Former B.C. premier and federal Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh made a whirlwind tour of 樱桃视频Monday (Feb. 28) to ride the rails and defend the Liberal government's budget.
Dosanjh made a brief tour of the West Coast Railway Heritage Park, including a ride on the West Coast Mini-Rail, as well as appearing before a group of about 40 members of the community.
Dosanjh spoke very briefly about the recently-tabled federal budget before taking questions.
Dr. Richard Cudmore asked the minister about the lack of investment in diagnostic equipment, including CT scanning and MRI machines.
Dosanjh replied that the recently-concluded health care accord between the federal government and the provinces includes an additional $500 million for diagnostic equipment.
"The money is now thereit's now a question of management," he said.
Dosanjh also fielded questions from 樱桃视频Nation councillors Donna Billy and Dale Harry about funding for First Nations health care and seniors' housing.
Dr. Greg Lee, president of Capilano College, pointed out that post-secondary education funding was "noticeably absent" from the budget and asked if there was a need for a federal ministry of education.
Dosanjh said that "the state of our federation is delicate" and pointed out that education is a provincial responsibility, a statement he reiterated when asked by School District #48 chair Doug Hackett about funding hearing and vision testing for students entering kindergarten.
Mohammad Afsar of the 樱桃视频Town Centre Association asked Dosanjh to keep 樱桃视频in mind with regard to infrastructure needs with the 2010 Winter Olympics coming up. "Until 2010, you have a lot of leverage," Dosanjh replied.Mayor Ian Sutherland, who chaired the meeting, joked that "It's the first time we've had a federal minister spend this much time in this area without a fire or a flood."
He highlighted the efforts of Blair Wilson, the Liberal candidate for the riding in last year's federal election, in organizing the meeting.
Sutherland also pointed to federal contributions to the 樱桃视频Adventure Centre of $900,000 as well as Squamish's potential share of $636 million coming to B.C. towns in fuel tax revenue.
