BC NDP Pledges $30 Million for Unfinished Kelowna General Hospital Floor
David Eby announced on October 20 that a re-elected NDP government would put $30 million toward completing the sixth floor of Kelowna General Hospital, which has sat unfinished for about a decade, according to the Salmon Arm Observer.
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The BC NDP is promising $30 million to complete the unfinished sixth floor at Kelowna General Hospital, party leader David Eby announced at a press conference in Kelowna on October 20. The Salmon Arm Observer reported the announcement four days before the October 24 provincial election.
The sixth floor has sat unfinished for about a decade, according to the Salmon Arm Observer. Eby made the announcement alongside three local NDP candidates: Loyal Wooldridge for Kelowna Centre, Binny Boparai for Kelowna-Lake Country-Coldstream, and George Morgan for West Kelowna-Peachland.
What the NDP is promising
The party says the $30 million commitment would go toward completing the sixth floor and putting it into use. The Observer reported that the NDP ties the funding to a new income tax bracket it is proposing for earnings above $1 million per year, which it says would apply to the top 3 percent of earners in BC.
The Observer also reported that leaked internal memos from May 2026 showed Interior Health had already been developing plans for the sixth floor before Eby's announcement. The memos were reported earlier this year. The NDP is presenting the $30 million as what would allow those plans to move forward.
Conservative response
Gavin Dew, the Conservative Party of BC candidate for Kelowna-Mission, responded the same day. Dew told the Observer that the NDP had nine years to act and was making the promise four days before the election. He cited 33,000 square feet at the hospital that has sat unfinished for a decade and said more than 50 patients have been placed in hallways.
The Observer reported no response from the NDP to Dew's statement.
What this means for voters
Residents of Kelowna-Mission, Kelowna Centre, Kelowna-Lake Country-Coldstream, and West Kelowna-Peachland will vote on October 24, 2026. Voting places are open from 8 am to 8 pm Pacific time. Advance voting closes October 21. Visit the BC provincial election news page for further coverage.
Questions this story answers
What did David Eby announce about Kelowna General Hospital?
BC NDP leader David Eby announced on October 20, 2026, at a press conference in Kelowna, that a re-elected NDP government would commit $30 million toward completing the sixth floor of Kelowna General Hospital. The Salmon Arm Observer reported that the floor has sat unfinished for about a decade. The party says the investment is part of its broader health care platform funded by a new income tax bracket for earners above $1 million.
How would the BC NDP pay for the Kelowna hospital commitment?
The BC NDP says the $30 million for Kelowna General Hospital would come from an income tax increase on the top 3 percent of earners in BC. The party is proposing a new tax bracket for income above $1 million per year. According to the Salmon Arm Observer's report on October 20, the party presented this as part of a broader set of health care commitments funded through that revenue measure.
What did the Conservative candidate say about the NDP's hospital announcement?
Gavin Dew, the Conservative Party of BC candidate for Kelowna-Mission, responded to Eby's announcement the same day. The Salmon Arm Observer reported that Dew said the NDP had nine years to act and was making the promise four days before the election. Dew said 33,000 square feet at Kelowna General Hospital has sat unfinished for a decade and that more than 50 patients have been placed in hallways.
Which NDP candidates are connected to the Kelowna hospital announcement?
Three BC NDP candidates from the Kelowna area joined the announcement or have been named in connection with it. Loyal Wooldridge is the NDP candidate for Kelowna Centre. Binny Boparai is the NDP candidate for Kelowna-Lake Country-Coldstream. George Morgan is the NDP candidate for West Kelowna-Peachland. All three were identified in the Salmon Arm Observer's October 20 report on the press conference.
Was Interior Health already planning to complete the sixth floor?
The Salmon Arm Observer reported on October 20 that leaked internal memos from May 2026 showed Interior Health had already been working on plans for the sixth floor before Eby's announcement. The memos were reported earlier in 2026. The NDP's $30 million commitment is presented as funding that would allow those plans to move forward, but the existence of the earlier planning work was reported before the election campaign.
When is the BC provincial election and how do I vote?
The BC provincial general election is on October 24, 2026. Advance voting ran from October 16 to October 21. On election day, voting places are open from 8 am to 8 pm Pacific time. You must be on the voters list to vote. Visit Elections BC's website or your local district's voting place finder to confirm your location. The Kelowna-Mission district page on this site is at /bc/provincial-2026/races/mla/kelowna-mission.
What is the current state of Kelowna General Hospital's sixth floor?
According to the Salmon Arm Observer's October 20 report, Gavin Dew cited 33,000 square feet of space at Kelowna General Hospital that has sat unfinished for about a decade, along with more than 50 patients who have been placed in hallways. The BC NDP's $30 million announcement on October 20 targets this unfinished floor. Interior Health had been developing plans for it as of May 2026, according to previously reported internal memos.
Where can I find the BC NDP and Conservative platforms on health care?
This site lists both parties at /bc/provincial-2026/parties/bc-ndp and /bc/provincial-2026/parties/conservative-party-of-bc. The Salmon Arm Observer's full report on the Kelowna General Hospital announcement is at saobserver.net. Elections BC has official candidate information at elections.bc.ca. Voting day is October 24, 2026.
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