Forty-seven Richmond businesses, employing almost 8,000 people, have so far put their names behind the Richmond Chamber of Commerce’s push to pressure the B.C. government into building the long-awaited, new hospital tower.
The chamber last week called on its members and local employers to join them in their campaign to urge the NDP government to include a new Richmond Hospital tower in its 2018 budget, which is scheduled for February.
In the lead up to the provincial election last May, NDP leader and now Premier, John Horgan, stated that “a BC NDP government would commit to building the new acute care tower and we will build it on the fastest possible timeline.”
One of the early supporters of the chamber campaign was Dr. Zak El-Ramly, president and CEO of ZE PowerGroup Inc. which employs 250 people in Richmond.
“Our expanding and diverse local workforce compels us to ensure that we have the adequate expertise, equipment and facilities that are needed for the future,” said El Ramly in a chamber news release.
“We kindly urge Premier John Horgan to please include the necessary funding in the February 2018 budget.”
Local employers can still lend their support to the campaign by filling out the form by Jan. 22 on the chamber’s home page at RichmondChamber.ca.
The chamber also highlighted the seismic shortcomings of the original tower, which was built in the 1950s and currently meets only 17 per cent of the seismic code.
In a moderate earthquake of 5.0 to 5.9 on the Richter scale, all eight operating rooms and over half the beds would be at severe risk.
The previous B.C. Liberal government was, for several years, also aware of the urgent need for a new hospital tower, but only got as far as the concept plan stage.
The next stage — a business plan— could take up to 18 months.
The Richmond Hospital Foundation is willing to contribute $40-50 million of the projected $283 million project cost.
