Newly-elected BC Liberal leader Kevin Falcon seems to want to lose the Surrey seats again with his comments that he would stop progress on building a new hospital in Surrey and move the project out of Cloverdale. Speaking on a local Punjabi radio station, Falcon said that he does not like the location of the hospital that is to be located in Cloverdale. “Kevin Falcon wants to put the brakes on the hospital in Cloverdale and move the project out of our community,” said Mike Starchuk, BC NDP MLA for Surrey-Cloverdale. “The people in Cloverdale that I talk to on a regular basis are excited about this important health project and would be insulted about his comments today.”

By DESIBUZZCanada Staff

SURREY – Newly-elected BC Liberal leader Kevin Falcon seems to want to lose the Surrey seats again with his comments that he would stop progress on building a new hospital in Surrey and move the project out of Cloverdale.

Speaking on a local Punjabi radio station, Falcon said that he does not like the location of the hospital that is to be located in Cloverdale.

“I think the challenge, even frankly with the NDP wanting to put one in Cloverdale, is it’s not a great location,” said Falcon. “I would want to take a hard look at where it’s located.”

“Kevin Falcon wants to put the brakes on the hospital in Cloverdale and move the project out of our community,” said Mike Starchuk, BC NDP MLA for Surrey-Cloverdale. “The people in Cloverdale that I talk to on a regular basis are excited about this important health project and would be insulted about his comments today.”

When Falcon was Finance Minister, he started the process of selling $1 billion of government land to developers that included a parcel at the corner of Highway 10 and 152nd Street that had been set aside for a second Surrey Hospital.

 “The bottom line is that the BC Liberals broke a promise to build a second hospital in Surrey and then Kevin Falcon sold off the land,” said Starchuk. “Now his plan would set the project back years and take it away from Cloverdale. It’s clear that he’s not working for people in our community.”

Meanwhile, like many other rightwing political leaders across Canada, Falcon wants  provincial public health restrictions eased even though people continue to die from the virus with daily cases remaining in the 1000s.

 “At a time when public trust is fraying, it’s imperative that public officials are open about why and when decisions are being made. This is not the time for a ‘because we said so’ attitude. If the government plans to maintain the current restrictions, they should provide the data and explain why,” Falcon said.

“For two years we’ve seen this unfortunate pattern of government reluctance to share information, but now it is time for Premier Horgan and his government to step up and clearly communicate what the next steps will be as we look towards the future.

“British Columbians are simply asking where are we going and when are we going to get there, as they should reasonably expect government has a plan. It’s time for the NDP to trust people and provide the answers the public deserves.”