The BC Green Party is committing to ending tax-payer funding of for-profit senior care — its first major campaign promise.
“COVID-19 has revealed the flawed state of senior care in our province. Reports have shown that with the same level of public funding, for-profit care homes deliver less care hours and make 12 times the profits in comparison to non-profits,” said Green Party Leader Sonia Furstenau in a media release.
She said the Greens would shift to a mix of public, non-profit and community-based senior care. Furstenau also committed to requiring annual inspections, financial statements and audited expense reports.
She said a Green Party government would recognize senior caregivers as healthcare workers and provide the Office of the Seniors Advocate with an expanded mandate.
“We would like to see the Senior’s Advocate made an independent officer of the B.C. legislature, instead of reporting to the minister of health. This would make the role similar to the representative for children and youth,” she said at a press conference Thursday.
The party announced 15 candidates yesterday, including Rob Lyon for Parksville-Qualicum, Evan Jolicoeur for Mid Island-Pacific Rim and Lia Versaevel for Nanaimo.
