Norm Macdonald MLA                                Columbia River – Revelstoke

MEDIA RELEASE

For immediate release

November 13th, 2008

Invermere ER renovations delayed; new provincial ranking system for capital projects blamed

Invermere’s place as the number one priority capital project for the area has now plummeted due to changes in the Health Ministry’s ranking system.  Previously, individual health regions were responsible for ranking project priorities ensuring that even projects in small, rural communities would be funded.

Priority lists from health authorities will now be submitted to a Provincial Capital Planning Secretariat for ranking leaving rural projects at the bottom of the list.

“Invermere’s ER is in desperate need of work but there is no way that a provincial ranking system is going to recognize that need,” said Columbia River – Revelstoke MLA Norm Macdonald.  “Changing the ranking system is just another example of the Campbell Liberal government’s dismissal of rural communities.”

The commitment to fund new residential beds in Invermere has also been moved way down the list.

“The need for health service and residential care improvements in my area is completely obvious to the people who live here, but I can assure you that the decision-makers in the Campbell government care very little about our priorities.

“The government is responsible for getting healthcare right, and we’ve lived with the mess the Liberals created in healthcare for seven years now.  Just when Invermere gets to the top of the list, the Liberals change the rules.”