Here’s a few things we’ve accomplished so far – 2024 update

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As your MLA for Vernon-Monashee, I’m thrilled to share some of the significant progress we’ve made in government to build a stronger B.C. together.

Health care has been a major focus, especially given the challenges we’ve faced. We’ve secured funding to expand our local health care facilities, improving access to medical and mental-health services, and ensuring our community’s overall well-being. We’ve also introduced new programs supporting our health care workers and are working to retain, re-train and attract new health care professionals.

Housing affordability remains a critical issue, and we’re addressing it head-on. Several new housing projects are underway, increasing the availability of affordable homes for British Columbians. We’re collaborating with non-profits and private developers to ensure everyone has a safe, affordable place to live. Additionally, we’ve implemented policies to protect renters and supports for first-time homebuyers, making housing more accessible for all.

As a parent, I know education is fundamental to our community’s future, and we’ve made significant strides in this area. Investments in our schools creates better learning environments and that’s why we’ve launched programs like the Feeding Futures Fund, expanded apprenticeship programs, and built new accessible playgrounds to support students and families.

Protecting our environment is essential for our future, that’s why we’ve implemented policies to reduce carbon emissions and promote renewable energy sources. Working with local environmental groups, we’ve enhanced conservation efforts to protect our natural habitats and wildlife. These actions reflect our commitment to sustainability and preserving the environment for future generations.

Engaging with our community has always been a priority for me. From regular meetings with constituents, to participating at local community events with my pop-up office, I have been able to stay connected with your concerns and priorities. This ongoing engagement ensures the policies and initiatives we work on in government truly reflect the needs and values of our community.

Thank you for your continued support and involvement. Together, we’re making Vernon-Monashee an even better place to live. Please get in touch if you have any questions or concerns at Harwinder.Sandhu.MLA@leg.bc.ca.

Warm regards,

Harwinder Sandhu
MLA for Vernon-Monashee

WORKING TOGETHER, WE’VE MADE A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE FOR PEOPLE IN VERNON-MONASHEE AND ACROSS B.C. THERE’S STILL MUCH TO DO AND WE’LL CONTINUE TO DO THE WORK. HERE’S SOME OF WHAT WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED TOGETHER SO FAR:

Keeping people safe & healthy by:

  • Building a new 44 single-occupancy, in-patient psychiatric unit in Vernon Hospital, including 2 paediatric beds
  • Investing $12.8 million annually to support primary care networks, including one in Vernon that will attach more than 22,000 people to healthcare providers over the next 4 years
  • Opening 23 registered treatment beds in Lumby’s Red Road Recovery and another 15 with Turning Points Collaborative Society in Vernon
  • Supporting young people (12-24) and their families with the $16.6-million opening of Foundry Vernon
  • Making contraceptives free and launching a self-screening program to detect cervical cancer sooner
  • Increasing the scope of pharmacists to diagnose 21 minor ailments
  • Fixing the fee-for-service model to attract and retain family doctors, resulting in the hiring of hundreds of doctors
  • Increasing the number of dental surgeries at VJH
  • Being the first and only province to mandate nurse-patient ratios
  • Training 7,000 care aides since 2017
  • Tripling the number of nurse practitioners and adding 602 new nursing seats to B.C. universities
  • Creating 9 new full-time positions in Lumby so the ambulance station is open 24-7
  • Investing $3.6M to rehabilitate Lumby’s existing wastewater treatment facility
  • Launching a Mobile Integrated Crisis Response Team that includes a health-care worker and RCMP to provide immediate supports in crisis calls

Fighting the climate crisis by:

  • Investing $15 million to begin planning and implementing fire-mitigation work in the North Aberdeen Plateau in partnership with the RDNO, City of Vernon, OKIB and District of Lake Country
  • Investing more than $3M to fund flooding resiliency projects in Lumby and Vernon
  • Creating a $100M investment in the Watershed Security Fund
  • Deferring more than 2.42 million hectares in addition to the nearly 3.7 million hectares already protected
  • Removing 4 bridges in Polson Park that pose a flood risk with a $2.52M investment
  • Supporting flood mitigation work in Vernon with $747,000 investment
  • Boosting 3 local organizations with nearly $76,000 in emergency preparedness funding
  • Contributing $112,800 to flood mitigation options in Lumby in 2018
  • Investing more than $1.1M to complete wildfire mitigation projects around Silver Star and Lumby
  • Funding new organic waste projects in Vernon and Lumby
  • Planting B.C.’s 10-billionth tree in April 2024

Tackling increased costs of living by:

  • Making child care more affordable for families in Vernon and Lumby saving families $950 per child each month
  • Boosting the BC Family Benefit so a family 4 can receive up to $3,563 each year
  • Enhancing the Climate Action Tax Credit putting money back in pockets. A family of 4 can receive up to $1,008 per year
  • Eliminating MSP premiums
  • Getting rid of interest on BC student loans, saving students more than $40 million since 2019
  • Creating a new Renters Rebate
  • Freezing ICBC rates from 2022-26
  • Investing in the Feeding Futures Fund and enhancing food security through First Nations Well-Being Fund

Addressing the housing crisis by:

  • Opening 35 new homes for Indigenous people in Vernon at Thunderbird Manor – Phase 2
  • Preserving 26 affordable rental units at Sunrise Gardens on 24th through the Rental Protection Fund
  • Building 100 units as Vernon’s first-ever on-campus housing for students
  • Investing $1.7M to build 16 on-reserve rental homes for OKIB members
  • Protecting 112 units of affordable rental stock with its $23M investment
  • Building 12 units of housing for people with special needs on Pleasant Valley Road
  • Opening an additional 183 units for people with low to moderate incomes in Vernon since 2020
  • Creating 36 affordable units for low-income seniors close to amenities
  • Building 52 units of supportive housing and purchasing a motel to provide another 29
  • Investing $1.6M to open 13 affordable rental homes for families, seniors and people with disabilities on Okanagan Landing Road

Supporting seniors by:

  • Investing more than $3.5 billion since 2019 to expand and improve quality care for seniors in B.C.
  • Investing $127 million to expand community-based programs like Better at Home
  • Doubling the senior’s supplement
  • Improving the Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters program
  • Opening an additional 90 publicly funded long-term care beds at Creekside Landing in Vernon, bringing the total to 160 at this one location
  • Investing $3.2 million to open 20 units of affordable housing for seniors in Lumby at Cottonwood Place
  • Investing $5.2 million and $400K annually to provide 42 affordable rental homes to seniors at McCulloch II

Supporting children and families by:

  • Opening 59 $10-a-day childcare spaces in Lumby
  • Contributing $1M from the Feeding Futures Fund to support students in SD22
  • Opening 84 spaces in Coldstream, 59 in Lumby and building 44 new spots at Okanagan College adds to the 253 child care spots opened in 2021
  • Building new and accessible playgrounds at Mission Hill and Okanagan Landing Elementary
  • Introducing seamless day kindergarten program

Investing in students by:

  • Helping to cover costs for post-secondary students with the Future Skills Grant
  • Giving SD22 $260,000 to pay for student necessities like supplies, fees and class trips
  • Investing more than $1 million from the Feeding Futures Fund to the local school district
  • Investing $6,440 to Coldstream Elementary School’s PAC to ensure all Grade 3 students can access swimming lessons
  • Investing $2.87M to upgrade HVAC at Charles Bloom and Hillview Elementary and acquire 4 new school buses

Supporting workers and businesses by:

  • Connecting 5 communities, like Coldstream, Cosens Bay and Parker Cove, to high-speed internet services to support remote workers
  • Offering the Securing Small Business Rebate to those suffering from commercial property crime and vandalism
  • Supporting our Early Childhood Educators with nearly $50,000 in wage enhancements
  • Expanding the ECE dual-credit program for high school students in Vernon to get a head start on post secondary
  • Providing $2.5M to help B.C.’s tree and fruit industry stabilize and thrive
  • Distributing $4M to small businesses in Vernon-Monashee to help recover from COVID-19 challenges
  • Creating more employment opportunities for contractors and forestry workers throughout rural communities, including Vernon

Supporting arts, culture and tourism by:

  • Investing $250,000 into both a new pickleball complex and to expand the North Okanagan Hospice Society
  • Supporting 20 events in Vernon-Monashee with more than $160,000 through the Fairs, Festivals and Events Fund, building on the $1.2 invested into 24 local events in 2021
  • Giving BC Culture Days a $60,000 boost in Vernon
  • Adding 17 acres to Monashee Park, 65 hectares to Echo Lake Provincial Park and protecting and maintaining Ellison

Improving infrastructure and transportation by:

  • Investing more than $16 million to replace the Baxter Bridge between Enderby and Lumby
  • Replacing the Daly Bridge in Lumby to the tune of $3.6 million
  • Completing 1,250 metres of multi-use pathway along Silver Star Road in Vernon
  • Repaving shoulders to improve safety for cyclists along Old Kamloops Road
  • Funding a multi-use path to connect neighbourhoods to Lumby’s downtown
  • Upgrading Vernon’s airport in part of its $6.2M investment to support operations in B.C.
  • Constructing new intersection at Stickle Road and Hwy. 97 for $15M to improve safety