CentreBC pledges $25M ‘rural ER stabilization fund’ to keep emergency rooms open

SURREY — CentreBC Leader Elenore Sturko has announced plans for a $25-million-a-year “rural ER stabilization fund” to help keep emergency rooms open in the province.

The party’s campaign pledge says the fund would pay locum doctors and nurses, and fund travel costs and “virtual ER backup.”

Sturko, who is CentreBC’s only incumbent legislator, says her party’s plan will reduce wait times and increase public accountability in health care.

Neither of the leaders of British Columbia’s two largest parties have scheduled announcements in the provincial campaign on Saturday as voters head to municipal polls, a week out from voting day in the general election.

The B.C. Conservatives say interim leader Lorne Doerkson will be in Williams Lake where he’s voting in the local elections and greeting constituents at campaign offices, while 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,” including integrating mental health as a fourth option in 911 emergency services, as the NDP said it would build a series of new urgent and primary care centres.

Eby’s decision to call the provincial election for Oct. 24 meant overlapping campaign periods with the municipal vote, 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 they would legislate against provincial and local elections within 60 days of each other.

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

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

The Canadian Press