The Liberal candidate in Powell River-Sunshine Coast is standing by statements made in a campaign ad that was published last week.
The ad copy read: “Mathew Wilson received a commitment from Vancouver Coastal Health that two facilities will be kept open once a new one is built for seniors’ residential care. Rising concerns about closure of Totem Lodge and Shorncliffe Intermediate Care Facility, and possible job losses, despite a new, expanded facility, led Mathew Wilson to negotiate this arrangement.”
The wording “negotiate this arrangement” raised questions with Coast Reporter readers, and on some social media groups dedicated to Sunshine Coast issues, about whether the health authority had been making agreements with political candidates.
VCH senior media relations officer Anna-Marie D’Angelo said the future of Shorncliffe and Totem was raised at a meeting with Wilson last December.
“As part of that discussion, he asked us about our plans for the Totem and Shorncliffe facilities. As we have shared with other community groups, we shared with him that we remain open to what the future holds for Totem and Shorncliffe once Silverstone is built,” D’Angelo said.
“However, we have been clear that while we are open to repurposing Shorncliffe and Totem to support the health needs of the community, they will not stay as they currently are.”
Wilson told Coast Reporter in an email this week, “Yes, I do stand by my statement. I find it appalling that the NDP are once again playing politics with seniors care. The decision to keep open Totem Lodge and Shorncliffe is great news for our community. I am a resident in our community, have aging parents and grandparents and have a vested interest in ensuring that there are seniors health services available. When it was clear that our MLA was not prepared to pick up the phone, I decided to help find a solution, which I have, and this is the type of representation that I will bring to the Sunshine Coast.”
D’Angelo also said that VCH has been in touch with Wilson’s campaign office to clarify the situation with the future of the two facilities.
