►
From YouTube: NOVEMBER 16 2021 Statements Bruce Banman
Description
The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
2nd Session
42nd Parliament
A
Member
for
abbotsford
south-
thank
you
very
much,
mr
speaker,
as
a
healthcare
professional.
My
admiration,
as
always
goes
to
those
who
pour
their
heart
and
soul
into
their
careers
in
healthcare.
Their
job
is
one
of
personal
sacrifice
and
dedication
every
day,
but
is
increasingly
so
during
the
challenging
times
during
a
world
pandemic.
A
My
attention
lately,
however,
has
been
drawn
to
those
who
work
in
the
field
of
respiratory
therapy.
Respiratory
therapists
are
an
essential
role
in
emergency
and
critical
care,
medicine
and
their
profession
is
under
extreme
staffing
strain
for
several
reasons.
Rts
in
bc
play
a
vital
role
in
the
diagnosis
and
treatment
of
cardiopulmonary
illnesses.
A
They
have
taken
a
frontline
role
in
coaching
and
teaching
other
staff
appropriate
ppe
measures.
They
support
their
nursing
colleagues
when
they're
overwhelmed
with
patient
care
and,
most
importantly,
have
shown
up
daily
when
the
risks
were
unknown.
Protective
equipment
was
scarce,
all
the
while,
fearing
that
they
could
go
home
and
infect
their
loved
ones.
A
Currently,
staffing
this
profession
looks
very
grim,
mr
speaker
projections,
so
that
bc
will
need
over
700
rts
by
2025.
However,
bc
only
has
one
university
that
offers
the
training
required
and
that
program
only
produces
90
grads
a
year
beyond
that
salaries
are
higher
for
rts
in
ontario,
manitoba,
saskatchewan
and
alberta.
Even
though
here
in
bc,
we
have
a
significantly
higher
cost
of
living.
Rts
are
leaving
their
profession
during
a
time
when
they
are
of
utmost
importance
for
roles
with
higher
pay
or
for
provinces,
with
more
incentives
or
a
lower
cost
of
living.
A
So
today
I
would
like
to
not
only
profess
my
respect
and
high
regard
for
respiratory
therapists
across
our
province,
but
would
like
to
call
on
our
government
to
look
into
more
funding
and
more
training
options
for
this
vital
profession.
They
need
us
and
we
need
them.
British
colombians
deserve
better.
Thank
you,
mr
speaker.