In their second regular meeting of 2018, the North Coast Regional District board addressed issues relating to health care, access and safety in northwest B.C. on Feb. 23.
Community paramedicine
Full-time paramedics are expected to begin in rural B.C. communities by the summer of 2018.
On their website, BC Emergency Health Services outlines the purpose of these positions as “intended primarily for rural and remote communities that are sometimes under served and have aging populations living with chronic and complex diseases. The program objectives are to help stabilize paramedic staffing in these communities, and bridge health service delivery gaps identified in collaboration with local health care teams.”
B.C. will be the first province to introduce community paramedicine across the province.
Ninety-nine communities in B.C. will be part of the program. In the Northwest, Prince Rupert, the Village of Queen Charlotte, Dawson Creek, Fort Nelson, Fort St. John, Smithers, Valemount and Vanderhoof will each receive a full-time primary care paramedic with IV (PCP IV) endorsement or a rural advanced care community paramedic (RACCP). Burns Lake will have a part-time PCP IV.
READ MORE: B.C. Paramedics to get their own union
BC Ferries service
After receiving a letter from the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure about a meeting at the 2017 annual Union of B.C. Municipalities convention, the board resolved to request a status update about BC Ferries service levels.
“This is something our board has kind of taken an advocacy approach on because it is important to our constituents to have that access to basic service through the ferry system, particularly on Haida Gwaii, when you’re living in Sandspit and you do not have basic access to education, health care, even employment past 6 p.m. because of the ferry schedule,” NCRD corporate officer Daniel Fish said.
The board is specifically interested in reestablishing service levels, the frequency of service and fare levels from before the 2014 ferry season.
READ MORE: Multiple complaints about BC Ferries customer service prompts letter
Car Wash Rock
The Kasiks area and rock formation known as Car Wash Rock along Highway 16 between Prince Rupert and Terrace continue to be a concern for the board.
The overhanging cliff face was addressed in the March 24 meeting, and again on Feb. 23 when the board decided to write a resolution to the TransCanada Yellowhead Highway Association to be considered at this year’s annual general meeting. The board hopes to address highway safety and maintenance along that part of the highway.
The resolution will be submitted by March 21 for the April 6 annual general meeting.
keili.bartlett@thenorthernview.com
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