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- calendar_today October 19, 2026
Introduction: Health Care at the Forefront of B.C. Election
As the provincial election in British Columbia approaches on October 24, political parties are setting out their priorities to address key health-care challenges. The parties have announced a range of health care promises, from recruiting more physicians to expanding publicly funded clinics and accelerating the training of international medical graduates.
B.C.'s Current Health-Care Landscape
British Columbia has already implemented several initiatives in recent years to improve its public health care system. Notable changes include the introduction of a new family doctor payment model, streamlining processes for internationally trained doctors, launching the online Health Connect Registry, and expanding pharmacists' prescribing powers.
Despite these efforts, more than 1.2 million British Columbians are still without a family doctor, and some communities continue to face regular emergency room closures due to staffing shortages. All parties are now seeking to present solutions to these persistent challenges as part of their election platforms.
B.C. Conservatives: Emphasizing Public Funding and Recruitment
The B.C. Conservatives under leader Lorne Doerkson have pledged to maintain a universal, publicly funded health-care system. Countering suggestions of health-care privatization, Doerkson reaffirmed his support for a fully public system at the recent leaders’ debate. The party promises to establish an expert commission within its first 100 days to bring proven solutions from other public systems to B.C.
Other key commitments include keeping emergency rooms open, hiring and retaining more health professionals, speeding up international credential recognition, and creating an emergency fund with a $50 million investment. A prominent promise is the construction of a new women and children's hospital in Surrey, aiming to minimize the need for families to travel to Vancouver for care. The party also vows to support rural medical practices at risk of closing.
B.C. NDP: Accelerating Recruitment and Expanding Access
Led by David Eby, the B.C. NDP commits to strengthening public health care by tripling the recruitment of U.S. health-care workers, with 800 such workers already hired. The party plans to launch an accelerated training program for international medical graduates in B.C. and add 1,000 new training seats for nurses, nurse practitioners, and allied health professionals, including a 20 percent increase in nursing seats.
The NDP also proposes the creation of new regional surgical waitlists, allowing patients the option to accept the earliest surgery date in their region or choose a specific provider. Additional promises include adding eight MRI machines, 10 CT scanners, 20 more primary care clinics, and opening Canada’s first perinatal mental health unit at B.C. Women’s Hospital. Funding for these initiatives, according to the party, would come from an increased contribution by the top four percent of earners in the province.
B.C. Greens: Community Health Centres in Every Riding
The B.C. Green Party, led by Emily Lowan, aims to establish community health centres in every riding, providing access to a range of care providers and diagnostic services within neighbourhoods. The party's platform stresses increasing funding for public sector nurses to support safe staffing ratios and reduce reliance on private agency nurses. Additional proposals include centralizing referrals for surgeries and care, streamlining the process for medical services.
CentreBC: Universal Access and Rural Stability
CentreBC, under leader Elenore Sturko, sets a goal that all residents who desire a family doctor or nurse practitioner can have one by the end of 2031. The party plans to create 600 additional nurse practitioner positions and 100 more medical residency spots by 2030. Doubling the assessment program for international medical graduates and an ER Accountability Act to halve unplanned ER closures by 2029/30 are also part of CentreBC’s platform, which includes a $25 million annual allocation for rural ER stability. CentreBC additionally promises to launch a public health dashboard and construct a new children’s hospital in Surrey and Langley starting in 2031.
OneBC: Mixed Public and Private Health Care Model
OneBC sets itself apart with support for private health care alongside a fully funded public system. The party advocates shifting administration and HR resources to frontline employees, repealing the Health Professions and Occupations Act, and adopting findings from the Allison Inquiry on COVID-19 vaccine injuries to inform vaccine protocols, though the inquiry is not formally recognized by Health Canada.
Election Day Approaches
With British Columbians set to cast their votes on October 24, health care remains a central theme. Each party’s platform includes promises to address issues such as medical recruitment, access to family doctors, health care funding, and improvements in rural health care and wait times. Voters will soon have the opportunity to weigh in on the future of the province’s health care system.
Source: cbc.ca.
