Government Of Canada And B.C. Reach Agreement In Principle To Improve Health Services For Canadians

B.C. has reached a deal in principle with the federal government on health care.

$3.3 billion in new bilateral funding will focus on shared health-care priorities, and $273 million through the immediate, one-time Canada Health Transfer top-up to address urgent needs, especially in emergency rooms and pediatric hospitals, as well as long wait times for surgeries.

Premier David Eby and his ministers of Health and Mental Health and Addictions, issued a statement saying the new funds will assist the significant actions already underway to improve health-care services in B.C., including improving access to cancer care, primary care, seniors care, acute care and mental-health and substance-use services for British Columbians.

In the meantime, North Island - Powel River MP Rachel Blaney has written a letter to federal health minister Jean-Yves Duclos, demanding the feds take steps to address the health care crisis in the area, and in similar rural and remote communities.

Blaney wrote that the situation in North Island - Powel River is disgraceful.

Citing a drastic increase in the number of nursing vacancies in British Columbia, as well as the lack of doctors at various hospitals in her riding, Blaney said the government has ignored and dismissed the needs of remote and rural Canadian communities.

She urged the federal government to partner with the provinces to find ways to train and recruit more health care workers, recognize the skills of people with international training who are currently barred from working in health care, and encourage health care workers to move to rural and remote communities.

For the full release, visit Government of British Columbia.