Rustad’s plan for american-style, two-tier healthcare would mean fewer doctors and nurses and worse care in mission

MISSION - Pam Alexis, BC NDP candidate for Abbotsford-Mission, Bob D’Eith, BC NDP candidate in Maple Ridge East, Adrian Dix, BC NDP candidate in Vancouver-Renfrew, and Dr. Andrew Edelson, local doctor and healthcare advocate, today highlighted the challenges facing healthcare in Mission, and the important choice facing families here.

“Across the country, communities are facing a lot of the same struggles, with a shortage of health care workers making it harder to get the care you need. We’re facing those same challenges here in Mission,” said Alexis. “The BC NDP is taking action to train and hire more doctors and nurses. We’re making progress, but we know there’s still more to do.”

“We’re on pace to make sure everyone who has asked for a family doctor or nurse practitioner gets one by the end of 2025,” said D’Eith. “This is such a significant achievement for our province and will have a major impact for families here in Mission.”

The BC NDP is taking action to train and hire more doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers than ever before. Last year alone, the BC NDP hired over 800 new family doctors and connected almost 250,000 British Columbians to a family doctor or nurse practitioner.

“We’ve come a long way improving access to health care in Mission and across the province, but in many ways, we’re just getting started,” said Dix. “We’re currently working with the health authority on a new master plan for Mission Memorial Hospital, which will include improvements to clinical services and hospital facilities. The BC NDP will continue to work tirelessly to support the people who need care and the health-care providers who offer it.”

Recent healthcare investments in Mission include a new CT scanner, which was opened in August of 2024, and a new Urgent and Primary Care Centre, which opened in May 2024 and will connect over 10,000 people with a family doctor over the next four years.

"Mission needs a plan for healthcare that serves the community recognizing Mission Memorial Hospital as fundamental in provision of healthcare to the community”, said Dr. Andrew Edelson, Co-Chair of Mission All Together for Healthcare (MATH). “We look forward to participating in creating a plan for Mission and Mission Memorial Hospital that will help continue to improve access to healthcare for the residents of Mission.”

John Rustad has a history of cutting healthcare from his time in government. In 2009, his decisions led to the reduction of thousands of MRIs and surgeries, negatively impacting those needing timely care. John Rustad rejected the construction of a new medical school, leaving 900,000 people without access to a doctor. Now, John Rustad’s plans involve American-style two-tier healthcare, which will take doctors and nurses out of our health care system, making British Columbians wait longer for care.

“Our community is still dealing with the aftermath of the cuts Rustad made the last time he was in government, where services were reduced and the hospital narrowly avoided closure,” said Alexis. “We’re starting to see positive changes under David Eby and the BC NDP, and we can’t stop now. We can’t go back to healthcare cuts, and we cannot go towards American-style privatization. Simply put, Mission cannot afford John Rustad.”