BC NDP to provide needed funding, delivering a new respite centre for the people of North Vancouver

NORTH VANCOUVER- BC NDP candidates Bowinn Ma (North Vancouver-Lonsdale) and Susie Chant (North Vancouver-Seymour) today announced the BC NDP’s commitment to bring a new respite centre to the North Shore. By providing $4 million in funding to the North Shore Family Respite Centre, the BC NDP will bring the project’s funding stage across the finish line, getting shovels in the ground and building a new respite centre.

“Looking after a loved senior is incredible work that so many caregivers in North Vancouver provide,” said Susie Chant. “Caring for seniors means caring for their caregivers as well. A Family Respite Centre will allow seniors who are cared for at home to spend a day, a week, or more, at the centre while their caregivers recharge.”

The Family Respite Centre is part of the North Shore Neighbourhood House redevelopment. In 2023, the BC NDP government provided $11 million for Phase 1 of the redevelopment project, which, in addition to the Family Respite Centre, will deliver 89 affordable homes and 25 Adult Day Program spaces.

The Family Respite Centre will be owned and operated by Care BC. It is anticipated to be complete in Fall 2025.

"This new funding will help deliver much-needed respite care for caregivers on the North Shore, something that would be at risk under John Rustad's plans to cut publicly-funded projects like these," said Bowinn Ma. "This project is exactly the kind of community-oriented project that the BC NDP under David Eby will support and build all over the province."

“The North Shore FRC will enable the caregivers of seniors diagnosed primarily with dementia and other chronic illnesses to get the periods of rest they require to continue to care for their loved ones at home,” said Inge Schamborzki, Chief Development Officer, Health and Home Care Foundation of BC. “The alternative, too frequently, is a visit to the ER followed by admission into an acute care hospital bed while waiting for a long-term care bed to become available. Seniors universally would undoubtedly much prefer to remain living in their homes as long as possible.”

David Eby is taking action to strengthen quality care for seniors in B.C. The BC NDP is committed to building 5,400 new and replacement beds at 32 long-term care facilities across BC and building on our investments in primary care and home health so that seniors get the care and support they need.

John Rustad’s BC Liberals passed laws that devastated long-term care and led to the layoff of 10,000 workers, leaving seniors without the quality of care they need. When Rustad was a BC Liberal cabinet minister, 9 out of 10 long-term care homes did not meet government standards.

Now, Rustad has made it clear he intends to cut $4.1 billion in healthcare funding, which supports projects like the North Shore Family Respite Centre. That’s a risk our seniors and their caregivers can’t afford.