Briglio to repeat as Hospital District chair

Its one more year for Tony Briglio, as the Prince Rupert city councilor and Northern Savings employee takes on the chair of the Northwest Regional Hospital District again.

Briglio was voted into a second term recently and is already working with the board to formulate plans for this year to help Northern Health deliver its health care plans to all areas of the Northwest.

The Monday Daily News had details on Briglio’s appointment and some of the projects currently underway in the district.

Briglio gets the nod to lead vital committee
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Monday, February 04, 2008
Pages one and three

Prince Rupert city councillor Tony Briglio will head up the Northwest Regional Hospital District for a second year.

The organization cost shares capital expenditures with Northern Health based on the taxes collected from around the region.

"I am very honoured to have been voted in as chair of our board for the second consecutive year," said Briglio.

"We have accomplished much, working in partnership with Northern Health over the past few years. The Masset Hospital, Terrace View Lodge addition and Acropolis Manor rebuild are but a few examples that speak well with respect to our co-operative work with Northern Health."
Joining Briglio on the executive are Terrace Councillor Marilyn Davies, who will sit as vice-chair, Houston Mayor Sharon Smith, vice-chair, and Telkwa Mayor Sharon Hartwell, who remains on the executive as past president.

Briglio said the board is very pleased that Northern Health will be moving forward with the Queen Charlotte Hospital replacement because it is one of the board’s priorities for 2008, along with the replacement of the Bulkley Valley Hospital District.

Northern Health announced in late January it will be rebuilding the Queen Charlotte hospital on its existing site.

It had been considering locating the new hospital on a site proposed by the Skidegate Band near the ferry landing, but ultimately the authority decided to redevelop the current location due to issues of access and cost.

Redeveloping the current site will cost nearly $8 million less than developing a new property because the alternate site would have needed water, sewerage and electrical infrastructure as well as additional road service.

In addition, two project building committees are being assembled in co-operation between the Northwest Regional Hospital District and Northern Health.

One is for the Acropolis Manor rebuild, which has been underway since last year, and the other is for the Terrace View Lodge.

Briglio, director Dave MacDonald and Joan Rysavy, administrator, will participate on the committee for Acropolis Manor and Davies, director Bob Cooper and Rysavy will participate on the Terrace View Lodge Committee.

Briglio explained the objective of the committees is to provide partnership input to the planning process and progress of the project and give direction for the implementation of the committee’s decisions.

Meanwhile, at the board’s most recent meeting on Jan. 25, the board approved capital equipment grants for 2008 totalling $1,308,805 to assist Northern Health in purchasing new equipment and replacing old equipment. This commitment of funding totals 40 per cent of the overall cost. Dease Lake has also been added to the Northwest Regional Hospital District this year, giving the district a total of 27 directors. This includes membership from Houston, Telkwa, Smithers, Hazelton, Stewart, Dease Lake, Terrace, Kitimat, Port Edward, and Prince Rupert, Queen Charlotte, Masset, Port Clements and all surrounding electoral areas.