Paul Adams, Premier David Eby, Dr. Jude Kornelsen
March 16th 2025 – By Paul Adams, Executive Director, BC Rural Health Network
Meeting with Premier Eby – Victoria BC
We were incredibly grateful to Premier Eby in providing us with significant time amidst an incredibly challenging time for our province and our country. In meeting with the Premier we discussed a variety of challenges we continue to face in access to care in rural BC and specifically discussed travel assistance and the Housing is Healthcare initiative. The Premier also brought both PS Toporowski and Minister Anderson to our meeting which ensures alignment and mutual understanding as we move forward on advancing supports for rural residents on accommodations and travel.
The lack of accessible and affordable accommodations for those requiring medical services far from home continues to be a barrier to care. The Housing is Healthcare collaboration have initiated discussions on developing a business proposal for deployment, seeking broad-based support from the Premier’s Office and leaders across the aisle. This proposal aims to provide tangible solutions that would ensure better housing access for patients in need, reducing overall healthcare costs while improving health outcomes. Access to government statistics and working in collaboration with the Ministry staff responsible is critical to this project’s success and we were pleased to gain the support of the Premier in our efforts to date and the work moving forward.
From the BC Rural Health Network’s perspective, we remain concerned that many of the priorities essential to rural healthcare are not explicitly addressed in the budget lines. However, that does not mean investments will not be made. Through our meetings in Victoria, we have been advancing several key policy commitments, including:
- Returning Rural Community Voices to Health System Planning: Rural communities must have a say in their healthcare, ensuring that decisions reflect local needs and challenges. The voices of those who live, work, and play in rural British Columbia must be integrated into policy development and implementation. Understanding the lived and evolving experiences of rural residents is critical to the provision of services that fit the needs of our small rural communities are to be met. Mechanisms of engagement that meet the needs of rural come from rural communities themselves and the need to facilitate these discussions to create meaningful and reliable information return to decision makers. Another cookie cutter approach to superficial discussion will fail to re-engage rural residents.
- Information Dissemination to the Grassroots of Rural BC: Investing in strong bi-directional communications strategies that effectively reach and inform rural communities across the province. These must be inclusive of all communities and must inform the grassroots community champions living in rural BC, as information fails to reach rural areas in top-down delivery models. Many excellent services and resources are not reaching those who need them most. Work that our Network does well and needs assistance to enhance.
- Implementation of a Rural Health Strategy: Ensuring a focused rural policy and practices are a key part of improving health services in BC. One size doesn’t fit all, the unique nature of small-town BC requires management through a rural lens.
- Investment in Medical Travel and Accommodation: Patients from rural areas continue to face significant barriers to accessing care due to high travel and lodging costs. We have reiterated the need for enhanced funding to support those who must travel for essential medical services.
- Strengthening Team-Based Care Models: The current physician-centered system is no longer adequate to meet the evolving healthcare needs of rural British Columbians. Expanding team-based primary care, incorporating nurse practitioners, pharmacists, physician assistants, virtual supports, and allied health professionals, is crucial for rural communities.
- Enhanced Mental Health Supports: While $500 million has been allocated for addiction treatment and recovery services, the budget does not provide clarity on rural-specific mental health initiatives. Ensuring that mental health care is accessible, timely, and adequately funded remains a key concern.
- Fulfilling the Commitments of the Canada Health Act: All insured residents of British Columbia must be provided reasonable access to healthcare services without financial or logistical barriers.
As our financial year-end approaches, we also want to emphasize the critical role that organizations like the BC Rural Health Network play in facilitating healthcare access, information dissemination, and cross-sectoral collaboration. The work we do is not only essential for rural residents but also serves as a vital link between policymakers, healthcare providers, and communities. Investing in sustainable funding for our initiatives would enable us to enhance our ability to provide information, support rural health planning, and further develop the bi-directional communication strategies needed to connect rural residents with healthcare services.
Despite the gaps in explicit rural healthcare funding, we see a renewed focus on rural health within the Ministry of Health and among our political representatives. There is a shared determination across party lines to find innovative solutions that improve healthcare access and delivery in rural and remote communities. We will continue working with all parties in advancing rural health priorities and keeping residents informed as the budget progresses through estimates and the legislature.
Premier David Eby and Jude Kornelsen, Premier’s Office – Victoria
Now, more than ever, Canada must stand strong together, and British Columbia serves as a shining example of unity, resilience, and commitment to public health. Regardless of political affiliation, we must focus on the common ground, ensuring that location or medical condition does not determine one’s ability to access care.
Photo:Minister Anderson and Minister Davidson
With the dedicated collaboration of healthcare professionals, policymakers, and community advocates, we can shape a healthcare system that truly serves all British Columbians. We will remain vigilant in our efforts and continue championing solutions that benefit our rural communities.
Stand strong, B.C.! We Love Rural!
Minister Osborne
