Final few opportunities to grill Nelson/Creston candidates
By Nelson Daily Staff
Two final opportunities to grill candidates in the Nelson/Creston riding on their views heading into the 40th B.C. Provincial Election, Tuesday, May 14, are on the slate for Wednesday and Thursday.
Wednesday, candidates Michelle Mungall (BC NDP), Sjeng Derkx (Green Party of BC) and Greg Garbula (BC Liberals) tackled the Education topic in a forum hosted by Trustees of the SD8 Board of Education.
The forum, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. is hosted at the Nelson Board Office on Johnstone Road. It’s being live streamed on http://www.youtube.com/user/SD8KootenayLake/videos?view=0&flow=list&sort=dd&live_view=500
Thursday (May 9), at 7 p.m., in the Hume Hotel, the three candidates turn their attention to health care, which has emerged as one of the key issues of the 2013 provincial election in the Nelson/Creston riding as voters question the future of their health care under a new government.
“I believe that the next four years will be critical for the health care of the entire region,” said Dr. Shiraz Moola, obstetrician/gynecologist at Kootenay Lake Hospital and researcher with the Center of Rural Health Research.
The Nelson Area Health Society (NASH), the Community First Health Coop, The Nelson Daily and EZ Rock Radio, Kootenay Food Coop and Kootenay Coop Radio are co-sponsors of the all-candidate forum, entitled, What’s in your Health Care Future.
Candidates will each answer questions prepared by health care professionals in the first hour before taking questions from the audience in the second hour on health care issues.
“The real two tier health care system in Canada is about urban compared to rural services. Where you live and where you get sick can have profound impacts on one’s access to care and health outcomes. At present only 14% of British Columbians live rurally, though in this riding it is greater than 50%,” added Dr. Moola.
“That is why I feel it is so important to recognize the health care challenges facing our communities.”
