Carole James talks to Ray Pitt before listening to other residents during a discussion on families struggling with affordability in BC. Also int he photo is is NDP leader of the opposition John Horgan.
Lyonel Doherty photo
An unemployed mother of three children gave New Democrat leader John Horgan an earful in Oliver last week.
But she wasn’t angry; she was just worried.
The mom is a recent victim of job restructuring within Interior Health and expressed worry about her family’s future.
She noted that her father is facing a medical crisis and one of her children has “run out of money.”
She also expressed surprise that millionaire Jim Pattison pays the same medical services premiums as she does, according to Horgan.
The leader of the opposition joined NDP finance spokesperson Carole James and South Okanagan-West Kootenay NDP candidate Richard Cannings at Medici’s on April 1 to listen to concerns raised by local residents.
Horgan spoke about the challenges that BC residents have with affordability. He said families will be paying more for health care and electricity rates (six per cent more).
Horgan pointed out that BC Premier Christy Clark is giving top wage earners additional tax breaks ($230 million) while squeezing more money out of middle class families.
James said on top of hydro rates going up, families are seeing increases in medical premiums, car insurance and even camping fees. In addition, BC Ferry rates have also gone up, she noted.
Horgan said if the government can find money (tax breaks) for rich people, it can and should provide some relief for families.
“We continue to pay more and get less,” he said, noting there is a growing disconnect between government and the people.
Horgan said there is no accountability in government because everybody points to someone else when there’s a problem.
Switching the topic to health care, resident Lily Young said her physician informed her that about 50 doctors in the South Okanagan will be retiring. This will make it difficult to attract new families to the area, Young said.
Fellow resident Russel Work suggested that new doctors be required to fulfill a three-year “country” (rural) service agreement.
Horgan agreed with the concept but said that would be difficult for doctors to accept.
The NDP leader admitted that he doesn’t have a family doctor.
As the meeting was wrapping up, Horgan was asked why his government is always losing elections and what needs to be done to convert people.
Horgan said his plan is to talk to people he has never talked to before.
“We need to go places where we are not well supported and understood. We need to engage young people,” he stated.
Horgan said the NDP should be given a chance to lead the province, as an alternative to the Clark government.
“If you don’t like us, toss us out,” he said.
Teachers’ union president Sylvia Slater said the party needs to utilize social media more to reach out to people and make them aware of the issues.
“Unless it’s in your face and impacting you directly, people don’t care,” she said.
Lyonel Doherty
Oliver Chronicle
