BC Greens propose a community health centre in every riding and a review of health authority structure
The BC Green Party published a healthcare platform on October 6, proposing an integrated community health centre in every provincial riding and a review of whether to replace the current health authority model with a single provincial authority.
Announcement. A campaign, a party or the City chose to say this. voche.me reports it as their claim. Read the original report on bcgreens.ca.
The BC Green Party published a healthcare platform on October 6, 2026, at an event in Squamish. Party leader Emily Lowan was joined by BC Greens MLA Jeremy Valeriote, who represents West Vancouver-Sea to Sky.
What the party proposes
The announcement calls for an integrated community health centre in every provincial riding. The Greens describe these as facilities that would bring primary care, mental health support, and social services under one roof.
The party also says it would review the current structure of regional health authorities across British Columbia and consider consolidating them into a single provincial authority. It says it would centralize surgical referrals into a single-entry model so that patients do not need separate referrals to each health region.
Other proposals in the announcement include phasing out reliance on private agency nurses, requiring health authorities to collect and publish workforce data, reviewing loan forgiveness programs for healthcare students, and providing free vaccines.
The party's figures
In the announcement, Lowan is quoted as saying: "One in every eleven dollars spent in this province is government healthcare spending. Yet people are getting sicker and conditions for workers are deteriorating, all as we watch millions of dollars flow to private healthcare providers."
The party puts the provincial health budget at $40.6 billion for 2026, which it says represents 8.7% of provincial GDP. It says administrative costs in the health system have increased by 270% since 2017, reaching $3.8 billion. It also puts the average cost of a visit to an Urgent and Primary Care Centre at $186.
These figures come from the party's own materials. voche.me has not independently verified them.
The party says on its announcement page that it is the only party committed to ending what it calls the creeping expansion of private healthcare. That is the party's own claim.
What voters can do
This is a platform announcement ahead of the October 24 vote. Advance voting runs October 16 to 21. You can compare what each party has announced on healthcare using the party pages on this site.
Questions this story answers
What is the BC Greens' healthcare plan?
The BC Green Party published a healthcare platform on October 6, 2026. The plan, as announced by party leader Emily Lowan, calls for an integrated community health centre in every provincial riding, a review of the regional health authority model with consideration of consolidating to a single provincial authority, centralizing surgical referrals into a single-entry model, and phasing out reliance on private agency nurses. These are the party's own proposals.
What is a community health centre?
As described in the BC Greens' announcement, a community health centre is a facility that provides primary care, mental health support, and social services in one place. The party says it would establish one in every provincial riding if elected. The announcement does not include a cost estimate for this commitment.
What does the BC Greens say about health authority consolidation?
The BC Green Party says it would review the current model, which divides British Columbia into regional health authorities, and consider replacing it with a single provincial health authority. The party says it would also centralize surgical referrals into a single-entry system so patients are not referred separately to each health authority. These proposals come from the party's own announcement.
What did Emily Lowan say about health care spending?
In the announcement, Emily Lowan is quoted as saying: 'One in every eleven dollars spent in this province is government healthcare spending. Yet people are getting sicker and conditions for workers are deteriorating, all as we watch millions of dollars flow to private healthcare providers.' The party puts the provincial health budget at $40.6 billion for 2026, representing 8.7% of GDP. The party also says administrative costs have increased by 270% since 2017, totalling $3.8 billion. These are the party's own figures.
What does the BC Greens plan say about private healthcare?
The BC Green Party's announcement includes a proposal to phase out reliance on private agency nurses and require health authorities to collect workforce data. The party says on its announcement page that it is the only party committed to ending what it calls the creeping expansion of private healthcare. That is the party's own claim.
What is the current cost of a UPCC visit according to the BC Greens?
The BC Green Party's announcement states that the average cost of a visit to a Urgent and Primary Care Centre is $186. This figure comes from the party's announcement materials and has not been independently verified.
When is the BC provincial election?
The British Columbia general election is on Saturday, October 24, 2026. Advance voting runs from October 16 to 21, inclusive. You can register to vote and find your voting place through the Elections BC website. To be eligible you must be a Canadian citizen and at least 18 years old on voting day.
Who is Emily Lowan?
Emily Lowan is the leader of the BC Green Party and a candidate in the Saanich North and the Islands district in the BC provincial election on October 24, 2026. You can read her candidate profile at /bc/provincial-2026/candidates/emily-lowan.
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