Retirement News : Seniors : NDP promise spending on long-term care

NDP promise spending on long-term care

Date Added: 30-04-2005

GOLDEN, B.C. (CP) -- NDP Leader Carole James maintained her attack on British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell's health policies on Friday in the provincial election, accusing his Liberal government of breaking promises on the creation of long-term care beds.
 
"Gordon Campbell is bragging about the economy, but seniors in communities across B.C. aren't getting the care they need," James said in a statement.
 
In a jab at Campbell's claim that B.C. is entering a golden decade, she said: "Even the town that unwittingly gave its name to the Liberals' platform hasn't escaped Mr. Campbell's long-term care cuts."
 
James said the government has closed 1,000 long-term care beds in the province, with 12 of them in Golden.
 
"I am committing that the NDP will provide a total of 6,000 new long-term care beds for seniors over the next four years," said James, who visited a residential care facility in this eastern B.C. town.
 
The promise of more spending on long-term care has been a familiar refrain from James.
 
A poll released Friday suggested that health care is the top priority for British Columbians in the campaign for the May 17 election followed by education and the economy.
 
The survey also showed the Liberals had the support of 46 per cent of decided voters who participated in the poll. The NDP had 39 per cent and the Green party 13 per cent.
 
Ipsos-Reid conducted telephone polls of 1,050 B.C. residents from April 23 to 26. The results are considered accurate within 3.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. People who participated in the poll were asked: If an election were held tomorrow, which party would you select?
 
The poll was done for the Vancouver Sun, the Victoria Times Colonist and BCTV News.
 
The results were in line with another poll taken before the election, the first in Canada to be held on a fixed date, although the campaign formally began on April 19.
 
The Strategic Counsel poll for the Globe and Mail and CTV was done from April 13 to 16. It suggested the Liberals had the support of 46 per cent of voters, the NDP 38 per cent and Green party 13 per cent.
 
The Liberals have countered that long-term care has improved since the party came to power in a massive landslide victory four years ago, arguing that between 1993 and 1999, the NDP reduced the number of care beds by 18 per cent when it was in power.
 
The government says it has created more than 4,000 new, replacement or upgraded residential care and assisted living units for seniors since 2001.
 
By the end of 2006, it says there will be a net increase of more than 2,700 new beds for seniors and by 2008, the Liberals say they will have met their promise to create 5,000 new beds for seniors in assisted living, residential care and independent housing facilities.
 
Campbell was also campaigning in eastern B.C. on Friday.
 
A woman in Salmon Arm who lost her government forestry job under Liberal cuts tried to talk to him during his campaign stop.
 
While Campbell was closeted in another room, Liberal supporters challenged the woman, saying the NDP also made deep cuts in the civil service.
 
Campbell said his staff was trying to set up a meeting with the woman, but she left before that could take place.
 
Meanwhile, the Liberal party has paid back donations totalling about $2,000 from municipalities.
 
Liberal party executive director Kelly Reichert admitted there were seven incidents when municipal and regional district officials paid admission to events that turned out to be Liberal fundraisers.

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http://www.canada.com/vancouver/story.html?id=2a4a6166-a001-442c-a0a3-d86599ea29e4