From newswire at news.bc.ndp.ca Fri Dec 1 22:52:06 2006 From: newswire at news.bc.ndp.ca (Jenny Kwan) Date: Fri, 1 Dec 2006 22:52:06 -0800 Subject: [LabComm] They just don't get it Message-ID: They just don't get it Dear Friend, It's been a week since we hammered the Campbell government with tough questions during a marathon three-day Legislative session. I finally feel like I've only now managed to catch my breath. It was an important achievement. Campbell cancelled the fall session because he wanted to avoid tough questions from Carole James and the NDP team. Now he hoped to sneak in and out of a quick, one-day session. No questions, no accountability to the public. But we didn't let him get away with it. We held their feet to the fire for as long as the rules of the Legislature allowed. We kept up the pressure for three days, and on the final day, New Democrat MLAs stayed on their feet all night long, until 8:30 Tuesday morning. Our efforts paid off - we forced the Campbell government to face a lot of issues they'd rather ignore - but a week later, I find myself more concerned than ever. The problem is that Gordon Campbell and his government just don't get it. They think accountability is a burden. They don't care about the problems you and your family are facing. They don't listen. It's not enough to ask tough questions. We need to defeat this government. With the election just over two years away, that work needs to start now. I hope you can help by clicking here to make a donation. British Columbia now has the highest rate of child poverty in Canada. One in four BC children lives in poverty. We have the largest gap between high and low income earners. Students in BC have the fastest growing debt load in Canada. Our hospitals are dangerously overcrowded. Seniors still don't have the 5000 long-term care beds they were promised 6 years ago. Vulnerable children under government care have died while mismanagement is covered up. Homelessness is skyrocketing, more than doubling in many communities. The public still hasn't seen a business plan for the Olympics. In spite of all this, Gordon Campbell seems to think that everything is just fine. In spite of our current economic good fortune, so many people, so many communities are being left behind. There's no plan for the future, no investment in future prosperity. Just a handful of gimmicky stunts meant to fool you into thinking Gordon Campbell suddenly cares about ordinary people. And today, Canada's first private emergency room is opening for business in BC. Gordon Campbell and his government have permitted credit card medicine to take root in our province. Despite all their bluster and protest, this government had almost a year to take shut down plans for this American-style plan to give the wealthy faster access to health care. It is a shocking case of incompetence. That's why we must defeat the Campbell government in the upcoming election. We can't afford another term of arrogance, indifference and preferential treatment for the lucky few. I hope you'll take a moment to make a donation right now. All you need to do is click here. Your support will help us build the capacity we need to run the best election campaign possible. We came so close in 2005, but next time we have to do better. Don't forget that your contributions are tax receiptable. That means a $100 donation costs you just $25 after generous provincial tax credits. A $50 contribution will cost you just $12.50. You can count on Carole James and the NDP team to keep holding Gordon Campbell accountable - Legislative session or not. But I hope we can count on you to help us defeat the Campbell government and begin building a future where everyone matters. Sincerely, Jenny Kwan To unsubscribe or change your settings go to: http://www.e-2ve6y.signup2.bcndp.ca/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From newswire at news.bc.ndp.ca Thu Dec 14 21:58:07 2006 From: newswire at news.bc.ndp.ca (BC NDP Newswire) Date: Thu, 14 Dec 2006 21:58:07 -0800 Subject: [LabComm] BC Liberals admit at least 1100 Violations of the Canada Health Act and the Medicare Protection Act Message-ID: BC Liberals admit at least 1100 Violations of the Canada Health Act and the Medicare Protection Act About-face occurs three months after NDP raises concerns VICTORIA - The BC Liberals have admitted to allowing at least 1100 violations of the Canada Health Act and the Medicare Protection Act three months after the NDP first revealed the Campbell government was turning a blind eye to private clinics to selling access to MRI testing. As a result of an investigation spurred by NDP questions, the government will now reimburse 1100 British Columbians who paid fees to get off long waiting lists for MRIs and other services at St. Paul's and Mount Saint Joseph's Hospital over the last four years. "Gordon Campbell pays lip service to protecting public health care in BC, but he's allowing privatization to run rampant while ordinary people suffer on long wait lists." Under pressure from private clinic operators, Campbell pulled the plug on Bill-92, legislation that would have put a stop to the expansion of privatized health care. Unlike other provincial governments, the Campbell Liberals have refused to crack down on membership-fee schemes like the Copeman clinic. For almost a year, the BC Liberals did nothing while private owners prepared the launch of a for-profit ER. Now the BC Liberals have admitted that they allowed private companies to break the law by selling access to publicly-owned MRIs at two Vancouver hospitals. "Gordon Campbell isn't doing anything to enforce the law," said Dix. "Instead he has passed the buck to patients waiting for care to complain about extra-billing and violations of the Canada Health Act," said Dix. "I am pleased that some patients will get their money back. But there is still no relief from the BC Liberals for the thousands of others who are waiting too long for care." To unsubscribe or change your settings go to: http://www.e-2ve6y.signup2.bcndp.ca/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From newswire at news.bc.ndp.ca Fri Dec 29 19:29:12 2006 From: newswire at news.bc.ndp.ca (Carole James) Date: Fri, 29 Dec 2006 19:29:12 -0800 Subject: [LabComm] Thanks for your support Message-ID: Thanks for your support Dear Friend, I am writing to thank you for your support in what has been a challenging, exciting, and very rewarding year. As we approach the holidays, I feel stronger and more determined than ever. British Columbians from all walks of life and from every part of the province want the B.C. Liberals to start paying attention to the needs and aspirations of average British Columbians. And they are looking for new leadership on critical issues like growing homelessness and poverty, climate change and the environment, and renewing our public health care system for all British Columbians. In 2006 the B.C Liberals ignored these issues. Instead of action, the year was marked by growing Liberal arrogance. The fall sitting of the Legislature was cancelled, critical promises were broken, and Gordon Campbell chose to ignore the growing social deficit that is tearing at the fabric of our communities. When the public complained, the B.C. Liberals called the Legislature, "busy work". That attitude was reflected time and again in the actions of government. Whether it was the Income Assistance Minister denying the extent of child poverty, or the Olympics Minister shrugging off the findings of B.C.'s Acting Auditor General, or the Premier insisting that what we do to our environment in B.C. has little impact on the world, the B.C. Liberals spent most of year drifting further out-of touch with the problems facing B.C. Nowhere was this attitude more pronounced than in the Premier's cavalier approach to the expansion of for-profit medicine and patient fees in B.C. The Legislature gave the Premier the power to protect patients, and British Columbians overwhelmingly support universal access to quality health care. But Gordon Campbell chose not to exercise that power, and has given for-profit providers the green light to expand their business. Moreover, Mr. Campbell did little if anything to fulfill his promise to build more long-term and acute care beds. As a result, patient care in B.C. is getting worse: waitlists are growing, emergency rooms are overcrowded, senior couples are being forced to live apart, and many patients are paying big fees to access basic care. The NDP Opposition stood up to Gordon Campbell on these issues and offered practical and concrete alternatives. We put forward an affordable plan to build thousands of new social housing units. We said it's time to put a stop to conventional coal powered electricity that is contributing to climate change. We spoke up for patients suffering as a result of B.C. Liberal broken promises, and talked about ways to improve care like building more long-term and acute care beds. Sadly, Gordon Campbell doesn't seem all that interested in listening to new ideas or to addressing these challenges. There is no sense that the B.C. Liberals either care or feel much need to tackle the homelessness crisis, deal with climate change, or keep their health care promises. In 2007, though, the B.C. Liberals will face a determined and focused NDP Opposition with clear priorities and practical ideas on how to move B.C. in the right direction. And we will continue to reach out to all British Columbians to talk about a better future. I am looking forward 2007 and the hard work ahead. Until then, I wish you and your family a peaceful holiday season and a happy new year. Carole James
Leader, BC NDP Opposition To unsubscribe or change your settings go to: http://www.e-2ve6y.signup2.bcndp.ca/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: