SFU professor wrong on premier

Dear Editor:

Re: Election 2013: One Liberal left in Burnaby, Burnaby NOW, May 15. (see page 1)

I am surprised at the comments of Marjorie Cohen, a political science professor at Simon Fraser University.

She speculates that Burnaby would be "punished" by Christy Clark for "swinging left" in Monday's election. These comments obviously reflect a lack of professionalism. Cohen says that Premier Clark can be "vindictive" and infrastructure projects like hospitals and schools will require hard work to improve.

Professor Cohen should show some professionalism and objectivity in her public comments; her partisan characterization of Premier Clark shows a disturbing lack of academic objectivity.

A close race in Burnaby-Lougheed does not qualify as a swing to the left, given the NDP already controls city council, school board, members of parliament and two provincial ridings in Burnaby.

Perhaps Cohen hadn't noticed this! Cohen has also failed to notice new school construction in Burnaby built under the Liberal government, such as the $65-million Burnaby Central high school and the new $8-million elementary school at SFU.

Burnaby has not suffered from lack of infrastructure projects.

Burnaby's population growth is slow compared with explosive growth in other parts of the region. Therefore any government, Liberal or NDP, would prioritize hospital capital dollars to parts of the province with rapid population growth.

I think Burnaby residents are capable of appreciating the importance of prioritizing health-care projects.

Burnaby does need a new or upgraded hospital and instead of turning Burnaby hospital into a political football, the future of Burnaby hospital has to be discussed, debated and hopefully placed in a rational, long-term hospital planning program.

Ragini Rankin, Burnaby