Panorama

I read in this weekend’s Vancouver Sun that BC Health Minister George Abbot has decided to skip his trip to Europe in order to stay home and receive the review he ordered of a decision made at Kootenay Boundary Hospital in Trail that saw a very frail elderly patient moved to a residential care facility in Grand Forks. Ninety-one-year-old Fanny Albo died days after she was transferred from the hospital. Her husband of 70 years was also in the Kootenay hospital and was not aware his wife had been transfered

Mr. Abbot ordered the review on February 22 and it was not expected to be completed until March 10. Apparently the report will be finished early and it is supposed to be delivered to the Ministry of Health March 01.

Mr. Abbot was supposed to go on a junket along with the Premier to check out other health care systems in some European countries. Thankfully Mr. Abbot realizes its more important to stay home and take care of health care concerns right here. I am sure Mr. Abbot will learn all about the health care systems in Norway and other countries by reading the many studies that have already been done about health care delivery systems throughout the world.

Good job Mr. Abbot on staying in BC and working locally for better health care delivery!

I was cheering when I saw Mayor Sam Sullivan take the Olympic flag today and wave it in front of the crowd in Torino Italy. I really enjoyed Sam’s press conference last week where he talked about the work he had done to prepare for the handover ceremony.

I am so proud of my mayor and my city. Thank you Mayor Sullivan for your determination and character. I think your action today clearly shows the world what the Olympic Spirit is all about and that it is alive and well in Vancouver!