Tom Bradfield

Candidate Profile

Bradfield is a member of the Saanich Nation. Born in Sidney BC, he grew up in the United States; and returned on graduating high school in 1971. Since returning, he has lived more than 35 years on the Saanich Peninsula. He credits that early experience as contributing to a unique perspective on his identity as both an Aboriginal British Columbians and as a Canadian.

Tom followed the family trade as a baker, with a stint in construction, before returning to school as an adult learner. He completed

Camosun College’s Public Administration program in 1988.

He has 15 years experience in the provincial public sector in liaison branches, communications, policy and strategic initiatives. He counts the time spent as part of the team developing the First Nations Health Plan – supporting the

Transformative Change Accord - as a highlight.

As the first director of Aboriginal health with the Vancouver Island Health Authority, Tom had the opportunity to shape both the direction and delivery of services in one of the Province’s key health priorities. While with the health authority and with the Province, he has been reference person on a number of Provincial Health Officer reports.

In travelling throughout the province, Tom gained considerable perspective on health services, Aboriginal relations and disability issues. He learned from a broad cross section of British

Columbians about their challenges and aspirations. Like many of them, he feels a personal obligation to leave the world a better place than he found it.

He spent over twenty years with Scouts Canada as an adult scouter – as leader, trainer and service scouter.

Tom and Cathy

Bradfield live in Brentwood Bay. They have two adult sons, and three grandchildren.

Questions

1. Please identify what you believe to be the most important issue in your riding and your plan to address that issue.
   

   The growing disconnect between health and elder services and people needing those services is not currently crisis, but may well be a crisis-in-waiting. This is due to both demographics and funding issues.
   • Actively focus more programs on health promotion, education and prevention. The longer we can delay an individuals need for intensive (and more costly) care, the greater the effectiveness of health expenditures.
   • Reintroduce a broader MSP coverage of complimentary and alternate medicine-related treatments.
   • Review the cost of pharmaceuticals, with an eye to cost-effectiveness. New Zealand had pursued a bulk-buying arrangement to reign in one of the fastest growing costs related to health.
   • Restore public accountability to provincially-funded health services through more appropriately-sized health delivery bodies, and through some directly-elected board members.