CentreBC pledges $25 million a year for rural ER stabilization fund

CentreBC Leader Elenore Sturko has announced plans for a “rural ER stabilization fund” worth $25 million a year to help keep emergency rooms open in British Columbia. The party’s campaign pledge says the fund would pay locum doctors and nurses, as well as travel costs and “virtual ER backup.” Sturko, CentreBC’s only incumbent legislator, says the plan would reduce wait times and increase public accountability in health care.

A week before provincial election day, voters are heading to municipal polls on Saturday. Neither leader of B.C.’s two largest parties has scheduled a campaign announcement that day. The B.C. Conservatives say interim leader Lorne Doerkson will be in Williams Lake to vote in the local elections and greet constituents at campaign offices. The BC NDP says Leader David Eby has no events. The BC Greens say Leader Emily Lowan is campaigning in Sidney and on Mayne Island.

Lowan’s campaign issued a statement outlining planned supports during what it called B.C.’s “mental health crisis.” They include integrating mental health as a fourth option in 911 emergency services. The NDP, meanwhile, says it would build a series of new urgent and primary care centres.

Eby’s decision to call the provincial election for Oct. 24 created overlapping provincial and municipal campaign periods, drawing criticism from opponents and the Union of B.C. Municipalities. Advance voting in the provincial election is already underway and continues until Wednesday. The Conservatives have pledged to legislate against provincial and local elections being held within 60 days of each other.

Doerkson said Friday that the release of costings for his party’s platform was “imminent,” but the party has not said when they will be published. The NDP and Greens have already released their costings.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 17, 2026.