Promises versus Reality - Health Services

The Campbell Liberals are fond of calling their provincial version of the Red Book, the New Era Document or NED.

In NED Premier Campbell promised to:

"Fund health regions at a level necessary to meet the needs of the people who live there, regardless of where a service is provided."

"Replace obsolete hospital equipment and ambulance equipment and ensure all equipment is fully utilized and properly maintained."

"Fulfill BC's obligations under the Canada Health Act to properly fund and provide access to all medically necessary services."

"Provide better home support and home care services."

How does that balance with "major spending cuts"? Keep in mind that Sept 13th's First Quarterly Report was printed prior to the Sept 11th Attack on America. Also keep in mind that Premier Campbell and all of his candidates assured BC that tax cuts would pay for themselves. Could it be that Premier Campbell and Finance Minister Collins were wrong? How did they turn a surplus into BC's second biggest deficit? How did the flight instructor lose a half billion dollars in just six weeks? That's more than the fast ferries!