Update from your President: Renewal and Regrowth Except in Health Care

Springtime is known as time of renewal and regrowth. I think the same goes for our unions’ Executive Board elections which just took place in late April. 

We have people returning and some new ones joining us on our Executive Board. 

I would like to congratulate Miriam Pulsifer, 1st Vice President, Leanne Toderian, Secretary Treasurer, Anne-Marie McGee, Parks Sector Representative, Diane Brown, City Sector Representative, Caroline Mewis, Health Sector Representative, Peggy Wong, K-12 Sector Representative and Michele Alexander, Trustee for being elected into their positions. I and the other Executive Board members are looking forward to working with our new officers on the many challenges that lay ahead.  

The learning curve is going to be short for our new members as we are collectively facing some difficult matters in the coming days, weeks and months. With the BC Liberals continuing on the reckless course for our province we were just notified by Vancouver Coastal Health that they intend to eliminate approximately 12 FTE and several part time positions. In the notice we received it stated the reason for the cuts were to “improve service efficiencies and delivery, help build capacity and to help address pressure and shortfalls”. I wish someone could explain to me what “help build capacity” means? 

I think it would be hard to find anyone that would call cuts to the Aboriginal Program, Environmental Health, Rehab, Downtown Eastside Community Health Centre and shutting down the Contact Food Store helping to build capacity. Maybe except for Health Minister Kevin Falcon who is pushing his privatization agenda. You don’t think so? In April Services Minister Kevin Falcon appointed a former private hospital board member as chair of Vancouver Coastal Health. Mr. Falcon’s  appointee Kip Woodward just happens as well to be a founding investor in the private Cambie Surgery Centre in Vancouver.  

I am appalled at all of the health cuts and we are going to fight back against them. Not that I need to show how heartless the BC Liberals are, but closing the food store in the downtown eastside is simply cruel. Just read what this place does from Vancouver Coastal Health’s website “The food store provides low-cost, affordable groceries in single-serving or small portions to residents in the downtown eastside. Service is intended to fill the gap between drop-in meal services and regular grocery stores, with the latter being out of reach for these clients. Most clients have an average of $4.50 to spend, though they will say they are willing to spend $2.00.”  

“The challenge for staff is to identify and educate on what one can buy that is nutritional for this amount of money. The store is unique in that it provides individual portions, no point in buying a whole box of cereal if you can’t afford milk or you don’t have a fridge to put the milk in. Food is already divided into individual portions, such as cereal, and staff will provide the bowl and spoon to eat it on the spot. The store also offers many “blended food” options and smoothies for clients with poor teeth. For this population, it may be their only opportunity to eat fresh, nutritional food.” 

Shame on you Mr.Falcon.  Bloody heartless.