Federal election candidates will be grilled at a breakfast meeting on how they would solve some of Chilliwack’s most challenging health and social issues.
The Chilliwack Healthier Community coalition has crafted seven questions for Chilliwack-Hope candidates to answer in the NLC on the morning of Sept. 24.
CHC is a made-in-Chilliwack network of more than 40 local partners who focus on affordable/accessible housing, mental health, addictions, poverty reduction, and cultural safety, coming from diverse sectors like government, community agencies, law enforcement and business.
The CHC has organized one of three upcoming all-candidates’ meetings in Chilliwack.
READ MORE: So far 3 meetings organized
The subject matter of the questions crafted by the partnership range from: primary prevention in health and social services, affordable housing, and poverty reduction to addictions services gaps, and “calls to action” from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Here’s the primary prevention question the CHC will ask: “Many people see the value in primary prevention, but government spending is often focused on the most expensive ends of health and social services. If you agree that more needs to be done ‘upstream,’ what is your strategy for balancing the system so that primary prevention receives an equal share of investments?”
The last couple of questions probe the true value of counselling for mental health conditions and how to fund it, and ideas to ensure seniors will get the medical/social supports they need.
The CHC network is hosting its all-candidates event on Tuesday, Sept. 24 at their Information & Networking Breakfast, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Neighbourhood Learning Centre in the Alumni Hall (inside Chilliwack secondary).
• Visit the Federal Election section on The Chilliwack Progress website throughout the campaign for all your local, regional and national coverage of the vote on Oct. 21.
@CHWKjourno
jfeinberg@theprogress.com
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