Eby highlights U.S. health-care worker recruitment at Surrey border stop

BC NDP leader David Eby said Wednesday that, if re-elected, he would spend $15 million to triple B.C.’s recruitment of U.S. health-care workers. Speaking at Peace Arch Park in South Surrey on the Canada-U.S. border, Eby said more than 800 health professionals have already accepted jobs in the province and the campaign would raise that number to more than 2,400.

Eby said the recruitment effort would also target Canadian health-care professionals living and working in the United States, offering incentives including loan forgiveness and help with moving expenses. He said the spending would save hundreds of millions of dollars in training costs, and cited what he described as U.S. attacks on women’s health as one reason American doctors and nurses have shown interest.

At the news conference, Eby also criticized the Conservative Party of B.C., saying health care would bear the brunt of deep cuts if the party were elected. He linked his remarks to strained Canada-U.S. relations and said tariffs and bans were affecting businesses, workers and families in B.C.

Eby also praised former NDP health minister and Delta North MLA Ravi Kahlon, who has said he will not run in the Oct. 24 election. Eby said Kahlon, first elected in 2017, had made important contributions in health, jobs and housing, and that he understood Kahlon’s decision to prioritize his family.