Fire NDP Health Minister Adrian Dix because the health system is imploding.
That's what BC United Kelowna-Mission Renee Merrifield is demanding as the provincial health care system spirals further into crisis.
"We (BC United) have been asking for Dix's resignation as a result for the past year," said Merrifield.
"The blame rests on him. He has feigned concern about our broken health care system for far too long."
Dix has to go for many reasons, said Merrifield.
Merrifield pointed out that BC has the longest patient wait times for treatment in the country, that emergency rooms and maternity wards routinely divert patients to other hospitals because departments are too full or closed temporarily, that 'hallway health care" is too common in overcrowded hospitals and that cancer benchmarks have become the worst in Canada with 25% of patients not receiving treatment in time.
"This is having a drastic effect," said Merrifield.
"The staffing shortage is a huge issue. Not a day goes by that I don't hear about someone in dire need not getting the treatment they need in time."
It's "ridiculous" BC won't hire back the 2,500 unvaccinated health care workers who were fired in October 2021 when the province has 5,000 nursing vacancies, according to Merrifield.
"We need all hands on deck," she said.
BC is the last jurisdiction in North America not to allow health care workers who are unvaccinated against COVID back on the job.
Kevin Falcon, BC United's leader, started asking in March 2022 for fired health care workers to be rehired.
BC United has also been asking for Dix's resignation for the past year.
BC United has asked Dix repeatedly to provide scientific evidence why unvaccinated workers shouldn't be rehired, but it hasn't been forthcoming.
BC United is not demanding the resignation of provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry, who was the public face of COVID restrictions and the mandate for health care workers to be vaccinated or fired.
"We're not asking Bonnie Henry to quit," clarified Merrifield.
"The public health officer is a hired position. The blame here rests on Adrian Dix in a leadership role as health minister. It's his responsibility."
The BC Conservative Party has gone that one step further, asking for Henry's resignation, in addition to cancelling the vax mandate, rehiring workers and "ending the tyranny of the NDP government."
