Local officials continue to press for the inclusion of Cranbrook and Kimberley into the Provincial Rural Retention Incentive (PRRI), which provides a monetary incentive for health-care staff who work in, or relocate to, eligible rural and remote communities in B.C.
While many communities in the East Kootenay fall under the eligible requirement, Cranbrook and Kimberley have been excluded from the province's incentive initiative, which has raised the ire of local health care staff and politicians.
The issue came up during the Kootenay East Regional Hospital District board meeting on Friday, March 14, as Cranbrook Mayor Wayne Price expressed his frustration with the Ministry of Health while advocating for Cranbrook and Kimberley's inclusion into the PRRI program.
He noted that Trail was initially excluded from the program, but was later included and suggested that politics played a role, as the city is represented by an NDP MLA.
"There's no place for politics when it comes to the health and safety of the citizens in our community," Price said.
Price's comments follow up on another recent Question Period exchange in the Victoria Legislature, as Kootenay-Rockies MLA Pete Davis sought a straight answer from Health Minister Josie Osborne, during a session on Thursday, March 13.
Davis pointedly asked if the ministry would reconsider the exclusion of Cranbrook and Kimberley in the PRRI.
Minister Osborne did not directly address the Cranbrook and Kimberley exclusion, but noted the program is constantly under review and welcomed further conversation with Davis.
Columbia River - Revelstoke MLA Scott McInnis also pressed the issue in a Legislature QP session a few weeks ago, and also submitted a petition seeking government action on the inclusion of Cranbrook and Kimberley into the PRRI.
The Kootenay East Regional Hospital District board cost shares capital infrastructure projects with the province and non-profit support, but does not fund health care staffing.
