As election nears, Chilliwack-Cultus Lake candidates issue pointed messages about healthcare

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CHILLIWACK – With the provincial election less than 48 hours away, the two candidates in the Chilliwack-Cultus Lake riding have highlighted their differences on healthcare in a pair of social media posts.

A’á:liya Warbus, the Conservative candidate for Chilliwack-Cultus Lake, outlined her party’s plan to bring faster, more reliable health care to Chilliwack in a social media post on Thursday. She said Chilliwack has done its part to raise millions for a long-awaited MRI machine at Chilliwack General Hospital, but the NDP dropped the ball.

“Health care is on the mind of every British Columbian, and too many people are waiting too long for the scans and treatment they need,” Warbus wrote in a statement posted Thursday, Oct. 22. “Under David Eby’s NDP, being told you need critical tests, only to wait months and travel far from home while you’re unwell, has become routine. Chilliwack has done its part. The community rolled up its sleeves, raised the money and cut through the red tape to bring an MRI home. The only missing piece has been the NDP government, which only shows interest when there are election promises to be made. An MRI in Chilliwack would cut wait times and long commutes across the Fraser Valley and save lives. Our community raised the money and did the work, and the NDP still left us waiting.”

She also called out the NDP’s cancellation of the Bradley Centre expansion, calling it a shovel-ready project the community desperately needs.

“People in Chilliwack shouldn’t have to drive hours while they’re sick just to get the care they need,” said Warbus. “A Conservative government will bring the MRI home and build the Bradley Centre expansion, so families get faster, more reliable care close to home. A Conservative government will deliver the MRI machine to Chilliwack and follow through on the Bradley Centre expansion. That’s the strong leadership Chilliwack deserves.”

In a social media post on Thursday (Oct. 22), Paddon, a former MLA for the Chilliwack-Cultus Lake riding, said Chilliwack deserves results, not distractions.

“I’m disappointed to see my opponent focusing on out of context clips of my comments rather than the progress our community has worked so hard to achieve,” Paddon said. “I think voters deserve to see the difference in our approaches. My opponent has spent two years as MLA, changed political parties repeatedly, and continues to talk about what she hopes to deliver. Yet when the interim leader of her current party visited Chilliwack this week, he didn’t make a commitment to fund our MRI. Meanwhile, even though I haven’t been an MLA for two years, I’ve continued building relationships and working alongside community partners to get things done.”

She said that type of work resulted in a solid commitment to fully fund an MRI machine in Chilliwack.

“And this week, that work helped secure an $8 million commitment for Chilliwack’s MRI in the BC NDP’s fully costed plan,” Paddon said. “This is bigger than any one candidate. It’s about the patients, families, health care workers, incredible donors, and community members who have been advocating for this investment for years. I’m proud to stand alongside them, and I’m focused on what comes next. Chilliwack needs stable, experienced representation that brings people together and delivers results. There’s more work to do, and I’m ready to get back to it.”