MLA for Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows
Jun 15 2010
Concerned about the potential loss of pediatric and obstetric services at Ridge Meadows Hospital?
Join Michael and a panel of stakeholders on Wednesday the 23rd at St. Andrew’s United Church from 6:30 – 8:30pm for an open forum.
Date: Wednesday June 23rd
Time: 7:00pm – 8:30pm
Location: St Andrew’s Haney United Church
22165 Dewdney Trunk Rd.
Maple Ridge, BC
V2X 5T7
Jun 14 2010
You may be aware that the Fraser Health Authority is considering closing our pediatric (child and youth) beds at Ridge Meadows Hospital and possibly our obstetric (care of women prior to, during and after birth) ward. I have been told that our pediatric beds could be replaced by an “observation unit” which, I assume, means that a parent going to RMH with their sick child would see their child assessed and sent home or referred to another hospital. Apparently the FHA is looking at consolidating pediatric and obstetric services in Royal Columbian, Surrey Memorial and Abbotsford hospitals. This is a real concern for parents in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows. Getting a sick child to RCH or SMH in a timely fashion can be a problem, especially during morning and afternoon rush hours. This is a health and safety issue and parents are right to be concerned.
Closing or significantly reducing our obstetric services would also be problematic. Pregnant women need to see their obstetrician on a regular basis. After giving birth they may need to take their child to the obstetrician as well. Having to go outside the community would be time consuming and would add more stress to families, many of whom are already dealing with long commutes to work.
Losing pediatric and obstetric services would have a cascading effect on services in our area. Without obstetrics, in particular, there would be fewer surgeries and reduced need for anesthetic services. This makes it harder to keep anesthesiologists at our hospital and would affect all surgeries.
I am hosting a public forum for residents to express their concerns about these proposed changes. It is tentatively scheduled for the evening of June 23.
May 31 2010
Independent Power Producers, Run of the River, Biomass, Site C, Waste to Energy….There’s been a lot of activity in the government concerning the emerging energy economy in BC. The central piece of legislation to help usher in this ship in provincial energy policy is the Clean Energy Act and today, Michael rose in the House to address it.
Below you will find the draft transcript of his speech and as always the official Hansard will be posted when available.
May 31 2010
Today in the House, Michael’s fellow NDP MLA Lana Popham introduced the following Private Member’s Motion: “Be it resolved that the House debate and discuss a plan to ensure a sustainable wild salmon stock and aquaculture sector.”
Michael rose to support his colleague’s motion and the draft transcript of his speech is copied below.
As always the official version will be posted when available.
May 26 2010
Michael is ever the proponent of agriculture in BC and especially in Maple Ridge. today Michael rose to address the role this primary industry has played in his communities history.
Below you will find Michael’s statement in the Legislature on this topic and as always the official version will be posted when available.
May 19 2010
Today in the House Michael led the Opposition’s questioning of Bill 15: The PROTECTED AREAS OF BRITISH COLUMBIA AMENDMENT ACT, 2010. Below you will find the complete debate led by Michael but including other Opposition MLA’s as they try to clarify the government’s intention, section by section, of this bill.
This is the draft transcript and as always the official version will be posted when available.
May 18 2010
Community groups have been caught off guard by a government decision to withhold their gaming funds until August at the earliest.
As one can Imagine this has had a tremendous negative impact on most groups.
Today, Michael rose in the House to draw attention to just one of those groups, The North Fraser Therapeutic Riding Association.
Below you will find the draft transcript of the statement and as always the official version will be posted when available.
May 17 2010
Michael firmly believes that education matters. Today in the House he had an opportunity to ask questions of the Minister of Education Margaret MacDiarmid and brought up issues of interest to Maple Ridge – Pitt Meadows.
Below you will find the draft transcript of their exchange and as always the official Hansard will be posted when available.
May 17 2010
We all know the story, the pine beetle, mills closing, communities dying, the past decade has seen the forest industry move from the economic engine of the province to an after thought. Today in the House Michael addressed the government’s record on being stewards of our forests as part of addressing the latest policy change by the government.
Below you will find the draft transcript of his speech and as always the official version will be posted when available.
May 5 2010
As part of the Site C plan vast amounts of land will be flooded to create a reservoir for the dam. Naturally, this results in the loss of habitat for many species and of particular importance caribou. Today Michael discussed the governments handling of this situation with Minster Penner.
Below you will find the draft transcript of the exchange and as always the official record will be posted when available.
