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DE K A M L O O P S
As many MLAs quit, Todd Stone wants to fight with B.C. Liberals Page A3
THURSDAY
Thursday, July 12, 2012 X Volume 25 No. 56
Kamloops, B.C., Canada X 30 cents at Newsstands
THIS WEEK
The historic Plaza Hotel gets a major facelift Page A7 Thompson River Publications Partnership Ltd.
Court to decide whether this spanking was a criminal assault By Tim Petruk STAFF REPORTER tim@kamloopsthisweek.com
Outgoing Kamloops-South Thompson MLA Kevin Krueger holds the limelight for a brief moment during Premier Christy Clark’s announcement at Royal Inland Hospital on Wednesday, July 11. Clark was in town to confirm funding for the first phase of RIH’s master plan for expansion. Dave Eagles/KTW
$80-million expansion for hospital By Andrea Klassen STAFF REPORTER andrea@kamloopsthisweek.com
Kamloops’ Royal Inland Hospital is set to get better parking and new clinic space as part of an estimated $80-million redevelopment package. Premier Christy Clark, in the city on Wednesday, July 11, to announce the funding, said the first chunk of cash sets the stage for another $320 million in renovations at a later date, including a surgical and inpatient tower. “This is just the beginning,” she said, adding the first phase will get “fundamentals” — designing, business planning and the like — for the rest of the upgrade worked out. In the first phase of the project, the
hospital will get clinic space for its cardiology, neurology, renal and respiratory programs, more teaching space for UBC medical programs and a new parkade at its Columbia Street entrance that will also add a level access point to the hospital for people with mobility issues. The RIH master plan, completed last year, suggested the new parkade could add about 300 more stalls to the hospital’s parking stock. “It doesn’t seem like a big thing until you have a loved one that’s in the hospital,” said Clark, “and the stress of not being able to find a place to park when you’re already feeling pretty stressed about someone you love going through an incredibly tough time inside the building is really difficult.” However, a representative from the
B.C. Nurses’ Union said she is disappointed to see the hospital’s parking issues take precedence over what she said are critical staffing and space shortages. “Parking’s an issue, but this is number one,” said Tracey Quewezance, the BCNU steward for RIH, pointing to signs she and several other union reps held through Clark’s announcement. The signs read “safe staffing = safe patient case.” Quewezance said a lack of capacity has become a serious problem at RIH. As the premier made her announcement, the hospital was already about 25 patients over its capacity, Quewezance said. For her, the announcement was bittersweet. X See KRUEGER A12
A Kamloops father is on trial facing a charge of assault for what he described as a “spanking” — a smack alleged to have left his three-year-old daughter with a palm imprint on her back. The accused cannot be identified under a temporary court-imposed publication ban, aimed at protecting the identity of his daughter. The 26-year-old, who is from Nigeria, but has lived in Kamloops for five years, was arrested a week after the July 26, 2011, incident. He has been free on bail since last August. Court heard the night of the incident was the accused’s first time alone with his daughter. In an interview with police following his arrest, he described the toddler as “mischievous” during the babysitting session. He admitted to spanking the girl while changing her diaper. “I was trying . . . I was discipline to make her better,” he said in the interview with police. The girl’s mother noticed the marks on her daughter the following day and began a text-message conversation with the accused. She asked him about a “red outline of a hand” on the girl’s back and asked if he smacked her. “I said spank. I did spank her,” the accused replied. The girl’s mom then told the accused the incident left the girl with blood blisters and a large red mark. “She has to learn good and bad from young,” he replied. Testifying in court on Wednesday, July 11, the mother said the red marks on the girl’s back were visible for about a week. The trial will continue at a later date. Lawyers will meet on Monday, July 16, to determine when a publication-ban hearing will take place. KTW is considering filing an application in opposition to the ban on the accused’s name. Defence lawyer Sheldon Tate said he is waiting to see how Judge Stella Frame rules on the publication ban before deciding whether his client will take the stand in his own defence.