The B.C. NDP is promising to resume construction of seven long-term care projects that the provincial government delayed earlier this year.
The province said in its annual budget released in February that construction on the long-term care facilities in Abbotsford, Campbell River, Chilliwack, Delta, Fort St. John, Kelowna and Squamish would be paused indefinitely.
The 2026 budget said the seven projects were expected to cost close to $1.4 billion to complete.
The NDP said the money for the projects would come from funding secured through a partnership agreement reached between B.C. and Ottawa in July.
NDP Leader David Eby detailed his party’s plan for seniors’ health care at the Victoria Curling Club on Monday.
The plan included funding for 500 additional health-care workers for at-home care.
Eby also pledged to make the shingles vaccine free for everyone over 50 and all immunocompromised adults.
The shingles vaccine typically requires two doses, at a cost of about $150 per shot.
The B.C. Conservatives were also campaigning on health care Monday.
Interim Leader Lorne Doerkson was in 100 Mile House, where he announced measures aimed at reducing emergency room and maternity closures in rural communities.
Doerkson said a Conservative government would establish a $50 million emergency fund to help prevent closures and aid recruitment to rural medical practices.
He said it would also launch an expert review panel within 100 days of forming a government to identify practices from other universal, publicly funded health-care systems that could be used in B.C.
Final voting day in the provincial election is Oct. 24.
