Send a postcard to Minister Dix

We need funding reform in long-term care to ensure public funds are used for care, not profit!

Minister Dix and the BC government have taken valuable and important steps to improve the long-term care sector in BC, including investing in 1154 new publicly owned and operated long-term care beds. They have committed to developing a provincial funding model "that ensures greater accountability” in the contracted sector and ensures taxpayer dollars intended for direct care are spent on care, not profit.

Let Minister Dix know you support his plans by sending him a postcard. 

We know that for-profit operators will be lobbying hard to safeguard their publicly funded profits. The BC Care Providers Association, which represents the majority of contracted for-profit and not-for-profit long-term care operators, has already attempted to undermine the evidence regarding their misuse of public funds. They claim to be in "deep discussion" with the Ministry of Health regarding a new funding formula. 

We need a strong, united voice to counter the well-organized for-profit lobby. The provincial government needs to know the public supports their plans for funding reform and will have their backs when they take action tor reign in profit at seniors' expense. Will you join us in sending a message of support to Minister Dix?

A provincial funding model is urgently needed. The Senior Advocate’s second review of the contracted long-term care sector, ­Billions More Reasons to Care compares revenues and expenditures in long-term care in 2021-2022 with those of five years ago. Her findings are alarming! While making record profits from public funds, for-profit care homes failed to provide 500,000 funded direct care hours. In contrast, not-for-profit care homes delivered 93,000 more direct care hours than what they were funded for. 

For-profit facilities even diverted public funds from direct care into paying for mortgage and leasing costs for their buildings. Overall, for-profits spent 66% more per bed on subsidizing their building costs than not-for-profit facilities.

A standardized funding model is essential to move towards consistent quality of care standards and accountability around use of public funds. The current model incentivizes operators to spend less money on care hours, food, and maintenance because they get to turn anything they don't spend into profit. 

We need a provincial funding model that:

  • Requires that funding for care be spent on care.
  • Improves accuracy and transparency of reporting to keep operators accountable for publicly funded care hours.
  • Ensures common employment conditions across the sector by standardizing wages, benefits and working conditions.
  • Is co-developed with key stakeholders in the long-term care sector including workers and their unions, resident and family councils, and seniors organizations.

If you are a family member, worker, senior or a concerned individual, go to BetterCareForSeniors.ca to request a free postcard and stamp to mail in to the Minister of Health. 

  1. Once you sign up you will receive a free specially designed post card and a stamp.
  2. Write your personal story or your concerns about seniors care on the post card.
  3. Mail it directly to the Minister of Health.