Gary Coons

For Immediate Release
VICTORIA— The B.C. Liberals’ decision to ram through legislation forcing an imposed contract on ambulance paramedics is an admission of their failure to manage the health care system, New Democrat leader Carole James said today.
“The B.C. Liberals could have appointed an independent arbitrator and settled the paramedics’ strike months ago. Instead, they ignored the [...]

For immediate release
Today’s budget is built on BC Liberal deception and incompetence. It’s a “tax and cut” budget that will surely hit the lower and middle class especially those that live in the north and rural areas.  It highlights the deception and lies that British Columbians were told a short 3 months ago.
We now have [...]

Prince Rupert Daily News
The provincial health minister told CEOs this week that they will not have enough money to deliver planned services and that cuts, or spending priorities, will have to be made.

Residents of Stewart are facing the possibility of going without basic medical services if the Campbell Liberal government doesn’t step in and reverse a decision to cut services at the community’s hospital, says North Coast MLA Gary Coons.

A recent government decision that changes the way that relief for rural doctors and nurses is allocated is a small victory for advocates of better rural healthcare says North Coast MLA Gary Coons. Prince Rupert is one of the communities that will be served under the terms of the new locum incentive program.
“I’ve been [...]

Bill 21, which adds the principle of ‘sustainability’ to the healthcare act is the first step towards greater privatization of our healthcare system says North Coast MLA Gary Coons.
“It isn’t as though just by slapping the term ‘sustainable’ on our medical system, costs will magically decrease,” said Coons. “I do not believe it’s unreasonable to [...]

Seniors in British Columbia deserve to know that their concerns are heard by the government, North Coast MLA Gary Coons told the Legislature on Monday. Coons was advocating for the creation of an Independent Senior’s Representative.
“Our elders deserve to be treated with the highest level of care and respect,” said Coons. “However, seniors throughout British [...]

North Coast MLA Gary Coons blasted the government for its vicious and shortsighted budget in the Legislature last week, calling it a betrayal of rural British Columbians, seniors, students, and vulnerable children.
“This budget betrayed the people of Bella Coola because it offered them no hope of a solution to the shortage of vital medical personnel [...]

Yesterday during Question Period Gary Coons, the MLA for North Coast, shared with the Health Minister the story of David Yasko, a patient from the Queen Charolette Islands who was medivaced to Kitimat for treatment and then discharged with no money, no coat, and no assistance for the journey home.

Gary Coons tried to get some answers for the family of Verna Sevigny, as well as concerned seniors, on Tuesday in legislature.
Coons, the New Democrat MLA for North Coast, asked Health Minister George Abbott why Verna could not get placed at Acropolis Manor.
“Verna was 96, and on a wait list for 18 months for long-term [...]