BC Conservative MLAs did not hold back during Question Period on Thursday, pressing the BC NDP government on the issue of emergency room closures across the province.
All 20 of those who rose from the benches of the official opposition asked their colleagues across the aisle how they let things get so bad, and what they were doing to ensure things get better.
They included Nechako Lakes MLA John Rustad, Fraser-Nicola MLA Tony Luck, Boundary-Similkameen MLA Donegal Wilson, Courtney-Comox MLA Brennan Day, Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Lorne Doerkson, Prince George-Mackenzie MLA Kiel Giddens, Langley-Willowbrook MLA Jody Toor, Surrey-Serpentine River MLA Linda Hepner, Abbotsford-Mission MLA Reann Gasper, North Island MLA Anna Kindy, Columbia River-Revelstoke MLA Scott McInnis, Kelowna-Lake Country-Coldstream MLA Tara Armstrong, Peace River North MLA Jordan Kealy, Skeena MLA Claire Rattée, Peace River Sound MLA Larry Neufeld, Delta South MLA Ian Paton, Penticton-Summerland MLA Amelia Boultbee, Prince George-Valemount MLA Rosalyn Bird, Surrey-White Rock MLA Trevor Halford, and Kootenay Rockies MLA Pete Davis.
They each discussed the situation in their respective ridings, though some shifted the focus to other areas that were harder hit.
"Elkford's ER department in my riding has been closed for over two years," Davis told Health Minister Josie Osborne. "Why did the premier do nothing to prevent Elkford's ER from closing?"
Armstrong noted that the ER in Keremeos has been closed evenings and weekends for a whopping 1,213 days.
At the end of question period, Halford declared that, "the last 30 minutes have been pretty damning on the state of our healthcare here in British Columbia."
"Every part of this province has been represented today speaking about the state of our healthcare," he said. "Can you imagine having your ailing child in the back of your car and having to drive 10 hours to access an emergency room? Can you imagine going to Surrey Memorial Hospital and waiting 18 hours to access an emergency room? When people in this province seek healthcare, seek an emergency room, they should expect that they'll be able to get that access where they need it, and when they need it, and that is not happening today."
Osborne agreed that the situation was unacceptable, and reiterated that the province would continue to do what it can to hire more doctors and ensure all emergency rooms are properly staffed.
"We didn't get into this problem overnight," she said, "and it is gonna take time to resolve ... Nobody wants to see this happening."
She pointed out that while ER diversions and temporary closures have "reduced by 40% over the last six months compared to the six months before," there is still "more work to do."