why I am hoping the Federal government (Conservatives need to get their stuff in order) and just privatize the health care system.

I lived in the US for 8 years and by god there's no way Canada should ever move to a privatized healthcare system.

[jollyburger]

There is no way anyone would touch privatized healthcare.

[djmk]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

There is no way anyone would touch privatized healthcare.

there are a quite a few Canadians that avoid waitlists and fly south for surgeries. Privatized healthcare has always been available, it's just a matter of where.

And now that Baby Boomers are getting really old, I'm actually shocked this conversation does not happen more. If I was a boomer with some money in the bank, I'm not waiting years for a knee or hip replacement.

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by djmk

there are a quite a few Canadians that avoid waitlists and fly south for surgeries. Privatized healthcare has always been available, it's just a matter of where.

And now that Baby Boomers are getting really old, I'm actually shocked this conversation does not happen more. If I was a boomer with some money in the bank, I'm not waiting years for a knee or hip replacement.

Thanks. I needed reminding I'm getting really old. Quite a few relatives and friends have had knees and hips replaced in the past few years. None have waited more than a year - although there can be an initial delay getting to see a surgeon (especially if you're waiting to see a specific surgeon). Current wait times for both hips and knees are less than a year. Many are done in months - especially if the patient doesn't need to do any pre-surgery preparation, or have any potential complications. Sometimes there's a delay if the surgeon thinks the patient should wait, for some reason, but they've usually got good clinical judgement for that decision, even if the patient thinks they should have a replacement immediately. Replacement joints have a limited life, so ideally you only want to have it done once.

I don't know anybody who contemplated going out of Canada for any procedure like that - if something isn't right the surgeon can try to sort it out in the first few months - whether it's needing to change pain medication, limited range of motion due to scar tissue, or something worse like an infected wound.

It wouldn't seem likely to ensure a good outcome by showing up at your local ER saying 'I had this knee replaced in Bellingham, and I think something's wrong'. Getting around after the operation, particularly with knee replacements, but also with hip surgery, isn't easy, so minimizing travel is beneficial. And an immediate physio regime is important if range of motion is going to be maximized.

[dreambrother808]

Originally Posted by djmk

there are a quite a few Canadians that avoid waitlists and fly south for surgeries. Privatized healthcare has always been available, it's just a matter of where.

And now that Baby Boomers are getting really old, I'm actually shocked this conversation does not happen more. If I was a boomer with some money in the bank, I'm not waiting years for a knee or hip replacement.

This is a small minority. Going to the US to speed up a procedure serves the purpose for them. No one is stopping them from doing so and thus their needs are being met.

My father went to the US for treatment 30 years ago but I don’t personally know anyone who has done it since.

It’s more of an overblown talking point for right-wing, American conservatives at this point.

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by Sheba

Provincial Budget 2023 Consultation: https://www.leg.bc.ca/content-committees/Pages/Finance-Budget-Consultation.aspx

A reminder that the survey is open. I'd suggest looking at the Consultation Paper (pdf) first as it includes a copy of the survey so you can consider it ahead of time.

[s211]

Originally Posted by djmk

there are a quite a few Canadians that avoid waitlists and fly south for surgeries. Privatized healthcare has always been available, it's just a matter of where.

And now that Baby Boomers are getting really old, I'm actually shocked this conversation does not happen more. If I was a boomer with some money in the bank, I'm not waiting years for a knee or hip replacement.

My Australian friends rave about their mix of private and public. They have Canadian relatives, and whey look at the Canadian system, the Aussies can't roll their eyes enough.

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by s211

My Australian friends rave about their mix of private and public. They have Canadian relatives, and whey look at the Canadian system, the Aussies can't roll their eyes enough.

If you're financially secure, it seems like a good system. It has its issues though; "Estimates suggest that in 2014–2015, the cost associated with seeing a GP meant that one in every 20 people skipped or delayed a visit, despite requiring medical attention. Research undertaken by James Cook University and the NSW Bureau of Health Information in 2016, found that almost half of Australians living with depression, anxiety and other mental illnesses skipped therapy or medication due to cost.

“In terms of skipping care we perform much worse than Canada and New Zealand, certainly the UK and Sweden,” said health economist from the Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, Emily Callander. [source]

The newly elected Labor party's platform says they'll reverse the cuts of the previous government to healthcare funding, and address the GP shortage, which appears to be at least as bad as it is here.

[chowhou]

Originally Posted by Changing City

If you're financially secure, it seems like a good system. It has its issues though

You hear the same rhetoric from our US counterparts.

Originally Posted by Upper middle class

"Look at the failings of the Canadian healthcare system, ours is way better with shorter waits and better outcomes"

[whatnext]

Doesn't sound any better frankly:

...Albanese must have enormous courage to fix the mess of community healthcare in this country. Solutions will require revolutionary zeal. I think he’s got it in him.

Here is the problem. The gold standard of community care our family received is disappearing.

My grandson has seen five GPs in his two years and can never get into the GP his mother, now well recovered from meningitis and teenage years, prefers. It’s unlikely to improve any time soon. There are waiting lists for GPs, GPs who no longer take new patients, GP deserts. Medical students have little interest in becoming general practitioners.

There are now fewer GPs per capita but greater need. New figures from the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners reveal a 30 per cent drop in applications to do general practice training from 2017. Yet this shortage is not happening in 2030 as predicted by the RACGP research. It’s happening now in Sydney and in Melbourne. The pay is terrible. The conditions are worse...
https://www.theage.com.au/healthcare/how...-grandkids-and-mine-20220530-p5apqn.html



.....The incredible junior nurse who looked after me had worked back-to-back shifts. She couldn’t get the ECG to work, didn’t have the skills to insert a cannula, but also finds herself in an environment where she cannot just pop out to ask a question or seek assistance whenever she needs, given the nature of the isolation rooms, the PPE requirements and the severe lack of people to ask.

I could see how much everyone was trying to help one another, to pitch in. I could also see our healthcare workers fraying, a system buckling..

https://www.smh.com.au/national/victoria...-behind-the-numbers-20220516-p5almd.html

[mezzanine]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Doesn't sound any better frankly:

...Albanese must have enormous courage to fix the mess of community healthcare in this country. Solutions will require revolutionary zeal. I think he’s got it in him.

Here is the problem. The gold standard of community care our family received is disappearing.

My grandson has seen five GPs in his two years and can never get into the GP his mother, now well recovered from meningitis and teenage years, prefers. It’s unlikely to improve any time soon. There are waiting lists for GPs, GPs who no longer take new patients, GP deserts. Medical students have little interest in becoming general practitioners.

There are now fewer GPs per capita but greater need. New figures from the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners reveal a 30 per cent drop in applications to do general practice training from 2017. Yet this shortage is not happening in 2030 as predicted by the RACGP research. It’s happening now in Sydney and in Melbourne. The pay is terrible. The conditions are worse...
https://www.theage.com.au/healthcare/how...-grandkids-and-mine-20220530-p5apqn.html


https://www.smh.com.au/national/victoria...-behind-the-numbers-20220516-p5almd.html

LOL, sounds a lot like the Canadian system. Maybe it's better bc they can wait in warm weather

seriously, privatizing healthcare is so 1998. there's a primary care resource shortage in BC and if you want people to ask to pay fees to see a GP that's s surefire way to lose an election

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by djmk

there are a quite a few Canadians that avoid waitlists and fly south for surgeries. Privatized healthcare has always been available, it's just a matter of where.

And now that Baby Boomers are getting really old, I'm actually shocked this conversation does not happen more. If I was a boomer with some money in the bank, I'm not waiting years for a knee or hip replacement.

Sorry I meant no Canadian political party would touch it.

[whatnext]

Finally! Since there was very little Liberal in the BC Liberal party this is long overdue:

BC Liberal party delegates vote to begin name change process
By Andrew Cowie
Posted Jun 11, 2022, 3:59PM PDT.Last Updated Jun 12, 2022, 1:29AM PDT.

Summary
Liberal party delegates are meeting in Penticton
The B.C. Liberals are not affiliated with the federal Liberal party
The BC Liberal party is one step closer to changing their name.

Delegates voted to move the name-changing decision forward during a party convention in Penticton on Saturday.

“The party will immediately begin a wider consultation process over the coming months before holding a vote of the entire party membership before the end of the year,” said a party statement.

BC Liberal leader Kevin Falcon said the new name must reflect the entirety of the party membership....

https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2022/06/11/bc-liberals-vote-name-change/

[jollyburger]

The province is stopping the controversial $789-million Royal B.C. Museum project following intense public backlash, Premier John Horgan announced today.

“We made choices based on the best information at the time. And we thought we had it right. Clearly, we did not. We were making the wrong decision at the wrong time,” Horgan said at a press conference in Victoria. “I made the wrong call.”

A two year old could have predicted this outcome.

https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/premier-john-horgan-to-give-update-on-royal-bc-museum

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

A two year old could have predicted this outcome.

https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/premier-john-horgan-to-give-update-on-royal-bc-museum

I find it really sad that Falcon and the BC Liberals turned the museum into a political "gotcha" moment. Why shouldn't BC have a world class museum and why replace the current, outdated and unsafe structure with anything less?

As to Falcon's hypocrisy, I had to shake my head earlier this month when a 4th cruise ship had to tender their passengers to shore in Vancouver because the BC Lieberals had built their vastly overbudget Vancouver Convention Centre with no provision for handling ships (despite the planned closure of Ballantyne).

[WarrenC12]

Flip flopping is possibly worse than — decision making. Stand by your big plans if you really believe in them. We elect people to make tough decisions.

[Tvisforme]

Originally Posted by whatnext

I find it really sad that Falcon and the BC Liberals turned the museum into a political "gotcha" moment. Why shouldn't BC have a world class museum and why replace the current, outdated and unsafe structure with anything less?

As to Falcon's hypocrisy, I had to shake my head earlier this month when a 4th cruise ship had to tender their passengers to shore in Vancouver because the BC Lieberals had built their vastly overbudget Vancouver Convention Centre with no provision for handling ships (despite the planned closure of Ballantyne).

I was quite disappointed a week or so ago, after the BC Liberals voted to consider a name change, when Falcon claimed that the NDP could "break the law" and call an early election:

“The NDP have shown that we can’t trust them when it comes to even sticking to the fixed election date laws that we brought in as a government. … If they find the opportunity, they’ll break the law and call an early election.”

I can't find anything that suggests that the fixed date for elections prohibits early elections, and the LG still has the authority to dissolve the government.