B.C. budget makes health care a priority for 2025

B.C.’s 2025 budget released Tuesday made clear that health care is among the province’s top priorities to protect from the effects of U.S. tariffs with an investment over $4 billion.

Finance Minister Brenda Bailey explained that the 2025 budget plans to insulate its major ministries from the worst of potential impacts.

“In times of uncertainty, we will be there for British Columbians. We are continuing to invest in the services people rely on to take care of their families, get the care they need, when they need it, and provide a good future for everyone across the province,” Bailey said.

“Our government is focused on building an economy that creates the wealth that is needed to deliver more jobs with bigger paycheques, and protect our public services in the face of the threat of unjustified tariffs,” she added.

Last week, Conservative MLAs spent the Legislature session grilling Health Minister Josie Osborne on the state of B.C.’s emergency health system.

Osborne’s response to each was consistent with her recent sentiments, saying the province continues to work to improve the health-care system.

“But we’re also going to continue to do other things to build out the health-care system in ways where people do not have to rely on emergency rooms as much,” said Osborne.

She says the province is making good progress on hiring more staff and attracting foreign-trained professionals. She also says the number of ER closures and diversions in B.C. is actually trending downwards.

Budget 2025 sets aside $4.2 billion over the next three years to improve access to health care for British Columbians.

Of the money set aside, $443 million of that is earmarked towards “strengthening primary care” and connecting more residents with family doctors and nurse practitioners.

There is capital funding to the tune of $15.5 billion to support the construction of new hospitals and the renovations of existing facilities.

The province says that includes the new hospital and cancer care centre in Surrey; the new St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver; hospital redevelopment projects in Richmond, Burnaby, and New Westminster; and projects to redevelop or replace long-term care homes in about a dozen communities across the province.

The former Mental Health and Addictions Ministry has been amalgamated into the wider Ministry of Health, a change made after last year’s provincial election.

This year’s budget adds $500 million more over the fiscal plan to support ongoing addictions treatment and recovery programs that were established in previous budgets.

“These include Road to Recovery, Foundry, secure care, supports for children and youth and Indigenous-led treatment, recovery and aftercare services,” the province detailed.

There are no new measures funded on the mental health and addictions file, including a promised move to involuntary care models for some people experiencing mental health or addictions who may pose a risk to others or themselves.

“The Province continues work to support people with concurrent mental-health and addiction challenges, including secure and dignified care for people under the Mental Health Act, as well as secure treatment within the BC Corrections system,” the provincial government said.

The budget also includes an additional $172 million over three years to support children and youth with an autism diagnosis and families accessing medical benefits for children with severe disability or complex health-care needs. The province says it will benefit 2,700 more children for an estimated total of 30,400 children and youth in the coming fiscal year.

The province says it will add $1.6 billion over three years in spending on income assistance, including for disability income.

On Thursday, the B.C. and federal governments announced striking a four-year, $670-million pharmacare agreement, giving universal access to contraceptive and diabetes medications.

The plan will support nearly 550,000 B.C. residents with diabetes and provide 1.3 million people with a range of contraceptives.

—With files from Srushti Gangdev and Charlie Carey