From the doctor shortage, to the lack of proper heart and stroke care, Nanaimo is suffering from an overburdened and underfunded healthcare system. Why is healthcare, the very thing Canada is known for, so hard to find on Vancouver Island? And what can be done to fix this situation?

Today we’ll speak with Donna Hais, chair of the Fair Care Alliance, about the disparity of healthcare between the Victoria area and regions North of the Malahat. We’ll learn about what the problems are, how they are interconnected, and in what ways we as citizens can push for our government to address these issues.

Then, after the break we’ll speak with MLA Sheila Malcolmson about what’s being done by the City of Nanaimo and B.C. government to rectify the imbalance, and alleviate the issues facing Nanaimo. We’ll discuss ways of attracting new doctors to the province, new projects the city is funding to address immediate healthcare needs, and get a better understanding of how taxes fund healthcare in Nanaimo.

Find out more about the Fair Care Alliance here: https://weneedhealthcare.ca/

Guests:

Donna Hais - Chair of the Fair Care Alliance

Sheila Malcolmson - Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction in Nanaimo