Health care: what each party would do
What each of BC’s five parties has committed to on health care, with the law on public and private care, the province’s surgery wait figures and the Ministry of Health’s budget.
Party sites checked October 6, 2026
Each party on health care
BC Green
Develop and implement a detailed plan to increase the number of publicly-funded long-term care facilities
Develop and implement a detailed plan to increase the number of publicly-funded long-term care facilities to meet the growing demand for senior care services.
bcgreens.ca: BC Greens announce plan to support seniors, October 4.
Establish a clear dementia care pathway
Establish a clear dementia care pathway and support family practitioners to do more early screening for dementia, and develop a dementia support strategy, with a focus on cultural safety.
bcgreens.ca: BC Greens announce plan to support seniors, October 4.
Support family practitioners to do more early screening for dementia
Establish a clear dementia care pathway and support family practitioners to do more early screening for dementia, and develop a dementia support strategy, with a focus on cultural safety.
bcgreens.ca: BC Greens announce plan to support seniors, October 4.
All BC Green commitments on health care Show three BC Green commitments
Develop a dementia support strategy, with a focus on cultural safety
Establish a clear dementia care pathway and support family practitioners to do more early screening for dementia, and develop a dementia support strategy, with a focus on cultural safety.
bcgreens.ca: BC Greens announce plan to support seniors, October 4.
Improve access to respite care and day programs
Improve access to respite care and day programs, ensuring that at-home care services are available for both medical care and assistance with daily tasks.
bcgreens.ca: BC Greens announce plan to support seniors, October 4.
Ensure at-home care services are available for both medical care and assistance with daily tasks
Improve access to respite care and day programs, ensuring that at-home care services are available for both medical care and assistance with daily tasks.
bcgreens.ca: BC Greens announce plan to support seniors, October 4.
Develop and implement a rural seniors strategy
Develop and implement a rural seniors strategy to address the needs of seniors in rural communities.
bcgreens.ca: BC Greens announce plan to support seniors, October 4.
Build Community Health Centres in every region with team-based care and long-term support
Build Community Health Centres in every region, with team-based care and long-term support.
Plan page, bcgreens.ca/our-plan: Our Plan for British Columbia, bcgreens.ca.
Finish delivering safe nurse-to-patient ratios
Finish delivering safe nurse-to-patient ratios.
Plan page, bcgreens.ca/our-plan: Our Plan for British Columbia, bcgreens.ca.
Keep every public health dollar in public care
Keep every public health dollar in public care.
Plan page, bcgreens.ca/our-plan: Our Plan for British Columbia, bcgreens.ca.
Cover mental health care through the public system
Cover mental health care through the public system.
Plan page, bcgreens.ca/our-plan: Our Plan for British Columbia, bcgreens.ca.
BC NDP
Add 500 health-care workers to home care support for seniors
Expanding home care support: Adding 500 health-care workers to give more seniors faster, hands-on support, scrapping user fees, and expanding virtual Long-term Care at Home monitoring.
bcndp.ca: David Eby’s plan will strengthen health care for seniors, October 5.
Make the two-dose shingles vaccine free for all adults aged 50+ and all immunocompromised adults
Free shingles vaccines: Covering the full cost of the two-dose shingles vaccine for all adults aged 50+ and all immunocompromised adults, to prevent unnecessary hospital visits and help people live healthier lives.
bcndp.ca: David Eby’s plan will strengthen health care for seniors, October 5.
Bring 5,000 care-home workers back into the public health employer system
Fair wages for care workers: Bringing 5,000 care-home workers back into the public health employer system to ensure stable staffing, better continuity of care, and fair pay.
bcndp.ca: David Eby’s plan will strengthen health care for seniors, October 5.
All BC NDP commitments on health care Show three BC NDP commitments
Scrap user fees for seniors’ home care support
Expanding home care support: Adding 500 health-care workers to give more seniors faster, hands-on support, scrapping user fees, and expanding virtual Long-term Care at Home monitoring.
bcndp.ca: David Eby’s plan will strengthen health care for seniors, October 5.
Expand virtual Long-term Care at Home monitoring
Expanding home care support: Adding 500 health-care workers to give more seniors faster, hands-on support, scrapping user fees, and expanding virtual Long-term Care at Home monitoring.
bcndp.ca: David Eby’s plan will strengthen health care for seniors, October 5.
Bring more nurse practitioners, pharmacy services and virtual specialist consultations into long-term care
Better care for long-term care residents: Bringing more nurse practitioners, pharmacy services, and virtual specialist consultations into long-term care homes so residents can avoid trips to hospital, and setting up more teams to support patients ready to leave hospital and return to community-based care.
bcndp.ca: David Eby’s plan will strengthen health care for seniors, October 5.
Set up more teams to support patients ready to leave hospital for community-based care
Better care for long-term care residents: Bringing more nurse practitioners, pharmacy services, and virtual specialist consultations into long-term care homes so residents can avoid trips to hospital, and setting up more teams to support patients ready to leave hospital and return to community-based care.
bcndp.ca: David Eby’s plan will strengthen health care for seniors, October 5.
Move ahead with seven long-term care projects paused earlier this year, with BC-Canada Prosperity agreement funding
Building more long-term care beds faster and for less: With the funding secured through the BC-Canada Prosperity agreement, the BC NDP will move ahead with seven long-term care projects that had been paused earlier this year, using a new model that lowers per-bed costs, shortens construction timelines, and helps us build beds at scale for the future.
bcndp.ca: David Eby’s plan will strengthen health care for seniors, October 5.
Build the seven long-term care projects on a new model that cuts per-bed costs and timelines
Building more long-term care beds faster and for less: With the funding secured through the BC-Canada Prosperity agreement, the BC NDP will move ahead with seven long-term care projects that had been paused earlier this year, using a new model that lowers per-bed costs, shortens construction timelines, and helps us build beds at scale for the future.
bcndp.ca: David Eby’s plan will strengthen health care for seniors, October 5.
Provide $90 million toward redeveloping the former Oak Bay Lodge site, if re-elected
David Eby, Leader of the BC NDP, announced today that a re-elected BC NDP government will provide a $90 million contribution in provincial funding toward the redevelopment of the former Oak Bay Lodge site.
bcndp.ca: BC NDP commits $90 million to redevelop former Oak Bay Lodge site to deliver new health and seniors’ care services, October 5.
Make no cuts to healthcare
Unlike the B.C. Conservatives, we won’t cut healthcare and so we need to be honest about how we pay for it.
bcndp.ca: To build B.C. strong, Eby will ask the wealthy to pitch in a bit more, October 4.
Invest in healthcare
The BC NDP will continue to support B.C. producers through the trade war, lower costs for middle-class British Columbians and invest in healthcare - ensuring those at the very top pay their fair share to support healthcare and lower costs for everyone.
bcndp.ca: BC Conservative promise points again to healthcare cuts, higher costs, September 29. Also posted: Doerkson’s first campaign commitment confirms healthcare to “take the brunt” of their cuts, September 27 · David Eby launches election with plan to build B.C. strong amid Trump’s attacks, September 22.
Triple B.C.’s U.S. health care recruitment campaign
Today, David Eby committed to doubling down and then tripling down on the success of B.C.’s targeted U.S. health care recruitment efforts with a big boost to the campaign that has seen over 800 health professionals accept jobs in the province.
bcndp.ca: Eby to triple U.S. health worker recruitment, September 23. Also posted: David Eby’s plan will strengthen health care for seniors, October 5.
Expand the U.S. health care recruitment campaign into Republican-controlled “red” states
The new campaign, which will be triple the size of B.C.’s first successful efforts, will expand into Republican-controlled “red” states where doctors and nurses are facing laws that restrict their ability to provide life-saving reproductive care.
bcndp.ca: Eby to triple U.S. health worker recruitment, September 23.
Protect a woman’s right to choose
Our expanded campaign will highlight that we will protect a woman’s right to choose and that doctors never have to navigate a for-profit system, which bankrupts half a million Americans every year.
bcndp.ca: Eby to triple U.S. health worker recruitment, September 23.
Offer Canadian health-care professionals in the U.S. loan forgiveness and help with moving expenses
The campaign will also now target Canadian health-care professionals living and working in the U.S., with new incentives to bring them home, including loan forgiveness and support with moving expenses.
bcndp.ca: Eby to triple U.S. health worker recruitment, September 23.
Focus recruiters where workers are most needed, including cancer care, emergency departments and rural communities
Recruiters will focus on areas where workers are most needed, including cancer care, emergency departments and rural communities.
bcndp.ca: Eby to triple U.S. health worker recruitment, September 23.
Provide more day-to-day support for health-care professionals moving to B.C.
Under Eby’s plan, B.C. will also provide more day-to-day support to help health-care professionals make the move and put down roots.
bcndp.ca: Eby to triple U.S. health worker recruitment, September 23.
Offer health-care workers moving to B.C. a free, tailored relocation process through Health Match BC
Health Match BC will offer a free, tailored relocation process, building on the work communities are already doing to welcome, support and retain new health-care workers.
bcndp.ca: Eby to triple U.S. health worker recruitment, September 23.
Strengthen the health care and public services British Columbians rely on
Support workers and businesses facing tariffs, keep costs down for families and strengthen the health care and public services British Columbians rely on more than ever during a trade war.
bcndp.ca: David Eby launches election with plan to build B.C. strong amid Trump’s attacks, September 22.
CentreBC
Expand home care for seniors
We will expand home care so seniors can age with dignity and reduce the paperwork for doctors so they can focus on seeing patients.
centrebc.ca, before the writ: Budget 2026: Managing Decline is Not Leadership, February 16, 2026.
Reduce paperwork for doctors
We will expand home care so seniors can age with dignity and reduce the paperwork for doctors so they can focus on seeing patients.
centrebc.ca, before the writ: Budget 2026: Managing Decline is Not Leadership, February 16, 2026.
Conservative
Launch an expert commission within 100 days to cut wait times
Conservative Party of BC Leader Lorne Doerkson today announced a plan to keep British Columbia’s emergency rooms open, recruit and retain more doctors and nurses, and launch an expert commission within 100 days to cut wait times.
conservativebc.ca: Keep Emergency Rooms Open, October 5.
Invest $50 million into a health care emergency fund
It will hire and retain more doctors and nurses, support rural medical practices at risk of closing, and invest $50 million into an emergency fund, all while protecting current health care funding.
conservativebc.ca: Keep Emergency Rooms Open, October 5.
Keep British Columbia’s emergency rooms open
Conservative Party of BC Leader Lorne Doerkson today announced a plan to keep British Columbia’s emergency rooms open, recruit and retain more doctors and nurses, and launch an expert commission within 100 days to cut wait times.
conservativebc.ca: Keep Emergency Rooms Open, October 5. Also posted: Plan page, conservativebc.ca/plan.
All Conservative commitments on health care Show three Conservative commitments
Recruit and retain more doctors and nurses
Conservative Party of BC Leader Lorne Doerkson today announced a plan to keep British Columbia’s emergency rooms open, recruit and retain more doctors and nurses, and launch an expert commission within 100 days to cut wait times.
conservativebc.ca: Keep Emergency Rooms Open, October 5. Also posted: Plan page, conservativebc.ca/plan.
Keep BC’s health care system universal and publicly funded
Doerkson committed to protecting health care funding and keeping BC’s system universal and publicly funded.
conservativebc.ca: Keep Emergency Rooms Open, October 5.
Support rural medical practices at risk of closing
It will hire and retain more doctors and nurses, support rural medical practices at risk of closing, and invest $50 million into an emergency fund, all while protecting current health care funding.
conservativebc.ca: Keep Emergency Rooms Open, October 5.
Train more doctors in BC
It will train more doctors here in BC, bring home Canadians who studied medicine abroad, and speed up international credential recognition.
conservativebc.ca: Keep Emergency Rooms Open, October 5.
Bring home Canadians who studied medicine abroad
It will train more doctors here in BC, bring home Canadians who studied medicine abroad, and speed up international credential recognition.
conservativebc.ca: Keep Emergency Rooms Open, October 5.
Speed up international credential recognition
It will train more doctors here in BC, bring home Canadians who studied medicine abroad, and speed up international credential recognition.
conservativebc.ca: Keep Emergency Rooms Open, October 5.
Ensure British Columbians never need more than their health card to get care
Within its first 100 days, a Conservative government will launch an expert commission to bring proven solutions from other public systems to BC, while ensuring British Columbians never need anything more than their health card to get care.
conservativebc.ca: Keep Emergency Rooms Open, October 5.
Make no cuts to health care
A Conservative Party of BC government will not cut health care.
conservativebc.ca: NDP Attack Ad Packs Multiple Falsehoods Into 30 seconds, October 3. Also posted: Keep Emergency Rooms Open, October 5 · Plan page, conservativebc.ca/plan.
OneBC
Allow private healthcare alongside fully-funded public healthcare
Private Healthcare alongside fully-funded public healthcare
Plan page, 1bc.ca/priorities: Our Plan, 1bc.ca/priorities.
Shift healthcare administration/HR spending to frontline employees and resources
Shift administration/HR spending to frontline employees and resources
Plan page, 1bc.ca/priorities: Our Plan, 1bc.ca/priorities.
The health system in plain words
The Medicare Protection Act
- The Medicare Protection Act is the BC law that continues the Medical Services Plan. Its stated purpose is to preserve a publicly managed and fiscally sustainable health care system in which access to necessary medical care is based on need and not an individual's ability to pay. Section 2
- It bars charging a person for or in relation to a benefit, except as the Act, the regulations or the commission specify. Benefits include medically required services rendered by a medical practitioner who is enrolled under the Act. Section 17
- It bars private insurance for the cost of services that would be benefits, with the exceptions the section lists. Section 45
Who delivers care, and three terms the commitments use
- The Ministry of Health works with a provincial health authority, five regional health authorities and a First Nations health authority. The five regional health authorities govern, plan and deliver health-care services within their geographic areas. Health authorities page, page last updated March 1, 2021
- The Health Connect Registry is the province's list of people who need a family doctor or nurse practitioner; attachment coordinators match people on it with providers taking new patients. HealthLink BC, Health Connect Registry page
- The surgery wait figures count from the day the health authority receives the booking form to the day of surgery. The wait to see a surgeon is measured apart. Surgery Wait Times: wait time definitions
Health care figures
- Waiting for a long-term care bed, 2025 People waiting
- 7,029 Monitoring Seniors Services 2025
- Ministry of Health budget, 2026/27 Operating expenses
- $36,116,125,000 Estimates, fiscal year ending March 31, 2027, p. 113
The tables
Wait for surgery, adults, three procedures: cases waiting as of Jun 30, 2026, and waits of cases completed between 01-Apr-2026 and 30-Jun-2026
| Procedure | Cases waiting | 50% of cases completed within | 90% of cases completed within |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hip Replacement | 5,199 | 17.0 weeks | 51.6 weeks |
| Knee Replacement | 10,145 | 22.0 weeks | 58.9 weeks |
| Cataract Surgery | 18,470 | 5.7 weeks | 22.1 weeks |
Government of BC, Ministry of Health: “The data presented on the Surgery Wait Times website is a snapshot of a 3-month time period.”
Sources: Hip Replacement, Knee Replacement, Cataract Surgery (Surgery Wait Times: Adult, Hip Replacement).
Recorded votes
Second reading of Bill 21, Medicare Protection Amendment Act, 2008: passed, 41 to 29
41 for 29 against 9 did not vote
Third reading of Bill 21, Medicare Protection Amendment Act, 2008: passed, 41 to 30
41 for 30 against 8 did not vote
Second reading of Bill 36, Health Professions and Occupations Act: passed, 58 to 1
58 for 1 against 28 did not vote
Third reading of Bill 36, Health Professions and Occupations Act: passed, 46 to 25
46 for 25 against 16 did not vote
Second reading of Bill M 204, Perinatal and Postnatal Mental Health Strategy Act: passed, 91 to 0. It became law.
91 for 0 against 2 did not vote
Introduction and first reading of the New Resident Health Cost Recovery Act: defeated, 37 to 48
37 for first reading 48 against first reading 8 did not vote
Second reading of Bill M 219, Health Authorities Amendment Act, 2025: defeated, 43 to 48
43 for 48 against 2 did not vote
Keep comparing
Each party’s page, at health care
Sources
- Medicare Protection Act, RSBC 1996, c. 286, read October 6, 2026
- Government of BC, Ministry of Health: Health authorities, read October 6, 2026
- HealthLink BC: Health Connect Registry, read October 6, 2026
- Government of BC, Ministry of Health: Surgery Wait Times: wait time definitions, read October 6, 2026
- Government of BC, Ministry of Finance: Estimates, fiscal year ending March 31, 2027, read October 6, 2026
- Office of the Seniors Advocate British Columbia: Monitoring Seniors Services 2025 (11th edition), read October 6, 2026
- Government of BC, Ministry of Health: Surgery Wait Times: Adult, Hip Replacement, read October 6, 2026
- Government of BC, Ministry of Health: Surgery Wait Times: Adult, Knee Replacement, read October 6, 2026
- Government of BC, Ministry of Health: Surgery Wait Times: Adult, Cataract Surgery, read October 6, 2026
- Legislative Assembly of BC: Votes and Proceedings, May 5, 2008, read October 6, 2026
- Legislative Assembly of BC: Votes and Proceedings, May 29, 2008, read October 6, 2026
- Legislative Assembly of BC: Votes and Proceedings, October 27, 2022, read October 6, 2026
- Legislative Assembly of BC: Votes and Proceedings, November 24, 2022, read October 6, 2026
- Legislative Assembly of BC: Votes and Proceedings, March 10, 2025, read October 6, 2026
- Legislative Assembly of BC: Votes and Proceedings, October 30, 2025, read October 6, 2026
- Legislative Assembly of BC: Votes and Proceedings, December 2, 2025, read October 6, 2026
- BC Green: bcgreens.ca/our-plan, checked October 6, 2026
- BC NDP: bcndp.ca, checked October 6, 2026
- CentreBC: centrebc.ca/our-policy, checked October 6, 2026
- Conservative: conservativebc.ca/plan, checked October 6, 2026
- OneBC: 1bc.ca/priorities, checked October 6, 2026