The day after BC NDP leader David Eby stopped off in 91原创 for another campaign visit, his three area riding candidates revealed a promise for a new tower at 91原创 Memorial Hospital.

Assuming they're elected on Oct. 19, the NDP candidates Andrew Mercier (91原创-Willowbrook), John Aldag (91原创-Abbotsford), and Megan Dykeman (91原创-Walnut Grove) announced Sunday that the party is committing to build a new patient-care tower, as part of already planned upgrades to the 91原创 hospital campus.

鈥淥ur community is growing, and a new patient tower and upgraded hospital facilities will mean better care for you and better working conditions for doctors, nurses and other health care workers,鈥� said Mercier, although no details of size or timeframe were discussed.

鈥淲e look forward to working alongside our dedicated health-care professionals here in 91原创 to see this project through.鈥�

Phase one of the upgrades to the 91原创 Memorial Hospital will include the previously-announced new long-term care home that will double the number of long-term care beds on the hospital grounds.

The second phase of the project would include building a new patient-care tower, which would include new state-of-the-art operating rooms.

The new patient-care tower is expected to be located on the site of the current long-term care home. The plan also includes renovating the ambulatory day care space within the existing hospital, the MLA hopefuls explained.

鈥淲e have heard from health-care workers in our community how important the replacement of this tower is for 91原创 Memorial Hospital,鈥� said Dykeman.

鈥淭his next phase is so vital for our growing community.鈥� 

Recent health-care investments by the BC NDP in the 91原创 area include a new MRI suite at local hospital, which opened in December 2020, the new emergency ward the following spring, and a new urgent and primary-care centre, which opened in May 2024.

鈥淓veryone deserves to be able to access high-quality health care when and where they need it,鈥� said Aldag.

鈥淲e need modernized hospital facilities to support the people in our growing community and the health-care workers providing critical services to patients.鈥�

鈥淛ohn Rustad has already said 鈥榳e don鈥檛 have the capacity鈥� to build the health care and transit infrastructure that is currently planned,鈥� claimed Mercier, who is vying for re-election in this campaign against Conservative candidate Jody Toor, and Green Party candidate Petrina Arnason.