Premier David Eby was in Castlegar on Tuesday and announced two new healthcare commitments to get people easier access to care and boost job protection for people facing a serious illness.
Eby says he plans to expand the Travel Assistance Program to allow mileage claims for trips where flights are either not available or feasible. The goal of this is to help bring down costs for rural British Columbians who need to travel for health care.
Additionally, the program will also be changed to deliver up-front payments.
“People in rural B.C. face unique challenges when it comes to healthcare. If you need treatment or to see a specialist far from home, finding the resources to travel can be particularly tricky during an already difficult time,” said Eby.
“We’re going to extend travel assistance to cover the cost of mileage and make sure rural British Columbians get payment upfront – so you’re not out-of-pocket while you wait to be reimbursed.”
Eby also announced that he will extend the length of job protection for people facing a serious illness from eight days to 27 weeks. This change matches federal standards and recent proposals in Manitoba, Nova Scotia, and Ontario.
“It’s hard enough to face treatment and recovery from a difficult diagnosis like cancer. Nobody should be worried about losing their job when they’re fighting for their life,” said Eby.
“It’s time to follow the example of other provinces who’ve protected jobs while people fight serious illnesses. Under John Rustad’s plan for American-style privatization and deep cuts, people would wait longer and pay more for worse care. That’s a risk people just can’t afford.”
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