B.C. Budget Sees Big Investment In Health Care

The BC government unveiled its budget yesterday with a big investment in health care.

Almost $6.4 billion in new investment over three years is going into the healthcare system - which the province says will build up the workforce with new training seats and create better support for health-care workers and family doctors. That also includes $1 billion in new funding to expand mental-health and addictions services.

An additional $4.2 billion is being spent to get people into homes they can afford - the largest three-year housing investment in B.C.

history - for more homes for people who rent, Indigenous people and middle-income families, along with new actions to tackle homelessness.

The budget also included a funding boost of $462 million for policing, enforcement, intervention services and access to justice throughout the province.

Another $4.5 billion will be spent over the next three years in new measures and tax credits to help people with the effects of rising costs.

Other notables from the budget: free prescription contraception for B.C. residents, the expansion of  existing K-12 school food programs, and more financial supports for post-secondary students, people receiving income and disability assistance, and foster families and other caregivers.

Budget 2023's three-year fiscal plan presents declining deficits, with a projected $4.2-billion deficit in 2023-24, declining to $3 billion in 2025-26.

For more information, visit Government of British Columbia.