New cancer care funding sorely needed in B.C.

Two health statistics were released by the B C government last week, and they were somewhat startling

One was that the number of people getting a cancer diagnosis would increase by one-third over the next decade, going from the current 30,000 people a year to 40,000 people annually

The other was that one in two British Columbians will be diagnosed with some kind of cancer at some point in their life

The two statistics helped lay the foundation for the government’s announcement that $440 million would be the initial investment in a 10-year cancer “action plan ”

The funding is sorely needed as there appears to have been a steady downward slide in the quality of care over the years Critics say the decline began after a change in the governance model of the BC Cancer Agency in 2001, shifting the agency’s priority from top cancer care to fiscal management

Part of the new funding will make B C oncologists the highest paid in the country, getting a $62,000 raise for an annual salary of $472,000 (this follows an earlier move by the government to make family physicians the highest paid in the country)

In making the announcement of the $440 million in new funding, Health Minister Adrian Dix said the cancer treatment system was underfunded for a decade before he became minister Funding arguments aside, the inescapable fact is that our population is aging rapidly, and with that will come more demand and need for treatment and early detection of cancer

There is no question the new funding will help About $270 million will be spent over three years for better screening for cervical, lung and hereditary cancers as well as expanded care hours

Another $170 million is a one-time grant (out of this year’s huge budget surplus) to the BC Cancer Foundation, to be used for more clinical trials, genomic testing and new diagnostic approaches and treatments

Given our changing demographics and huge increase in cancer cases, this research money may prove to be the most effective kind of spending of all

Dr Kim Chi, the chief medical officer at the BC Cancer Agency, said the cancer plan is the “most significant investment in cancer care the province has ever seen” and said it will save lives and meet rising demand

Let’s hope so Another 10,000 people a year getting cancer (which likely means an additional 3,000 to 4,000 deaths, based on current statistics) will put a tremendous amount of pressure on a system already facing enormous challenges

The new $440 million covers the first three years of the 10-year plan Don’t be surprised if another big funding lift occurs again to fight the inevitable rise of an insidious disease

Keith Baldrey is chief political reporter for Global BC

East Columbia Street ‘terrifying’to walk

Editor: An open letter to Mayor Patrick Johnstone and New Westminster city council: My husband, our new daughter and I often walk through the section along East Columbia to access the riverfront park It is nothing short of terrifying to have the stroller only inches from the semi-truck traffic flying along the roadway, but there is no other option to access this park without a 1.2-kilometre detour up a significant gradient to Richmond Street, which is a significant challenge while pushing a stroller With the recent news of a man losing his life in this extremely dangerous section of roadway, we no longer feel safe to use this park

There is only one solution that can resolve the pedestrian safety issue on East Columbia, and that solution is space: space to reconstruct the intersection, space to realign the roadway, space to expand the sidewalk and create a physical barrier to protect pedestrians To achieve that space, it will require bold action the expropriation of four properties of 120, 124, 130, 140, 146 East Columbia These properties are inappropriately isolated, inadequately serviced by proper road access and using pedestrian areas for vehicle storage

The expropriation of these lands would allow for a modern intersection with appropriate safety measures to keep pedestrians and vehicles safe

This would also allow for two lanes to travel north on Brunette towards Highway 1, which aligns with the road dedication taken from the Brewery District development and avoid the constant backlog of traffic in this area that impacts residence and causes rat running through the neighbourhood.

A man has lost his life How many more people will need to die before the City of New Westminster starts implementing traffic improvement measures instead of constantly trying to “calm” these critical thoroughfares and pedestrian pathways to our local parks

I urge the city to investigate the expropriation of these properties to appropriately address this deadly problem before more lives are lost.

B Beuerlein

East Columbia sidewalk needs a safety fence

Editor: I drove by this minutes after it happened It was horrific

This area of sidewalk is so dangerous A suggestion for a barrier: how about the same safety fence they built in the Stanley Park causeway?

Tracy Dixon

‘Scary sidewalk’the only route for biking with kids

Editor: I bike with my three children on this scary sidewalk because I am not able to easily ride up the very steep bike path, but this is how we get to and from school

I hope that with the thought of expropriating those properties and adding extra driving lanes that it can also have some safe space for all who need to see change in this stretch

Stephanie Hsu

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