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ORDERS OF THE DAY — Continued
No. 56 — Friday, August 14, 2020 — 10 a.m.
2 Ms. Reid to ask the Hon. Minister of Health the following questions: —
1. What support or assurance has the Ministry given to ensure that there will be adequate personal protective equipment made available to those who are visiting or to those who facilitate visits?
2. Will there be a dedicated stockpile of personal protective equipment set aside for health care settings, specifically long-term care and assisted living, so that staff, residents and of course visitors can be safe?
3. What resources or risk mitigation strategies will the Ministry deploy should there be a second wave this fall, so that these visits can continue?
4. Has the Ministry considered expanding the visitation bubble, if it is safe to do so, to allow more than one family member to visit or to allow for different family members to visit, perhaps on a monthly rotation?
5. Has the Ministry thought of providing additional electronic communication devices for Zoom or Skype so that families can visit electronically? Can this be made available or at least additional funding be made available for health settings to access these tools or additional devices to help improve social engagement and reduce isolation?
6. Has the Ministry been made aware of newer nurse call/patient safety technology that has the ability to remotely monitor patient movement, including vital signs and has contact tracing capabilities? Would the Ministry support making investments in this and any other technology that could support health care teams, patients/residents and of course families (Dementia Village — Blue Willow)?
7. In what ways can the Ministry further enhance their partnership with these “front line experts” in order to ensure the system can be more responsive to the needs of British Columbians, while capitalizing on their vast collective experience as long-term operators?
8. What short, medium and long-term strategies is the Ministry deploying in order to support our existing health care heroes, and what would be the timeframe in which we can expect results?
9. Has the Minister given some thought to allowing for spiritual or emotional care professionals to be included in their “care delivery model funding” for seniors care?
10. Was a gender-based analysis done on pandemic pay, and if yes, will this information be publicly available?
11. Is it the Minister’s intention to offer pandemic pay to 57 thousand of 88 thousand long-term care workers with the same education, doing the same work, often side by side?
12. Will this government launch a thorough independent review of long-term care in B.C. to clearly define where our long-term care system has performed well, and where it has failed?
13. Will this government create a comprehensive human resource strategy to meet the growing demands for staffing seniors care?
14. Will this government establish a timeline and resources strategy that will allow seniors and families respite and day care opportunities while adhering to appropriate physical distancing measures?
15. How will the design and building of long-term care beds be accomplished?
16. Is the province fully stocked on personal protective equipment in the event of a second wave to ensure that any long-term care, assisted living or independent living situations that needs it, has full uninterrupted access to the supplies?
17. Does the Minister of Health have a plan for meaningful engagement on a regular basis with British Columbia’s care providers?
18. During the pandemic, the Minister of Health has spoken highly of Team B.C. On a go-forward basis, can the Minister assure the sector that Team B.C. includes regular consultation with the B.C. Care Providers Association and other representative groups?
3 Ms. Cadieux to ask the Hon. Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General the following questions: —
1. What is the maximum number of recruits they can currently train at the Justice Institute of British Columbia with their current $1.9 million a year Police Academy allotment from the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General?
2. Has the Solicitor General, in this three-year budget plan, provided for additional money for the Police Academy?
3. With the months-long closure now and a backlog of officers that are needing training — and there is going to be increased demand, obviously, from the Surrey Police Department — what is the Solicitor General doing to ensure that the Justice Institute can fulfil its obligations?
4. How will the Minister ensure that public safety is maintained or enhanced as it is stated in the Police Act, not only for the City of Surrey but across Metro Vancouver and the Lower Mainland, as this process evolves?
5. What discussions has the Minister had with his colleague the Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Training in relation to the need for additional funds at the Justice Institute?
6. What discussions has the Minister had with his colleague the Minister of Finance in relation to the need for additional funds at the Justice Institute?
7. Who will pay for the training costs and the ramp-up costs required to meet the initial demand for 800 officers?
8. Given that several mayors in the Lower Mainland have voiced concerns about the potential impacts on integrated units, what will the Minister do to alleviate concerns and ensure that crime is going to continue to be reduced on a regional basis?
9. What is the province’s plan for public safety and policing if the city police board, the RCMP and the province can’t come to agreement on the necessary aspects of the transition in terms of who’s paying for what and the ultimate challenges, especially, as I say, for one, with training at the Justice Institute?
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