'There are so many nurses that have left because of the working conditions'
The British Columbia government has released its 2025 budget, which it says aims to protect jobs and public services.
Budget 2025: Standing Strong for B.C. allocates $4.2 billion to address the growing demand for health-care services, improve access to primary care, continue hiring health-care workers, reduce wait times at emergency departments and hospitals, and open and operate new and renovated health-care facilities. It also provides funding for addictions treatment and recovery programs.
To further support health-care infrastructure, the government has earmarked $15.5 billion in capital funding over the fiscal plan to build and upgrade hospitals, long-term care facilities, and cancer centres.
“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,” said Brenda Bailey, minister of finance. “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.”
Nurses’ union calls for ‘health human resources strategy’
This is a welcome development for the B.C. Nurses’ Union (BCNU).
“At a time when we can all see the economic threats in front of us, we’re reassured to see investments in this budget that prioritize key core services, including health care,” said BCNU President Adriane Gear.
The union expects the funding to further support nurse retention and recruitment and support seniors care and mental health services.
Also, while the BCNU recognizes the significance of the $15.5 billion in capital funding, it stresses the need for a targeted approach to ensure these investments translate into tangible improvements in patient care.
“Capital investments are promising but need a health human resources strategy to support them,” says Gear. “We would’ve liked to have seen funding earmarked for nurse education seats in our post-secondary institutions across B.C.
The union continues to engage with the Ministry of Health on implementing minimum nurse-to-patient ratios, which have been proven to improve nurse retention, bring experienced nurses back to bedside care, and attract new nurses to the profession, according to BCNU.
Increasing violence causing nurses to leave
The BCNU’s response to the budget comes just days after hundreds of nurses from across the province rallied outside the Vancouver Art Gallery.
During the rally, Gear Gear highlighted the alarming rise in workplace violence in health-care settings, according to a CBC report. The union noted that, on average, 26 nurses in B.C. suffer a violent injury at work each month.
"There are so many nurses that have left because of the working conditions," Gear added.
The rally was part of the union’s broader push to establish key priorities ahead of collective bargaining with the Health Employers Association of B.C.
Workplace violence, mental health challenges, and staffing shortages have emerged as top concerns for nurses. Over the past few months, the BCNU has held regional meetings across the province to gather feedback from its members.
While acknowledging broader economic challenges, the nurses' union argues that a well-functioning health-care system is fundamental to economic stability.
"We cannot have a strong economy if we don't have an accessible, dependable health-care system," Gear said in the CBC report.
The current contract between nurses and provincial health employers expires on March 31, 2025, noted CBC.
