B.C. Long-Term Care System Pushed to the Brink Following Provincial Budget Announcement
British Columbia's long-term care infrastructure is facing unprecedented pressure as recent provincial budget decisions have delayed the construction of seven crucial new facilities. Despite allocating billions in new healthcare funding, advocates warn that the long-term care sector remains critically underfunded and overwhelmed.
"Patients That Are Literally Lining the Hallways"
B.C. Seniors Advocate Dan Levitt expressed grave concerns about the government's decision to postpone construction projects in Abbotsford, Campbell River, Chilliwack, Kelowna, Delta, Fort St. John, and Squamish. "It's a small fraction, but there are less beds being built as a result of the delays," Levitt stated. "When we think about just the state of long-term care in our province, when we think about the past five years, for example, there's been a five per cent increase in the number of beds."
The situation becomes more alarming when considering demographic trends. "But at the same time, the population of seniors has increased by 19 per cent and we know that over the next 10 years, there'll be 26 per cent additional seniors," Levitt added, highlighting the growing disparity between supply and demand.
Budget Allocation Falls Short of Needs
While B.C. Finance Minister Brenda Bailey announced the province would spend $2.8 billion more on health-care services over the next three years, including $2.3 billion for primary care and long-term care services, industry experts say this amount is insufficient when distributed across all five health authorities.
Mary Polak, CEO of the B.C. Care Providers Association, was blunt in her assessment: "It's nothing. It would be a lot in my bank account, but that's nothing in a health authority. It's effectively a cut."
Staffing and Unionization Complications
The challenges extend beyond physical infrastructure. Polak identified additional problems with funding for unionized private sector workers who were recently brought under the Hospital Employees' Union umbrella. While $72 million has been allocated for the 2028-29 period, the transition begins this year, creating uncertainty about whether private operators will receive adequate funding for required salaries and benefits.
"For many of those projects that'll be an expensive delay. There will be a number of those that just will not go forward again," Polak warned. "They won't try it out again, partly because they've already spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to go through the process, but also because now it's way too expensive."
Systemic Strain and Future Implications
The combination of delayed construction projects, inadequate funding distribution, and staffing challenges creates a perfect storm for B.C.'s long-term care system. The Fraser Health region is experiencing particular strain, with the transition to new union agreements causing significant delays to private-sector facility construction and expansion.
As British Columbia's senior population continues to grow at nearly four times the rate of new bed availability, advocates stress that immediate action is needed to prevent further deterioration of care quality and accessibility. The current situation, where patients are reportedly "literally lining the hallways," underscores the urgent need for comprehensive solutions to address both immediate shortages and long-term planning for an aging demographic.
