Warns BC Conservatives would follow Danielle Smith’s for-profit approach to health care

DELTA – David Eby outlined new rules to strengthen public health care in B.C. and guard against U.S.-style privatization. Every BC NDP candidate has signed on to a Public Health Care Guarantee that commits to protecting public health care and stopping out-of-pocket charges, as is happening now in Alberta under a Conservative government.

“Universal public health care is an expression of who we are as Canadians. It’s a promise that we take care of each other, no matter who you are or how big your bank account is,” said David Eby, BC NDP leader. “That’s why hundreds of health workers are coming from the U.S. to build their lives here in B.C. They want to focus on the care their patients need, not what an insurance company says they're qualified for. Every single one of our candidates is committed to protecting what makes us stronger and stopping American-style privatization.”

The BC NDP will close loopholes that allow clinics to charge user fees and extra billing for publicly insured, medically necessary services. Under Eby’s plan, health authorities will phase out the use of expensive private agency nurses, redirecting savings to expand the Go Health BC program that sends public travel nurses to staff rural emergency rooms.

Eby noted that the risk of U.S.-style health care coming to Canada is not hypothetical. Last year, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith passed a law allowing doctors to work in both public and private health care and charge patients out of pocket. Those who can pay will be able to jump the queue for surgery. Like interim BC Conservative leader Lorne Doerkson, Smith ran on a vague commitment in the last Alberta election to maintain a universally accessible, publicly funded system.

“We've seen the Conservative playbook in action. They pretend health care is safe to get your vote. Then the moment they get into power, it’s carved up for profit,” said Eby. “The same thing would happen here under Doerkson and the BC Conservatives. His Nanaimo candidate called a user-pay model the ‘only solution’ to our health care challenges. His health critic, Anna Kindy, has openly championed a private, pay-for-care system – and Doerkson has refused to rule her out as health minister. All of our candidates can guarantee public health will be protected. Conservatives can’t.”

How David Eby and the BC NDP will protect public health care in B.C.:

• Public Health Care Guarantee: Every BC NDP candidate has signed on to a pledge to protect B.C. from American-style, for-profit, pay-your-way health care by opposing out-of-pocket charges for medically necessary care, queue-jumping by those who can pay, and changes that pull staff and resources away from our public system.
• Care with your health card, not your credit card: Close legal loopholes, strengthen rules, and bring nurse practitioners under the Medicare Protection Act to stop clinics from charging user fees.
• Phase out expensive agency nurses: Over the next three years, eliminate hospital reliance on costly private temp agencies by capping fees and hours and preventing people from working as agency nurses in the same hospital where they were recently employed. Redirect savings to rural travel nurse programs.
• Protecting science and public health: Investing in evidence-based health promotion and public awareness campaigns to counter misinformation on vaccines.