Samson For Council

Campbell River Hospital

City Council must be vigilant and united with our citizens and health care professionals in ensuring our hospital retains and moves forward with health care services in Campbell River. The new hospital must not only maintain but exceed existing service levels. The new hospital must allow for population increase, technological change and medical advancement. The doctors, nurses, support staff and organizations and hospital that provide health care are woven into the fabric of our community; a hospital is seen as an indicator for the health of the entire community.

While Vancouver Island Health Authority has promised verbally that Campbell River will not lose any services with the building of the new hospital;
  • They have not put this in writing or responded to our letters outlining the services we currently provide.
  • VIHA has not clarified what level the service will be held at. In 2009/2010 Campbell River had the second highest rate of Circulatory system and Arterial system –related deaths in Vancouver Island Health Authority. Will VIHA ensure our excellent existing cardiac service will remain at the same or higher level than we currently have?
  • Will VIHA ensure our lab will remain at the same level or will VIHA reduce the level of service as they did in the past?
  • There are still groups of people even now, within the Comox Valley who are pushing for one regional hospital.

A community of our size needs an excellent, strong and vibrant health care system, one that serves the needs of its citizens and can meet all future demands.

Crime Reduction Strategy

The City of Campbell River adopted a crime reduction strategy in 2008 which included a number of key organizations and departments including the RCMP, Fire Department, Crown Prosecutors, the judiciary, VIHA, First Nations, School District 72, the local MP and MLA, ICBC, Crimestoppers, Community Policing Committee, probation services, and others. It contained 74 recommendations on a wide range of topics in reducing crime within our City. This program was modeled after the City of Surrey’s Crime Reduction Program and was recognized internationally. During the past three years this program has faltered. The present City Council has not taken a leadership role in moving forward with the Crime Reduction Strategy.

We need to reinstate the Crime Reduction Strategy; we need to have all organizations, groups and interested parties at the table working together to reduce crime. We cannot be satisfied with our rating in the federal crime severity index when compared to other communities across Canada. If I am elected I will work with other members on council to take forward the City Of Campbell River’s Crime Reduction Strategy.

Fiscal Responsibility

The City of Campbell River government has a fiduciary responsibility to its residents. When we spend the taxpayer’s dollar there must be a cost analysis done on our spending. We cannot afford to spend millions of dollars without the assurance that we are receiving a return on our investment. There is only one taxpayer whether it’s municipal, provincial or federal money; ultimately we the taxpayers pay. Not only do we need to identify and eliminate waste, we need to restore responsibility and transparency to our city government.