Student's killer on parole
Charges after investigation
Hostage was on captor 
Regulating power prices
Gen X is raking it in
LeBlanc laying groundwork
US vetoes UN resolution
$100M Nassar settlement
12 Trump jurors picked
Rates slow green economy
Vicinity hires president,
Record housing starts
Warriors ready for Round 2
Kalamalka Bowl cancelled
Rockets live to fight on
Rihanna's parenting ‘hack’
Tarantino scraps film
Munn talks cancer battle
As the BC provincial election draws closer it’s entertaining to watch the leaders make wild promises and proclaim each one is the best choice to lead the province. Most of these promises are meant to mislead us and in four more years we go back to the polls and the game starts once again.
We keep hearing about budgets, deficits, and accumulated debt, but our parties are turning a blind eye to the real problems.
The real issue facing British Columbians is the lack of funding for health care.
In the next twenty years, healthcare funding will exceed 75% the total provincial budget. Everyday hospital patients are sleeping in hallways, waiting months for MRI’s and other critical health care needs. Thousands do not have family doctors and are forced to attend overcrowded medical clinics and get treatment if they are fortunate.
Part of the solution to increase health funding is new money. Two suggestions come to mind. First, establish a 50/50 Provincial Lottery draw where 50% is awarded to the winner and 50% is awarded directly to BC Medical. Second, allocate all fees and taxes collected from marijuana sales to go directly to BC Medical. Both of these ideas are new revenue: no more borrowing from Peter to pay Paul. These funds would be mandated by legislation and go directly to BC healthcare and cannot be used as general revenue. A Board of Directors exclusively comprised of medical professionals could be elected from healthcare professionals. These individuals would dictate where the money would be spent, such as hiring new doctors and nurses, building new hospitals, lowering prescription fees and care for seniors etc.
As May 9, 2017 approaches it would serve the parties well to look at new ideas and stop recycling old promises. Fixing potholes, holding babies, and shaking hands only works on committed voters to their respective parties. Thousands of undecided voters like myself are waiting to hear of fresh and inventive (innovative?) solutions. Are you listening to the voters Christy Clark, Andrew Weaver, John Horgan?
Brian Guillou
