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Jun 2 • 7 tweets • 6 min read
We have been raising this issue in the Legislature since February.

Two-tiered healthcare goes against the fundamental principles of the Canadian health system. 1/ #bcpoli #cdnpoli #healthcare #BCHealth theprovince.com/news/local-new…
People are being asked to pay $4000+ for “premier” services like full annual check-ups, diagnostics, physiotherapists, and dietitians with Telus Health. This government is allowing healthcare delivery to be corporatized. 2/ #bcpoli #healthcare #BCHealth
When I asked @adriandix about people paying out of pocket for diagnostic services and preventative screenings, he said it’s fine, and that they are “non-medically necessary services, beyond the healthcare system”. 3/ #bcpoli #healthcare #BCHealth
To be clear, things like cancer screenings, blood work, and heart assessments are considered to be non-medically necessary by this Minister of Health. 4/ #bcpoli #healthcare #BCHealth
.@adriandix called the @bcndp “the party of public healthcare”.

Under the @bcndp Telus Health, Copeman Medical, Loblaws and others have been allowed to creep into the gaps in services that this govt is allowing. For-profit companies should not be delivering healthcare in BC. 5/
Doctors are leaving practice to work for Telus because they aren’t being valued as independent family doctors. This government has done nothing to change that. 6/ #bcpoli #healthcare #BCHealth #FamilyDoctors
The Premier says that our healthcare system is teetering. Are corporations charging thousands of dollars per year for access to longitudinal care part of his vision for BC? 7/7 #bcpoli #healthcare #BCHealth

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More from @SoniaFurstenau

Sonia Furstenau Profile picture
Jun 2
Telling the truth builds trust. Plain and simple.

As people in BC struggle with overlapping crises this @bcndp gov’t tries to pretend things are fine.

Today I asked @jjhorgan if he could speak honestly about the situation we find ourselves in. He did not answer. 1/ #bcpoli
Towns burned down. Roads are yet to be rebuilt. Farmers’ fields are flooded. 597 people died from a heat dome. People can’t afford food, or rent, or gas. People can’t get their cancer test results b/c they have no family doc. Toxic drugs are killing day after day. 2/ #bcpoli
Today @mikefarnworthbc stood and described my question as “rambling” and “offensive” - choosing to belittle me instead of respond to the reality of how British Columbians are feeling. 3/ #bcpoli
Read 6 tweets
Sonia Furstenau Profile picture
May 31
I applaud the provincial and federal governments for decriminalizing personal possession of drugs in BC.

The BC Coroners Death Review Panel made it clear that #decriminalization is needed in order to ensure that people can access services without stigma. 1/ #bcpoli #cdnpoli
But this announcement comes with a caveat.

BC requested a limit for personal possession of 4.5 g, but the federal government only approved a limit of 2.5g.

Health experts and advocates argued for a higher threshold, based on data and evidence. 2/ #bcpoli #decriminalization
The intent of #Decriminalization is to reduce stigma, but when possession limits are low, it can result in higher potency of drugs, potentially causing more harm and a fear of seeking help. 3/ #bcpoli #EndTheStigma #safesupply
Read 5 tweets
Sonia Furstenau Profile picture
May 30
The only thing the @bcndp loves more than blaming others for their problems is patting themselves on the back.

With overlapping crises facing BC we keep getting recycled announcements of capital projects, while many sit empty with no staff. 1/ #bcpoli #BCHealth #healthcare
The @bcndp loves to talk about its capital budget, but when it comes to operations, we see big problems. Child care centres w/ no ECEs. Schools scrambling for teachers & EAs.

Our crumbling #healthcare system lacking the doctors and nurses who do the actual care. 2/ #bcpoli #bced
Urgent and Primary Care Centres in Kamloops are only offering appointments 14 days from now.

Emergency departments in Chetwynd, Clearwater, & Port McNeil were closed this weekend due to staff shortages, and where they were open, people were waiting hours to be seen. 3/ #bcpoli
Read 6 tweets
Sonia Furstenau Profile picture
May 10
There is no healthcare without #Nurses.

Yet they are forced to work in conditions that aren’t safe or respectful.

Nurses want to keep going, but fear they don’t have anything left to give. 1/
#bcpoli #NurseStaffingCrisis #HelpBCNurses #healthcare @BCNursesUnion
Last night @AdamPOlsen and I attended a vigil to mourn the impacts recent years have had on nurses and our #healthcare system.

Today, alongside hundreds of #nurses, we attended their rally in front of the Legislature to demand action and respect. 2/ #bcpoli #NurseStaffingCrisis
Shift after shift, #nurses are providing care in packed medical units and packed ICUs.

Staffing shortages have resulted in unacceptable nurse-to-patient ratios, endangering patients, and over-burdening nurses.

All of this and nurses are being denied essential PPE. 3/ #bcpoli
Read 4 tweets
Sonia Furstenau Profile picture
May 10
In Q1 of 2022, Telus Health increased their revenue by $17 million.

Should a for-profit corporation be generating substantial profits in BC’s publicly funded #healthcare sector?

Today I asked @jjhorgan exactly that. He did not answer. 1/ #bcpoli #Health theglobeandmail.com/business/artic…
Minister of Health @AdrianDix responded by saying healthcare in BC is more public than it was 5 years ago.

It’s hard to square the expansion of for-profit corporations in the #healthcare sector with “becoming more public.” 2/ #bcpoli #health
Telus has been actively expanding its healthcare business, charging thousands to individuals for access to primary care.

Access that is meant to be covered by our universal healthcare system. And it’s not just Telus. 3/ #bcpoli #healthcare #BCHealth
Read 5 tweets
Sonia Furstenau Profile picture
May 10
Earlier today we posted this tweet - it was reductionist. Our Caucus apologizes for the confusion.

The low carbon fuel standard is a positive near-term policy to reduce emissions from fossil fuels as we look to eliminate their use. 1/ #bcpoli
Trust on #ClimateAction must be earned. This gov't is currently in court fighting to be less transparent & accountable on its emission reductions targets. 2/ #bcpoli
They still have not figured out how to meet our #CleanBC targets while subsidizing LNG Canada.

Nor have they ruled out expanding LNG Canada into Phase 2. 3/ #bcpoli
Read 6 tweets

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