Conservatives’ $5 billion fiscal gap puts health-care investments at risk

Langley – A re-elected BC NDP government will open a second Urgent and Primary Care Centre (UPCC) in Langley, giving more people access to timely care for illnesses and injuries close to home while helping ease pressure on hospital emergency departments.

“Strong communities need health-care services that keep up with people’s needs,” said Andrew Mercier, BC NDP candidate for Langley–Willowbrook. “An additional UPCC here in Langley will give more people in our growing community more options for same-day care, without having to wait days for an appointment or spending time at the emergency department.”

UPCCs provide patients with team-based, same-day care for non-emergency health concerns that require prompt attention. Services can include treatment for minor injuries, infections, sprains, cuts and other common illnesses that need timely medical attention but do not require an emergency department visit.

The new centre builds on recent health-care investments in Langley. The permanent Langley UPCC opened in 2025 with extended hours and on-site access to X-ray and CT services. At Langley Memorial Hospital, an expanded emergency department added treatment space and a dedicated area for patients with mental-health and substance-use needs. The hospital also has a local MRI suite that can provide 7,500 exams each year.

The new commitment comes as the BC Conservatives face a $5 billion fiscal gap in their plan, raising serious questions about how they would pay for their promises. The Conservatives have said health care would “bear the brunt” of spending cuts, putting investments in services like UPCCs at risk.

David Eby’s plan builds on the 48 UPCCs already opened across B.C. and includes tripling successful recruitment of health-care workers from the United States, coordinating surgical waitlists across regions to lower wait times, and adding more MRI and CT scanners to help people get the care they need sooner.

The Conservatives’ combination of a $5 billion fiscal gap and openness to US-style private health care risks shifting the system away from care based on need and toward one where people who can afford to pay can jump the queue.

People in Langley deserve a health-care system that puts patients first, expands access and delivers care when they need it. The BC NDP is focused on strengthening public health care for everyone – not putting its future at risk.