Nanaimo-Ladysmith Needs Better Healthcare Advocacy
For years we as a community have been shut out of funding for our local healthcare system and people living on the mid-island have to suffer because of inaction from our local politicians. Over the past couple of weeks, I have met with a number of different healthcare officials in Nanaimo and have heard their concerns regarding funding and being forgotten as it relates to our healthcare institutions.
According to people who work in the sector, Nanaimo is a community in crisis with more seniors coming here to retire, there are not enough services nor is there adequate programs to provide them with the care they need. Considering 16.9% of our population are seniors it makes sense to have the best healthcare for our community. On top of this we are also experiencing a homelessness crisis with growing number of mental health issues, issues with addictions, along with a rise in crime and drugs in our communities.
With the hospital being one of our biggest employers in Nanaimo it makes sense to provide more for the industry. We must find our strengths and use them to our communities’ benefit.
All of these issues have arisen because of neglect from the NDP. This issue itself is being ignored by the Greens in Parliament.
The Conservatives have a positive vision for Nanaimo-Ladysmith’s healthcare systems and a way to combat affordability and the recent rise in crime in our city.
Under a new Conservative government, you will be able to count on stable and predictable health and social program funding. It is critical for you to have confidence that these programs will be there for you when you need them.
That’s what Andrew Scheer’s guarantee is all about.
He knows how important it is to ensure quality public health care and social programs in every province.
That means federal spending will keep on increasing to meet the needs of all Canadians, and ensure a quality public health care system in every province, no matter what.
Andrew Scheer’s plan for a safer Canada includes giving more resources for police, making prison time more meaningful, and protecting our children from human trafficking.
As for affordability, people living in Nanaimo-Ladysmith shouldn’t have to pay too much for necessities. That is why a Conservative government, led by Andrew Scheer, will remove the GST from home heating and energy bills, which will save Canadians on average $107 per year.
Lastly, as your MP I will be a strong mental health advocate, I have been passionate about this since before the by-election. That includes voicing concerns about our healthcare system. Just imagine what kind of investment our community could get if we had an island representative in the next Andrew Scheer government. More investment in our hospitals would result in more jobs, which would result in better access to the health options that seniors in our community need to stay healthy.
If we turned our hospital into a teaching hospital for physicians and doctors then people studying at VIU, UBC, and UVIC would be coming here for a better quality of life to learn and work. People leave our community because of the lack of opportunity. Investment from an Andrew Scheer government would change all of that.
This fall vote for a seat at the table. An island representative in the next Andrew Scheer government that will get real results for our community.
John Hirst
Conservative Candidate
Nanaimo-Ladysmith