(BC Government)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

BUDGET 2022

Nanaimo cancer centre remains on horizon as mental health, disaster relief headline B.C. budget

Feb 22, 2022 | 3:01 PM

NANAIMO — Better care, closer to home for mid-Island residents battling cancer remains in the plans for the B.C. government, albeit without any specifics.

Finance minister Selina Robinson delivered this year’s provincial budget from the Legislature in Victoria, again promising a new cancer care centre for the region.

“Budget 2022 continues our government’s work to deliver better care in communities throughout BC,” Robinson said, touting new hospitals and cancer centres in other communities. “And Mr. Speaker, more cancer care centres are being planned for Kamloops and Nanaimo.”

The ministry of health indicating to NanaimoNewsNOW in November 2021, conceptual planning was underway for the centre, which was part of the NDP’s 10-year cancer action plan.

The budget comes with a projected $5.5 billion deficit in 2022-23, with a forecast deficit of $3.2 billion the year after.

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Unsurprisingly, the biggest commitment of funding came for the healthcare sector, including more supports for mental health services.

Robinson committed to $3.2 billion over three years including $875 million for COVID-19 immunizations, personal protective equipment and testing capabilities.

Also included in the budget was $300 million over the next three years to increase system capacity in order to reduce wait lists for surgeries and scans.

“And almost $150 million will increase the number of paramedics, call takers and dispatchers to speed up emergency response times,” Robinson said.

Money will also continue to be poured into services for those battling with substance use challenges, including treatment beds and other facilities.

Robinson used the story of a Nanaimo man, who she called Daniel, who checked himself into a treatment facility and is moving forward with his life.

“We are taking action by opening hundreds of treatment and recovery beds, just like the one in Nanaimo, by becoming the first province in Canada to apply for decriminalization and offer prescribed safe supply.”

Robinson also touted foundry centres operating in several communities across B.C., however Nanaimo was passed over for such a site in early 2020.

In the wake of disastrous heat and flooding through 2021, the new budget has set aside $2.1 billion to help the province move on from, and mitigate against damage from natural disasters.

Around $1.5 billion will go towards flood recovery after an atmospheric river in November washed out several highways and communities. A further $400 million is earmarked for known costs for removing debris and providing financial assistance for hard hit areas.

Robinson also reserved $1.1 billion as a contingency fund for additional recovery costs related to the flooding.

Additional money, $25 million, was also awarded to help the tourism sector in its bid to recover from COVID-19, while $500 million will be spent to add high-speed internet connectivity to remote and rural communities across the province.

It’s expected by 2027, almost 800 communities will have access to high-speed internet who didn’t before.

The government also used the budget to speak on affordable housing and several initiatives currently in play to ease demand in the rental and real estate markets.

“Right now, too many people are still struggling to find an affordable place to buy, live or rent and we can’t afford to wait,” Robinson said. “Just last year, more than 53,000 new homes were registered in British Columbia and in the last five years we’ve registered more rental homes than the previous 15 years combined.”

Robinson said the budget affords for $1.2 billion per year for the next three years for housing and homelessness supports, on top of the $2 billion Housing Hub announced in 2021.

Included is more staff to accelerate Housing Hub projects along with $100 million for the Community Housing Hub.

“This will support the work of non-profit partners to build even more mixed income rentals and to do it faster.”

The government is also making a move to help parents looking for affordable childcare in their community.

While not at the $10 per day level promised during past election cycles, Robinson said the province is making gains.

“Parents know there will always be a space for their child in public school and we are working hard to bring the same certainty to childcare. With this year’s budget, we are embedding childcare within the ministry of education.”

She added partnerships with the federal government will see savings continue to parents of young children.

“By the end of the year, parent fees for children aged five and under will drop by an average of 50 per cent.”

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