BURNABY, B.C. – A report says things are so bad at Burnaby Hospital that the annual Christmas tree can’t be plugged in because it could overload the electrical systems.

The report says the hospital is underfunded by the Fraser Health Authority, doesn’t have enough beds, staff or washrooms and the aging buildings allow for easy spread of infections such as C. difficile, which has plagued the facility.

The report is controversial because it was put together by a community group that includes Liberal MLAs in an apparent bid to boost the party’s election chances in Burnaby, and the N-D-P says the Liberals are using it to blame the health authority for the problems at the facility.

Burnaby New Democrat MLA Kathy Corrigan says a redevelopment plan was drafted in 2001 but the Liberals did nothing with it and only now — in the months leading up to an election — they are trying to give the appearance of action.

But Health Minister Margaret MacDiarmid says hundreds of people had input into the report and she’s taking it seriously.

MacDiarmid says she realizes the hospital needs to be replaced and a planning process for that is already underway. (News1130,CKNW)