Healthcare is top of mind for many British Columbians now - and it is for our government too. Next week, Premier Horgan is chairing a meeting with premiers from across Canada, with a focus on working together to finalize a new health care funding agreement with the federal government.

Since forming government, we’ve made record investments in healthcare and this week we reached two milestones that highlight how we are working to make up for almost two decades of funding cuts by previous governments that left huge gaps in our healthcare.

We announced that people in the Tri-Cities area will have access to better emergency care with the full completion of the emergency department expansion work at the Eagle Ridge Hospital. The project involved upgrades to the old emergency department area and expanding to build additional space. We also issued the request for proposals for the new hospital and BC Cancer Centre in Surrey. This means we are closer to seeing what the new state-of-the-art hospital will look like, with construction expected to start next summer.

For more information: 
https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2022HLTH0159-001058
https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2022HLTH0156-001048

British Columbians can expect a transition to warmer and dryer conditions in July, signalling an increase in overall wildfire risk and fire danger ratings as the season progresses. The BC Wildfire Service’s latest seasonal outlook shows that current wildfire activity is minimal and concentrated in the northern half of the province, where recent rainfall has been minimal. Cool and wet conditions through June in the southern half of the province have tempered overall fire activity.

To help protect British Columbians from wildfires, applications are open for $25 million for community projects that reduce the risk of wildfires. The Province is providing the funding to the Forest Enhancement Society of BC (FESBC).

For more information: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2022FOR0044-001072

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