BC Election 2026: What the parties are promising for family medicine

With election day tomorrow, October 24, we're looking at what BC's political parties have committed to on primary care, what it could mean for family physicians, and where questions remain.

Throughout this snap election, our members’ priorities have guided our advocacy. Building on our extensive member engagement throughout the year, we conducted a rapid pulse check to understand which issues matter most to family doctors right now.

As British Columbians prepare to vote, parties have put forward commitments to expand health care services, recruit professionals and improve access to care. But what will these promises mean for family physicians delivering comprehensive, ongoing care to their patients?

What the parties have committed to

BC NDP

The BC NDP has committed to opening 20 additional team-based primary care clinics, expanding Urgent and Primary Care Centres in communities across BC, and introducing incentives for same-day appointments and extended-hours care. Its commitments also include accelerating pathways for internationally trained doctors and supporting health care recruitment in underserved rural communities.

BC Conservatives

The BC Conservatives have committed to maintaining publicly funded, universal health care and opening new Urgent and Primary Care Centres in 11 communities, including Coquitlam, North Delta, Greater Victoria, Terrace and Kitimat. The party has also emphasized addressing health care workforce shortages and reducing administrative barriers.

BC Greens

The BC Greens have proposed establishing integrated Community Health Centres across BC, bringing health care professionals together to deliver team-based, community-focused care. Their platform also emphasizes workforce planning and expanding access to publicly funded healthcare services.

CentreBC

CentreBC has committed to providing everyone who wants one with access to a family doctor or nurse practitioner team by 2031. Its platform also proposes 600 additional nurse practitioner positions, expanded assessment pathways for internationally trained family doctors and permanent rural retention incentives.

What's still needed for family medicine?

While the parties have outlined different approaches to expanding health care access, the priorities our members have shared with us highlight the importance of looking beyond recruitment and new services alone.

We're continuing to advocate for:

• Retention and sustainable working conditions: Supporting family physicians already in practice, not just recruiting more.
• Family physician-led team-based care: Ensuring family doctors have access to the teams and resources they need to deliver comprehensive, coordinated care.
• Less administrative burden: Reducing unnecessary paperwork and duplicative processes so more time can be spent with patients.
• Connected health information: A clear provincial roadmap for interoperable health records that supports better, more coordinated patient care.
• Stronger rural and underserved care: Long-term supports that reflect the realities of practising in different communities.

These priorities will remain central to our advocacy beyond election day.

Whatever the election outcome, we'll continue bringing our members’ experiences and priorities forward to ensure that commitments to improve access also translate into meaningful support for the family physicians delivering that care.

BCCFP is a nonpartisan organization and does not endorse any political party or candidate. This overview reflects publicly available commitments reviewed October 23, 2026, and is not an exhaustive analysis of party platforms.