Special Olympians bowl PAGE A3
memories of rogers resort PAGE A15
local biathelete on to nat’ls PAGE A19
OBSERVER QUESNEL - CARIBOO
SINCE 1908
Friday, March 15, 2013
VOL. 99 NO. 56
www.quesnelobserver.com
PM 40005365
1
$ 34
includes HST
New rural doctors to receive signing bonus AUTUMN MacDONALD Observer Reporter GR Baker is benefiting from a bonus system set up by government and the BC Medical Association. Quesnel is one of six hospitals in Northern Health to receive incentive funding of $100,000 to doctors willing to relocate for three years to selected rural communities. Specifically, G.R. Baker is funded for one internal medicine internist. “The federal and provincial governments have a number of incentives for attracting physicians to hard to fill positions in rural communities,” Northern Health communications specialist Eryn Collins said. “This rural physicians for British Columbia incentive is another tool in the chest for NH to attract and retain physicians to serve northern communities like Quesnel.” All of the communities to which this incentive funding is targeted were selected based on the degree of difficulty they’ve had in recruiting hard-to-fill physician positions and a number of criteria were taken into consideration when selecting the communities including: population; the number of physicians currently serving the community; the number of vacant physician positions; and the need for particular types of specialist care. The latest announcement is on top of a program to relieve student debt for doctors who will set up a medical practice outside urban areas and other incentives to graduating and foreign doctors to venture
outside large cities. Health Minister Margaret MacDiarmid and BCMA president Dr. Shelley Ross announced the program Wednesday. Both said it was a difficult task picking the most needy locations and expressed hope that it is successful and can be expanded. In the Interior Health Authority, Princeton and Clearwater are funded for two general practitioners each, and Nakusp gets one. Cranbrook is funded for one anesthesiologist. In Northern Health, the fund will be offered for one general practitioner each in Burns Lake, Chetwynd, Hazelton, Kitimat and Tumbler Ridge. Terrace is funded for one anesthesiologist. In Vancouver Coastal region, one general practitioner each is funded for Bella Coola and Pemberton. In the Vancouver Island Health Authority, Port Hardy is funded for two general practitioners and Port Alberni gets the only emergency physician provided for in the program. Tofino and Galiano Island are funded for one general practitioner each. The program is funded out of the $10 million rural recruitment budget agreed to in the latest fee agreement with the BCMA. B.C. spends about $100 million on these programs, including one to provide continuing medical training for remote doctors. Eligible doctors will get $50,000 up front and the rest after one year, with repayment required if they don’t stay for three years.
Hardeep Bhangu Optometrist 15 years of experience as an Optometrist and has now returned to his hometown. Call and book your appointment today.
QUESNEL FAMILY OPTOMETRIC CENTER 455 McLean St. 250-992-5417
Good day, Quesnel. Thanks for reading — and that includes loyal subscriber V. MacDonald! To join the Observer family, please call 250-992-2121 and ask for circulation.
BC jobs start here Job-seekers connected with potential employers at the Job Fair held at CNC/UNBC campus March 12. Autumn MacDonald photo
The
Song of the Prairies
Great Plains
Folk Celtic Country Bluegrass
Saskia & Darrel
Friday March 22nd at 7:00p.m. Advanced Tickets $12, Available at Circle S Western Wear
At the door $15, for more info call (250) 747-1802