Editor:
The provincial government has placed Delta on their naughty list for not increasing housing.
It appears that different arms of the government are not talking to each other.
We hear about the major problems plaguing Surrey Memorial Hospital where very long wait times are occurring for immediately required procedures. Staff are on the verge of collapse. This is being ignored by the direction taken by Premier Eby and Delta North MLA Ravi Khalon in forcing Delta to increase density.
They disregard the major negative effects of their proposals and turn a blind eye to the root cause of the problems with our hospitals. This is irresponsible densification that even now cannot handle existing facility infrastructure.
The residents of Delta rely heavily on Surrey Memorial for most surgical procedures.
Delta Hospital transfers patients to Surrey for procedures not available at Delta. Adding density, as proposed, is a narrow vision of attempting to provide what is referred to as affordable housing with serious negative consequences in other areas.
The direction of city council, in their push to increase density, especially in North Delta, results in exceeding and going far beyond the limits of existing infrastructure in all areas where there is no room to expand. These projects only exacerbate the growing problems of access to our hospitals and other infrastructure.
We strongly urge Delta mayor and council not to accept, be agreeable to, or be intimidated by this provincial government direction and we urge you to take the provincial government to task.
We also ask the premier and Minister Kahlon to look seriously at what they are attempting to do. You cannot force building for people without having the proper infrastructure to support them.
Pat (Patrick) Zawalykut
