Dozens of Delta residents gathered Sunday to voice their frustrations over the uncertain timeline for what they call a much-needed, 200-bed long-term care home for seniors.
The Fraser Health Authority says the Beedie Long-Term Care Centre, replacing the Mountain View Manor on Delta Hospital’s campus on Harvest Drive near Mountain View Boulevard, would offer its many residents a private bed and bathroom, access to social and outdoor spaces, and much more.
It was originally scheduled for completion by 2027, but that timeline is now unclear.
In February, the provincial government announced a pause on seven long-term care projects across B.C., including the Beedie, which is currently in the pre-construction phase. The government says the pause is necessary to reassess why construction costs for long-term care facilities have skyrocketed.
At the rally Sunday, volunteer Joanna James says she and others have already raised $3 million for the project.
“I’m really angry that this work has stopped,” said James. “So many people have invested. Not just us as volunteers, but so many people have given donations, and I think they have no right to just stop it like that.”
The capital costs are funded with $179.7 million from the Ministry of Health, but the Delta Hospital and Community Health Foundation also brought together $18.25 million for the project with the help of fundraising and donations.
Volunteer Liz MacDonald says the pause is “ridiculous” because the cost won’t decrease while the province reassesses.
“People will lose their jobs, and people won’t continue to donate if they don’t think their money is going to what they want it to be donated to,” said MacDonald.
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Finance Minister Brenda Bailey insists the delays do not equate to cancellations, but the Conservative MLA for Langley–Walnut Grove, Misty Van Popta, says the province is shortchanging residents in the Fraser Valley.
“I think numbers don’t lie,” said Van Popta. “This isn’t politics. This is literal statistics about where the funding is. Forty per cent of the population is here in the Fraser Health Region, but we’re only seeing 22 per cent funding, and that’s unacceptable.”
While the need has “never been greater” for long-term care facilities, Delta Mayor George Harvie says the pause is not just disappointing.
“It’s totally, totally unacceptable,” said Harvie.
MacDonald says it’s insulting to think the province has written off the community’s needs.
“As if we have no voice, when we’ve worked and saved for this hospital for 50-odd years — we really have,” she said.
“We’ll try again. We are not going to be silenced.”