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Hospital funding

The existing Penticton Regional Hospital is much too small to serve the present needs of the region.

For anyone who has needed hospital services in the South Okanagan, it is painfully obvious that the existing Penticton Regional Hospital is much too small to serve the present needs of the region.

The hospital was built in 1951 to serve a population of 10,000. At the time, it was one of several hospitals in the area.

Today, Summerland no longer has a general hospital and the Penticton Regional Hospital is the only one for this area.

A proposed expansion, at an estimated cost of $300 million, is necessary for this region, but the cost is significant.

Premier Christy Clark’s announcement last week, that the money has been approved do develop a business case for the tower, should be welcome news.

Unfortunately, it is easy to become cynical about this announcement.

The upcoming provincial election is just weeks away and as a result, any announcement about significant spending or about a major project in any community can look like a pre-election ploy.

It appears to be nothing more than a carrot on a stick, a way to convince voters to return the Liberals to office in the upcoming election.

If the announcement had been made even a few months earlier, it would be easier to take it at face value.

With the election writ expected soon and with the next fixed election date on May 14, any provincial government announcement will be viewed with suspicion.

Health care services are important to all of us and the hospital expansion is badly needed.

A decision of this nature and of this importance must be made solely on its own merits, in the best interests of the public.

It must not even appear to be an attempt at re-election.