BC Premier Eby pledges $15M to triple U.S. health worker recruitment

British Columbia Premier David Eby held a campaign press conference at Peace Arch Park in South Surrey on Wednesday, positioning the upcoming election as a referendum on U.S. relations. He declared that a vote for the Conservatives is a vote for the pro-Trump camp, citing daily tariff attacks that are raising costs for families and businesses.

Eby announced a $15-million plan to triple the recruitment of U.S. health-care workers if re-elected. The province has already recruited more than 800 American health professionals, who Eby says are drawn by B.C.'s public health values over the U.S. insurance-based model.

“If we turn our province into America Junior, we put all of that at risk.”

The premier warned that shifting the province toward an "America Junior" model would jeopardize this recruitment advantage. He also cited Trump's stance on women's health as a key driver for American doctors and nurses seeking to relocate.

The recruitment strategy will also target Canadian health-care workers currently practicing in the U.S., offering new incentives such as loan forgiveness to encourage their return home.