Marji Basso, BC NDP Provincial Candidate for the Boundary Similkameen is asking the Provincial government to explain why the BC Liberals endorse the IHA  decision to close sexually transmitted infection clinics. This decision directly affects the Grand Forks public health unit which will no longer be testing new patients for sexually transmitted infections or HIV.   Based on a news release by the BC Nurses Union recently, Interior nurses warn of higher rates of teen pregnancy, STI infection transmission if clinics are closed. Public health nurses in BC’s Interior region are stepping up their opposition to the Interior Health Authority’s (IHA) recent decision to close all five public health clinics that test and treat sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV.  “Our current MLA John Slater needs to immediately act on behalf of the people of the Boundary Similkameen and get his government to explain this decision that negatively impacts rural communities such as Grand Forks. This is not in the best interest of families,” she concluded, ” it goes against a preventative approach to health concerns which we all know is more fiscally responsible that reacting after the fact. This is unfortunately consistent with the pattern that the BC Liberals are neglecting rural British Columbians with regards to healthcare.”

Marji Basso so is also calling on Slater to explain why the BC Liberals are dragging their feet on removing the HST, saying the delay is hurting the economy and costing jobs while extending the amount of time that British Columbians are being hit by the unfair tax. “British Columbians voted overwhelmingly to defeat the HST, and now the Liberal government is playing games by saying it will take more than a year and a half to remove,” said Basso. “Meanwhile, ordinary people are still paying this tax and the delay is costing BC jobs and economic activity.” Basso’s call echoes a recent question from Adrian Dix in the BC Legislature. “It took eleven months to bring the HST in,” Dix said in Question Period. Basso is urging that John Slater join the calls from business and community leaders to expedite the removal process. “Our current MLA needs to immediately act on behalf of the people of the Boundary Similkameen and get his government to take this seriously and act quickly to abolish the HST,” she concluded.