SURREY- BC Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson today told residents at his budget Town Hall that he is not committed to following through on John Horgan’s new hospital for Surrey.
Wilkinson was asked directly by reporters about his plans for Surrey, including the hospital. He refused to commit and opened the door to cancelling the NDP government’s plans for the new hospital in Cloverdale:
“So it’s time to start planning for further hospital expansion in Surrey. Whether that’s a branch of Surrey Memorial or another hospital altogether is another question.” (Video)
Wilkinson and the BC Liberals are once again demonstrating that they don’t prioritize Surrey.
In 2014 as Minister of Citizens Services, Wilkinson sold government property near Highway 10 and 152nd Street in Surrey. That land was acquired by the BC NDP in the 1990s as the location for a second hospital in Surrey.
In 2005, Gordon Campbell held a campaign event at the site, promising to build a second hospital. The BC Liberals delayed that promise for years and then permanently abandoned it in 2014 when Wilkinson sold the site.
Jinny Sims, Surrey-Panorama MLA:
“Andrew Wilkinson has already proven once that he can’t be trusted to deliver on a new Surrey Hospital. He sold hospital land before and he would do it again if given the chance. Since we announced the new hospital in December, Andrew Wilkinson has been working hard to undermine it because he has no intention of following through on it if elected. Only John Horgan can be trusted to finally bring a new hospital to the people of Surrey.”