MLA to hold forum on seniors’ issues next week

Revelstoke Times Review

January 23 2008

Hot on a campaign to enshrine two new pieces of legislation to protect aging British Columbians, MLA Norm Macdonald will be in Revelstoke next Thursday to conduct a forum on seniors’ issues.

“I believe that seniors deserve dignity and respect, and so do all British Columbians,” the New Democratic Party MLA for Columbia River – Revelstoke said in a statement released last week. “Yet so many seniors are still feeling like the services they need are not available when they need them; that they are falling through the cracks in the system.”

The forum will be held at the Seniors’ Centre on Jan. 31 at 1 PM.  Seniors and their families are invited to attend and share their experiences dealing with seniors-oriented services, according to the statement.

Macdonald and the Opposition Caucus have brought forward two pieces of legislation to address gaps in the current system: the Representative for Seniors Act and the Community Care and Assisted Living Amendment Act.

“Having an independent office of the Legislature responsible for overseeing and protecting the rights of seniors would ensure that seniors have a strong voice and an advocate to push government to address their issues,” he said. “Amending the current legislation for community care and assisted living facilities would force service providers to be accountable through random inspections and public reporting.”

For  more information please contact Macdonald’s office at 814 – 6700 or toll-free at (866) 870 – 4188.  Emails can be sent to norm.macdonald.mla@leg.bc.ca.