BC United leader blames closure of Vernon walk-in clinic on lack of communication

“It happens when you sit down, roll up your sleeves, and start driving solutions. That’s really the bottom line here.”

Leader Kevin Falcon of BC United on timing of next election. (Vernon Matters video)

Falcon, a former B.C. health minister while with the BC Liberals, added B.C.’s health care system is “very challenged” with no simple solutions, but added it starts by actually talking to the people who are on the front lines including the doctors.

“And what I find frustrating is Dr. [Chris] Cunningham [from the Sterling Clinic] saying ‘Nobody is reaching out and having serious conversations with us about this issue at Sterling,'” Falcon told the media.

Falcon said walk-in clinics are still feasible, but the doctors have to be listened to as to how to make them a success.

“It’s just so administratively bureaucratically driven out of Victoria that they’re not focused on outcomes.”

Kevin Acton was asked what he would do to address the lack of walk-in clinics in the Vernon area if he becomes the MLA.

“I can tell you I certainly wouldn’t have been silent on the fact that the clinic is closing. I mean we knew it was a trend. We saw the one at the Superstore close. And work with the government that’s in power, which will be us, and we’ll be working through this process to get more doctors on the ground which would fill those clinics,” Acton said.

On the topic of housing, Acton said a recent needs assessment for the North Okanagan showed “we need every type of house.”

“I think the first thing we need to do is, the government needs to get out of the way and let the business sector do its job. If we can create some middle-sector housing, actually every level of housing, it just opens up more room for people that in the basement suites, the smaller rental units and creates space for everybody,” said Acton who is also the chair of the Regional District of North Okanagan board of directors.

Falcon said the NDP’s plan for homelessness is not working.

“The idea that they could sort of take and warehouse those with severe untreated mental health and addiction issues into motels that they buy up in the downtown cores of communities and somehow think that this is going to solve the problem, has proven spectacularly untrue.”

Falcon said the BC United would focus on building secure facilities for people with untreated mental health so they can get the 24-7 care that they need.

“And at the same time, making sure we provide treatment for addictions.”

As for the Vernon-Lumby riding that was a Liberal stronghold for many years until 2020 when Harwinder Sandhu won a close race against three term MLA Eric Foster, Falcon is confident voters will swing back to BC United.

“I think the chances are excellent because I think at the end of the day, the public is going to asked themselves a fundamental question, and that is, after eight years of NDP government has anything actually gotten better?” Falcon said.

BC United leader Kevin Falcon talks about his party’s chances of winning Vernon-Lumby in the next election (Vernon Matters video)

Falcon said, like Sandhu, the NDP are “good people,” but “the results are the worst we’ve ever seen in the history of this province.”

Falcon is not concerned about a right-wing split with the Conservative Party come election time, but he admits some voters will confuse that party with the federal Conservatives.

“But they’re actually thinking Pierre Poilievere and the federal Conservatives, not the BC Conservatives led by John Rustad. In fact, most British Columbians couldn’t name the leader of the BC Conservatives.”

In addition to taking questions from local media, Falcon and Acton will appear at a meet and greet with supporters at Predator Ridge Tuesday evening.

by Pete McIntyre

BC United leader blames closure of Vernon walk-in clinic on lack of communication

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