Rural Health Equity Fund
On June 9th, we presented to the Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services as part of this year’s budget consultation. We want to share our proposal with you and invite your support in helping advance a solution that would deliver meaningful and immediate improvements to rural health equity across British Columbia.
As concerns continue to grow across rural and remote BC, we believe there are actionable steps that can be taken right now to reduce the inequities rural residents face. This year, we are recommending the creation of a dedicated Rural Health Equity Fund, to be established as a permanent budget line in Budget 2026, with a starting allocation of $50 million annually.
This Fund would operate independently from any single ministry, governed instead through a collaborative framework. It would be chaired by government, co-chaired by the official opposition, include representation from all official political parties, alongside a cross-sectorial board of rural community representatives. Cross-ministry advisors would ensure alignment across health, transportation, housing, education, and other sectors that impact the social determinants of health.
The goal is to create a transparent, nimble, and accountable funding mechanism that can directly support both long-term programs and short-term initiatives known to improve rural health outcomes but which currently lack secure or sustainable funding pathways. This includes areas such as travel assistance, underfunded community non-profit programming, capital investments, scholarships/bursaries, and urgent community-level projects.
In short, this Fund would target projects that measurably close rural healthcare access gaps and reduce long-term system costs while improving health outcomes across rural BC. Its cross-sectoral design recognizes that many of the greatest barriers to rural health are rooted in non-medical issues like transportation, accommodation, food security, climate resilience, communications, education, and cultural safety.
You can listen to our full presentation to the Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services on YouTube here: (starts at 38:16)
Summary of Recommendation:
- Recommendation: That Budget 2026 establish a BC Rural Health Equity Fund as a permanent budget line, beginning at $50 million annually.
- Purpose of the Fund:
To support targeted initiatives that close rural healthcare access gaps, aligned with the Canada Health Act, administered through collaborative, cross-sectoral governance. - Key Priority Areas:
- Medical Travel Assistance: Strengthen non-emergency medical travel supports so rural patients can access care in a timely and affordable way, preventing avoidable deterioration and higher long-term costs.
- Community Engagement and Communications: Invest in trusted, community-based communication channels that help residents navigate care, increase uptake of services, and improve system responsiveness.
- Community-level Recruitment and Health Education: Support locally driven recruitment and retention efforts, and expand rural education pathways to stabilize rural health workforces and reduce costly turnover.
How You Can Help
We are asking our members, supporters, and rural residents to contact their MLA and ask them to champion the creation of the Rural Health Equity Fund in Budget 2026.
Step 1:
Find your MLA and their contact information here: https://www.leg.bc.ca/members
Step 2:
Click here to draft and send the email letter of support,
Step 3:
- Personalize the letter if you wish to send from your group, non-profit or community – adding your local perspective and lived experiences provides supporting evidence to the need!
- Insert your MLA’s name and email address. Send an additional email directy to the Minister of Finance Brenda Bailey: FIN.Minister@gov.bc.ca
- Sign your name and send it directly to your MLA, the Minister of Finance and keep our info address on your sends so we can track the numbers sent.
- Spread the word and post this request out to your networks and social media platforms.
Your voice matters. Each message helps ensure that rural healthcare is prioritized in this year’s budget deliberations.
Yours in Health and Wellness,
Paul Adams
Executive Director
BC Rural Health Network
www.bcruralhealth.org
info@bcruralhealth.org
