Doerkson’s tax scheme blows $3 billion/yr hole in budget, enough to hire 8,000 doctors

SURREY –David Eby’s primary care plan means more doctors and nurse practitioners and faster care for British Columbians. He has committed to opening new clinics, extending hours for same-day appointments, and training international medical graduates so they can practice in British Columbia.

“Better and faster care means avoiding visits to the emergency room,” said David Eby, BC NDP leader. “That's why our plan will get qualified internationally trained doctors and nurses onto the front lines while we extend hours in clinics so it’s easier to get an appointment when you need one.”

Under the BC NDP, a million more people have been attached to a family doctor or nurse practitioner. While our population has grown, so has the rate of attachment year over year, with 4,000 people now being connected every week. Eby has opened up a new medical school at SFU’s Surrey campus to train the next generation of family doctors while recruiting hundreds of health care professionals from the United States to join the front line. In the last two years alone, the attachment rate in B.C. went from 74% to 80%.

“After conversations with David Eby and his candidates, as well as through collaboration with Federal MPs and other community leaders, I am so pleased to see that David Eby and the BC NDP have listened and committed to delivering an ambitious plan to strengthen healthcare in B.C.,” said Dr. Gulzar Cheema, family physician and former MLA. “From creating a first-in-Canada 'Bridging to Practice' program for qualified international medical graduates to adding over 1,000 training seats for nurses, nurse practitioners, and allied health workers, this plan will make a real impact here in Surrey."

Yesterday, Interim BC Conservative leader Lorne Doerkson announced a plan to blow a $3 billion hole in the budget, making health care cuts inevitable. His tax scheme costs enough to hire over 8,000 doctors and would hand around $200 million each year to the top income earners. Conservatives have admitted that because health care is one of the largest parts of the budget, it will inevitably “take the brunt” of their cuts.

“Unlike the Conservatives, we’re being clear about how we pay to strengthen health care for all British Columbians: by asking those at the top to contribute a bit more,” said Eby. “At a time when we’re successfully connecting thousands of people to a family doctor every day, we need to keep going – not walk away from what’s working by making deep cuts. We can’t afford that.”

Six actions David Eby will take to strengthen access to health care in British Columbia:

• Getting you an appointment in 24 hours: Expand same-day appointments, evening and weekend care through targeted incentives so people get care when they need it.
• Opening more clinics: Build 20 additional team-based primary care clinics to provide timely, in-person care and ease hospital pressure.
• Fast-tracking for international graduates living in B.C.: Launch an accelerated "bridging to practice" training program for qualified international medical graduates already living in B.C. but unable to practice family medicine because of a lack of residency seats.
• Connecting you to a primary care provider: Continue attaching record numbers of British Columbians to family doctors and nurse practitioners.
• Training health care workers: Add 1,000 training seats for nurses, nurse practitioners, allied health workers and care aides, including a 20% increase in nursing seats.
• Supporting rural communities and emergency departments: Offer discounted tuition, loan forgiveness, and moving expenses to attract health care professionals to underserved rural areas facing staffing shortages.