A private member’s bill introduced by a Vancouver Island MLA has passed second reading unanimously in the B.C. legislature.
Courtenay-Comox MLA Brennan Day said his bill aims to improve transparency in reporting data related to the province’s long-term care sector and could benefit communities across Vancouver Island if it becomes law.
Day said the legislation is focused on seniors and families navigating a system that too often lacks clear information or a public plan.
“Some areas are very well served by long-term care, and others like Comox, Courtenay and Campbell River are at two to three year waitlists,” Day said. “There’s massive regional disparities, and this report will shine a light on that and hopefully allow us plan better for what we need going forward.”
Day pointed to the recent deferral of a planned long-term care facility in Campbell River as an example of why governments should publicly report basic information about long-term care wait-lists and capacity.
The proposed Long-Term Care Access and Transparency Act will now proceed to the committee stage in the legislative process.
Day said he expects the committee to review the bill this fall.
