DAVID Eby on Wednesday committed to doubling down and then tripling down on the success of B.C.’s targeted U.S. health care recruitment efforts with a big boost to the campaign that has seen over 800 health professionals accept jobs in the province.
“U.S. health care professionals are choosing B.C. because here they see a public system that reflects their values and puts patients first. There’s a lot more work needed to get everyone the care they deserve – we can’t afford to stop now,” said Eby, BC NDP Leader. “[U.S. President] Donald Trump attacks Canada every day, so I certainly don’t mind poaching doctors from his country. Instead of health workers, Conservatives would import American private healthcare, and in doing so would put at risk the very thing that is attracting these workers to B.C.”
The NDP say that in B.C., the Conservatives have acknowledged that healthcare would “take the brunt” of deep cuts if they were elected. Cuts that deep mean fewer doctors and nurses in our public system and longer waits for care, opening the doors to American-style private healthcare. They even called the government’s U.S. healthcare worker recruitment efforts “an irresponsible, reckless, idiotic, waste of money” and said they would cancel it.
The new campaign, which will be triple the size of B.C.’s first successful efforts, will expand into Republican-controlled “red” states where doctors and nurses are facing laws that restrict their ability to provide life-saving reproductive care. It will highlight a clear alternative: a publicly funded health-care system where professionals can focus on caring for patients, not fighting with insurance companies in a private, for-profit system that can leave people facing catastrophic debt.
“Trump’s attack on women’s health is another reason we have seen such interest from American doctors and nurses to move here,” said Eby. “Our expanded campaign will highlight that we will protect a woman’s right to choose and that doctors never have to navigate a for-profit system, which bankrupts half a million Americans every year.”
The campaign will also now target Canadian health-care professionals living and working in the U.S., with new incentives to bring them home, including loan forgiveness and support with moving expenses. Recruiters will focus on areas where workers are most needed, including cancer care, emergency departments and rural communities.
Under Eby’s plan, B.C. will also provide more day-to-day support to help health-care professionals make the move and put down roots. Health Match BC will offer a free, tailored relocation process, building on the work communities are already doing to welcome, support and retain new health-care workers.
The NDP say Eby’s health care plan is making a difference:
- A million more people connected to a family doctor since 2018, with more to come
- Over 800 doctors, nurses, and healthcare workers recruited from the U.S.
- B.C. now has the most doctors per person of any province
- A new medical school now open and training doctors at SFU Surrey.
- 24 new and expanded hospitals complete and underway, 48 urgent primary care centres open – with more to come
