THURSDAY
|
APRIL 2
|
2026
Hundreds protest delay of seniors’ home Supposed to open next year, now it’s ‘to be confirmed’ SANDOR GYARMATI sgyarmati@delta-optimist.com
It’s all about a chronic lack of fairness for the Fraser Health region by the B.C. government. Hundreds attended a health-care rally Sunday afternoon at Delta’s Paterson Park to speak out against the NDP’s latest budget that delayed the openings of several long-term care facilities, including the new Beedie Long Term Care Centre in Ladner. An approved project with site work already underway, and with the community having raised $18.25 million, the 200-bed facility on the grounds of Delta Hospital initially was to have been
opened by 2027. Now, its completion date is “to be confirmed” in the Budget and Fiscal Plan 2026/27, something speakers at Sunday’s event noted is part of an even bigger problem when it comes to the ongoing lack of equitable funding for the Fraser Health region. Organized by Delta South Conservative MLA Ian Paton and LangleyWalnut Grove MLA Misty Van Popta, Sunday’s event, a short distance from the Beedie project, had representatives from hospital foundations, including the Delta Hospital and Community Health Foundation, as well as statements from health-care professionals. They all highlighted how health care within Fraser Health has been constantly shortchanged. Delta Mayor George Harvie was also on hand with members of coun-
SANDOR GYARMATI PHOTO
Delta residents showed up at Paterson Park on Sunday afternoon. cil by his side. Recalling the community’s 2002 “hands around the hospital” event to rally against planned cuts to Delta Hospital, Paton questioned why the government wants to “re-pace”
long-term care projects to defer them indefinitely. He also noted Van Popta, the opposition infrastructure critic, has been “a dog on a bone” in raising questions
about the government’s decisions. Noting serious issues including Delta’s ER being closed multiple times, Van Popta told the crowd her research on the government consis-
tently delivering projects over-budget and years behind schedule, has found that 50 percent of all cancelled projects were in Fraser Health, even though it is B.C.’s largest health authority serving more than 2.2 million people. Despite having 40 percent of the population, Fraser Health only receives 22 percent of the funding, while also having the lowest bed count in B.C. Three of the seven halted long-term care projects also happen to be in Fraser Health, she said. “Where are seniors supposed to go? “How many of our parents and our spouses need to languish in hospital hallways because they are unable to return home but have no long-term care home to go to?” CONTINUED on P. 3