$400,000 announced for Fraser Canyon Hospital

2010-08-17

HOPE, BC – Renovations will begin this fall to improve patient and staff safety, as well as improved access to care, at Fraser Canyon Hospital.
 
The $400,000 project will see the hospital's emergency department made more secure by moving the waiting room to new larger location within view of the nursing station. This reconfiguration, which will be completed by 2011, will improve patient safety for those awaiting treatment.
 
"I am pleased to support this project, since local residents and visitors alike will benefit from better access to quality care when these renovations to Fraser Canyon Hospital are complete," said Barry Penner, MLA for Chilliwack-Hope. "The renovated emergency department will be a community asset and help staff safely deliver the highest quality of patient care."
 
The renovation will also result in a secured ambulance bay. The current ambulance bay does double-duty as the emergency department's after-hours public access and ambulance bay. People requiring after-hours access to the ED will be directed through the hospital's main doors to ensure the ambulance bay is clear for emergency access.
 
"Hope Council and citizens are very pleased to see the commitment to the Fraser Canyon Hospital and its staff by way of upgrading the emergency access for improved safety of both staff and patients," said Hope Mayor Laurie French. "This project shows that Fraser Health and its partners understand the importance of Fraser Canyon Hospital to the area."
 
The renovation project also includes a move to using only one of two helipads at Fraser Canyon Hospital. The work will ensure that patients who require emergency health care receive it in a safe, timely manner either at Fraser Canyon Hospital, or beyond.
 
Currently, patient helicopter transfers use the Fraser Canyon Hospital helipad during daytime hours, while all night flights and flights in challenging weather use the helipad at Hope Regional Airpark. Night flights and challenging weather flights require landing lights, which are only available at the Hope Regional Airpark helipad.
 
"These renovations to Fraser Canyon Hospital mark Fraser Health's ongoing commitment to enhancing care and improving services for the people of Hope and surrounding communities," said Heather Cook, Executive Director, Fraser Canyon Hospital. "The renovations will not only improve patient safety at the hospital itself, but will also allow for continued timely patient access to specialized health care facilities for those who require helicopter transfer to them."
 
In 2008-2009, Fraser Canyon's emergency department treated 9,500 patients; an increase of 1,000 patients (+11%) from the previous year....More

Local Jobs Created by Housing for Seniors

2010-07-30

AGASSIZ –Ministers Chuck Strahl and Barry Penner toured Britco Structures Inc. on July 23, which is one of four B.C modular housing manufacturers constructing housing units for seniors and persons with disabilities in British Columbia.

"Seniors on fixed incomes can remain in their communities with this innovative housing project," said the MLA for Chilliwack-Hope, Barry Penner. "In addition, this project’s high level of energy efficiency is a demonstration of the BC government’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions while providing good paying local jobs." ...More

BC ‘Ahead of the Curve’ in Fighting Red Ink

‘Lower deficit means more options in the future,’ says Penner

2010-07-09

CHILLIWACK – It hasn’t been easy or popular, but audited financial statements show BC is leading the way in getting its finances in order following the global recession, says Barry Penner, MLA for Chilliwack-Hope.

“A lower deficit now means fewer debt payments later, and that gives future generations more options when it comes to setting spending priorities,” said Penner.  “I’ve always said that I would rather spend money on services that benefit people, than spend money on interest payments that benefit banks.  While other provinces and many countries are only now starting to talk about restoring fiscal sanity, BC is ahead of the curve in avoiding a future debt crisis.”...More

SURVEY REVEALS LOW SNOWPACK

‘BC Government is preparing a Drought Response Plan’, says Penner

2010-05-07

VICTORIA - Environment Minister Barry Penner says below average snowpacks across British Columbia indicate significant potential for low stream flows and water-supply shortages to develop this summer.
 
As a result, Penner says the B.C. government is developing a 2010 Drought Response Plan to guide government actions for low stream flows and drought conditions. Due to low snowpack conditions, the public is being notified of the potential for drought conditions in certain parts of the province, although wet weather in May and June could reduce the risk.
 
Synopsis:
The peak of the winter's snowpack has accumulated and the melt has begun. Snowpacks have declined in most areas during April as a result of drier than normal weather. With the exception of high-elevation areas on Vancouver Island and the South Coast, snowpacks across B.C. are all below normal. Snowpacks in the South Interior (Nicola, Okanagan, Similkameen, West Kootenay, East Kootenay, Lower Columbia) and in the Northwest Interior (Skeena, Nass) are substantially below normal.
 
The snowpack information indicates significant potential for low stream flows and water supply shortages to develop in these areas during the summer. Precipitation over the next month will determine the likelihood and extent of drought over the summer.
 
Current Snowpack:
Basin snow water indices across B.C. vary from a low of 37 per cent of normal in the Similkameen to a high of 105 per cent of normal on Vancouver Island.Basin snow water indices declined across the Interior during April. Vancouver Island and the South and Central Coast experienced increases in water indices during April, as a result of being affected by frontal storm systems. In most basins, low- and mid-elevation snow is already absent or well below normal, following the unusually warm weather and melt from January to mid-March.
 
Overall, much of central B.C. (Fraser, Thompson, Peace) has 80-90 per cent of normal snowpack. The South Interior (Nicola, Okanagan, Kettle, Similkameen, Kootenay) has 37-76 per cent of normal snowpack. The Skeena and Nass basins are also drier than normal, at only 61 per cent, a notable decline from their 81 per cent level a month ago.
 
Water Supply Outlook:
Conditions as of May 1 indicate a likelihood of well below normal freshet runoff during May and June, and low risk for freshet flooding in the major river basins (Fraser, Thompson, Skeena, Bulkley, Nass, Peace, Liard). Water levels on these large rivers began to rise in late April, and are expected to peak by late May or early June.
 
The well-below-normal snowpack conditions across much of the South Interior (Okanagan, Nicola, Kettle, Similkameen, West Kootenay, East Kootenay), along with the Skeena, Nass, and Peace River basins in the north, indicate potential for low stream flows and water-supply challenges to develop during the summer. The low snowpack and smaller-than-normal snowmelt runoff are likely to be reflected in lower-than-normal lake and reservoir levels, lower-than-normal recharge of groundwater aquifers and lower-than-normal river levels during summer.
 
Snow conditions at the end of the winter comprise only part of the peak flow and water supply forecast picture. Weather during May and June has a large influence. To reduce the potential for summer low-flow or drought problems, rainfall during May and June will need to be at or above normal.
 
Much of the South Interior (including the Nicola, Okanagan, Kettle, Simikmaneen, East Kootenay, West Kootenay and Lower Columbia) are currently classified at Drought Level 3 (very dry conditions), where low stream flows and water supply shortages are highly probable unless significant rainfall occurs during May and June. In these areas, water conservation is urged. Water restrictions at the local level should be considered and drought management plans should be reviewed.
 
Much of the Central and North Interior (including the South Thompson, Cariboo, Upper Fraser, Skeena, Nass, Bulkley, and Peace) are currently classified at Drought Level 2 (dry conditions). These areas have early indications of potential low stream flow and summer water supply shortages. Voluntary water conservation is urged, as well as planning at the local level and use of tools such as drought management plans.
 
As part of the engagement sessions that were held in various regions of the province in preparation for a drought season, the government is hosting a drought response workshop in Cranbrook on May 13. For more information on this workshop go to: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/wsd/public_safety/drought_info.
 
For additional information on the snowpack data, go to: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/rfc/index.htm
 
Living Water Smart: B.C.'s Water Plan outlines the government's vision and plan to keep B.C.'s water healthy and secure for the future. For more information, go to: http://www.livingwatersmart.ca/...More

Hope Benefits from $7 Million for Crucial Infrastructure Projects

2009-11-20

Canada and B.C. have announced a joint total investment of $7,172,150 for the District of Hope and surrounding area. It is estimated that 45 new direct and indirect jobs will be created as a result of this investment through the Building Canada Fund and Infrastructure Stimulus Fund.

"As recent weather events have demonstrated, we need to keep up our guard against flooding and erosion from fast flowing rivers," said Chilliwack-Hope MLA Barry Penner. "It's important to protect and maintain our transportation infrastructure in the eastern Fraser Valley."...More