BC NDP News Release
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
NDP action for expanded Killarney Seniors Centre one step closer
Carole James and the NDP will commit $2 million
VANCOUVER — A decision at this week's Vancouver Park Board meeting clears another hurdle for a Carole James government to expand the Killarney community centre to improve services for seniors in southeast Vancouver in cooperation with other levels of government.
Vision Vancouver Park Board chair Raj Hundal led the effort to approve a motion to earmark land to build the seniors centre expansion.
"This is extremely good news," says Vancouver-Fraserview NDP candidate Gabriel Yiu. "The NDP will commit the $2 million provincial share to make the centre a reality and improve services for seniors who have been ignored by the Campbell government."
BC NDP leader Carole James says seniors around Killarney would benefit greatly from this expansion. "The new centre will provide vital supports for the elders of the Killarney community whom the Liberals have simply forgotten about," says James.
The money will come from the NDP's $150 million community infrastructure fund. It is designed to help fast-track important community infrastructure projects like municipal community centres, parks and recreational facilities, along with projects for schools and universities.
"These are important initiatives that have been neglected by Gordon Campbell because of his fixation with costly mega-projects," says Yiu.
Yiu says Carole James has made supports for seniors a key plank of the NDP election platform. Other commitments include building 3,000 new long term care beds, more funding for residential care services and home support, and a new Representative for Seniors who will work to improve support for seniors and their families across BC.
The only remaining hurdle to make the new centre a reality is a cost-sharing commitment from the federal government.
Media contact: Stephen Howard, 778 452 2514
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© 2009 BC NDP
