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Mission Richmond
Holding their own
Hollywood heart-throb and Oscar-winning actor Tom Cruise will film at least part of his fourth Mission Impossible movie in Richmond.
Richmond Devils are off to an impressive start in their inaugural season in the South Coast Female Amateur Hockey League.
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HEALTH CARE
Patients charged for recovery Hospitals violating Canada Health Act: Dosanjh BY NELSON BENNETT
nbennett@richmond-news.com
If you or a loved one are released from Richmond Hospital after surgery, a stroke or another serious medical condition, and need ongoing medical care at Minoru Residence, it will cost you up to $894 per month. And that is a violation of the Canada Health Act, says federal Liberal health critic Ujjal Dosanjh. Minoru Residence has 10 convalescent care beds for people who are released from hospital, but who need a higher level of care than they can get from home care. It used to be free. But earlier this year, the B.C. Ministry of Health quietly instructed health authorities to start charging a new daily fee of $29.40. Since most patients needing convalescent care are seniors, and since many will need convalescent care for an average of a month to a month and a half, it hits the elderly the hardest. “This is absolutely reprehensible for any government to charge anyone for hospital care,” said Dosanjh, who has written both federal and provincial health ministers to protest the new
fees. “There’s a law in this country that says hospitals can’t charge any user fees,” he said. “It is reprehensible for any government to pass these costs off to people who can’t afford $800 or $900 a month.” Richmond Conservative MPs John Cummins and Alice Wong told the News they were not even aware the fees were being charged. Wong said she would bring the fee to the attention of the federal health minister. “It’s not up to me to decide whether it is violating the Canada Health Act or not, but I will definitely bring it to the attention of the minister,” Wong said. “If the staff in the Ministry of Health find B.C.’s practices to be violating the Canada Health Act, then the act clearly states that the money will be paid back by B.C. in the form of reduced transfer payments from Canada to B.C.” Liberal MLA Rob Howard said the Canada Health Act does not apply to convalescent care, respite or palliative care, which are covered under the provincial Continuing Care Act. However, the BC Health Coalition says he’s wrong. see Howard page 4
UTILITY RATES
Water’s rising, at least its cost is CHUNG CHOW/RICHMOND NEWS
Isha Kapoor, 6, checks out the candlelights before going on stage to dance, last week, when more than 160 people took part in the Richmond Multicultural Concerns Society’s Diwali and Eid festivals at the Richmond Cultural Centre. There was ethnic dancing, food, music and lots of fun. Diwali, which is one of the most important festivals in the Hindu and other Indian religions, celebrates the festival of lights. It is a five-day festival, which this year starts on Friday, Nov. 5. Eid is a three-day Muslim celebration, which marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. This year it begins on Nov. 16. For more photos, see page 11 and look online at www.richmond-news.com.
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“My utility bill is going to be more than my taxes,” bemoaned Coun. Bill McNulty, as he chewed over yet another spike in utility rates for 2011. McNulty’s stark dawn of realization was tempered somewhat by Mayor Malcolm Brodie, who told city council Monday night that residents in Vancouver and on the North Shore are facing astronomical increases next year, perhaps rising from $200 to $1,400.
City council were presented by staff with the proposals for the 2011 utility rates, the majority of which are forced on the city from Metro Vancouver. “The greatest cost of the increases is for infrastructure renewal,” said Brodie, who is also chair of Metro Vancouver’s finance committee. It means Richmond residents will have to dig deeper into their pockets in 2011 for their water, sewer, drainage and dyking, solid waste removal and recycling. see Clean-up page 4
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BY ALAN CAMPBELL
acampbell@richmond-news.com