After having to postpone his March 3 visit, Health Minister Adrian Dix is now planning to be on the Sunshine Coast on Monday, March 19.
Dix will be speaking in Sechelt at the invitation of the NDP’s Powell River-Sunshine Coast constituency association, a little over a month after confirming a deal is in the works to locate a new long-term care facility on shíshálh Nation lands.
The agreement with shíshálh, which could be finalized soon, will see Trellis Seniors Services build a 125-bed facility, originally slated for Derby Road in West Sechelt, on shíshálh land, most likely in Wilson Creek.
The 2016 contract between Vancouver Coastal Health and Trellis remains controversial, and Dix will likely be called on to defend the NDP government’s decision to honour that deal.
In an interview with Coast Reporter on Feb. 7, Dix acknowledged ongoing opposition to having a for-profit company run a facility that will replace the only remaining fully public long-term care homes on the Coast.
“Not everybody’s going to be happy… I think most people wanted us to proceed. Most people wanted to see the care home built as soon as possible. Most people will like the fact that we will be able to deliver the service in Sechelt. Most people will like the fact that we’ve taken steps to support workers who’ve given so much to seniors’ care in Sechelt,” Dix said. “I don’t want to abandon the possible and the good in pursuit of the perfect. I’m hopeful that people will see that.”
The group Protect Public Health Care-Sunshine Coast (PPHC-SC ) has announced plans for a demonstration prior to Dix’s appearance.
“While in Opposition, Dix and the NDP condemned the Liberal government for refusing to intervene in VCH’s attempt to close Totem Lodge and Shorncliffe and replace them with a private, for-profit facility,” the group said in a release this week. “Dix pledged to defend well-paying jobs, maintain publicly-owned and operated care, and institute policies based on engagement with relevant stakeholder groups. Since taking office, however, Dix has pursued a course almost indistinguishable from his Liberal predecessor.”
Dix will speak at the Royal Canadian Legion at 5591 Wharf Ave. in Sechelt, starting at 6:30 p.m. PPHC-SC said it plans to start its demonstration outside the Legion branch at 5:30.
