B.C. restarts planning for Burnaby Hospital expansion

The British Columbia government has resumed planning for the Burnaby Hospital expansion after the project was paused because of budget pressures. The redevelopment, one of nine capital projects previously put on hold, will now proceed in three phases rather than as one large project.

Infrastructure Minister Bowinn Ma said $210 million will fund an immediate upgrade to the hospital’s emergency department and surgical unit. Later phases will expand cancer care and add new acute-care services. The province’s budget had described the expansion as being re-paced, prompting concerns in Burnaby that it might be cancelled. Ma said cancellation was never planned, while acknowledging that the pause caused anxiety.

Ma said the Infrastructure Ministry, Health Ministry and Fraser Health used the pause to get the project back on track. The Hospital Employees’ Union welcomed the decision, but spokesperson Lynn Bueckert said hospital capacity is tied to long-term care because patients who cannot be safely discharged to appropriate care continue to add pressure on hospitals, workers and families. The union called on the province to proceed with delayed or cancelled long-term-care projects as well. Ma did not directly answer a question about the prospect of an early election call.