What each BC party has promised on health care
Five parties running in the October 24 provincial election have each set out health care commitments. CityNews Vancouver compared them on election day.
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All five parties running candidates in the October 24 British Columbia provincial election have set out health care commitments, and CityNews Vancouver put them side by side on election day.
Jack Rabb reported on October 24, 2026 that polling by the Angus Reid Institute found health care is the top issue for voters in this election. Emergency room closures, long specialist wait times, and staffing shortages have affected communities across the province, and more than a fifth of British Columbians do not have a primary care provider.
What each party says it will do
BC NDP: David Eby's party commits to no cuts to health care and 20 new primary care clinics across the province, according to CityNews Vancouver. The platform includes a third hospital in Surrey, 8 new MRI machines, 10 CT scanners, nurse-to-patient ratios written into law, an expansion of Kelowna General Hospital, and the second phase of the Burnaby Hospital expansion. The party says it will offer loan forgiveness to attract doctors and nurses to rural communities and triple recruitment efforts in the United States.
Conservative Party of BC: Lorne Doerkson's party commits to what it calls "fully funding" public health care and building 11 primary care clinics, along with a women's and children's hospital in Surrey, according to CityNews Vancouver. The platform also includes a $50 million fund to keep rural emergency rooms open, an independent review of the Mental Health Act, and funding for private treatments when wait time benchmarks are exceeded.
BC Green Party: Emily Lowan's party commits to a Community Health Centre in every riding, a consolidated provincial health authority, and nurse-to-patient ratios written into law, according to CityNews Vancouver.
CentreBC says it will get every British Columbian a family doctor by 2031. OneBC says it will allow private health care into the province and update vaccine protocols.
What experts said
Andrew Longhurst, a researcher with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, told CityNews Vancouver he sees the most practical and evidence-based solutions in the Green platform. He raised concerns about the Conservative proposal on private procedures, saying it risks undermining the public hospital system and reducing equitable access to surgical care. He also said he has not been satisfied with Conservative explanations for how the party plans to keep its spending commitments.
Dr. Adam Thompson, president of Doctors of BC, told CityNews Vancouver that whoever leads the province will have significant work ahead, and said frontline physicians and emergency room workers must be at decision-making tables.
All figures and commitments above are the parties' own, as reported by CityNews Vancouver on October 24, 2026. This site has not verified them against independent financial analysis.
Polls in British Columbia are open until 8pm today. Visit Elections BC or the voting places page on this site to find where to vote.
Questions this story answers
What has the BC NDP committed to on health care?
According to CityNews Vancouver, the BC NDP's platform commits to no cuts to health care, 20 new primary care clinics across the province, a third hospital in Surrey, 8 new MRI machines and 10 CT scanners, enshrinement of minimum nurse-to-patient ratios in law, expansion of Kelowna General Hospital, and the second phase of the Burnaby Hospital expansion. The party says it will also increase BC's capacity to train health professionals and offer loan forgiveness to attract doctors and nurses to rural areas. These are the party's own commitments as described in reporting by CityNews Vancouver on October 24, 2026.
What has the Conservative Party of BC committed to on health care?
The Conservative Party of BC, under leader Lorne Doerkson, has committed to what it calls 'fully funding' public health care, building 11 primary care clinics and a women's and children's hospital in Surrey, training and recruiting more doctors and nurses, creating a $50 million fund to keep rural emergency rooms open, and improving access to rural medical transport. The platform also includes an independent review of the Mental Health Act and funding for private treatments when wait time benchmarks are exceeded. These are the party's own commitments as described by CityNews Vancouver on October 24, 2026.
What has the BC Green Party committed to on health care?
The BC Green Party, led by Emily Lowan, has committed to building a Community Health Centre in every riding in the province, creating a consolidated provincial health authority, reducing bureaucracy, and legislating mandatory nurse-to-patient ratios. Andrew Longhurst, a researcher with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, told CityNews Vancouver he sees the most practical and evidence-based solutions in the Green platform. These are the party's own commitments as described in reporting by CityNews Vancouver on October 24, 2026.
What has CentreBC committed to on health care?
CentreBC has committed to getting every British Columbian a family doctor by 2031 and cutting what it describes as bureaucratic excess while streamlining administration. These are the party's own commitments as described in reporting by CityNews Vancouver on October 24, 2026.
What has OneBC committed to on health care?
OneBC has committed to allowing private health care into the province and updating vaccine protocols. These are the party's own commitments as described in reporting by CityNews Vancouver on October 24, 2026.
Why is health care such a key issue in this election?
Polling by the Angus Reid Institute, cited in CityNews Vancouver's reporting, found that health care is the top issue for voters in the 2026 BC provincial election. British Columbia has seen emergency room closures, long specialist wait times, staffing shortages, and rural communities losing access to care. More than a fifth of British Columbians do not have a primary care provider, according to CityNews Vancouver's report from October 24, 2026.
What concerns did Doctors of BC raise about the election?
Dr. Adam Thompson, president of Doctors of BC, told CityNews Vancouver that whichever party forms government will face significant challenges in health care, and said it is essential that frontline physicians and other health care professionals working in emergency rooms are included in decision-making to help develop solutions. He said those working on the front lines know what practical solutions are available.
What concerns did a health researcher raise about the Conservative platform?
Andrew Longhurst, a researcher with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, told CityNews Vancouver that the Conservative proposal to fund private procedures when wait time benchmarks are exceeded risks undermining the public hospital system and reducing equitable access to surgical care. He also said he has not been satisfied with the Conservative Party's explanations for how it plans to pay for its commitments without cutting public services.
Where can I vote today in BC?
Polls are open until 8pm on October 24, 2026. Visit the Elections BC website or the voting places page on this site at /bc/provincial-2026 to find your voting location. You need to vote in the district where you are registered.
Sources
The pages this story draws on. Open one to check a claim yourself.
- CityNews Vancouver: Health care compared, October 24 2026vancouver.citynews.ca
- BC party pages on health care via CityNews Vancouvervancouver.citynews.ca
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