Victoria, B.C. (October 28, 2025) – Independent MLA for Surrey-
Cloverdale Elenore Sturko is calling on David Eby & the NDP government to stop their planned funding cut to long-term care and assisted living facilities.
Effective October 31, the NDP is slashing critical overtime and agency staffing supports for long-term care and assisted living facilities. The funding was put in place to address chronic nursing shortages during the pandemic. The pandemic ended, but the nursing shortage continues and as a result, seniors are at risk.
“The decision by the NDP to cut funding to long-term care and assisted living amid the ongoing nursing shortages, threatens to destabilize the entire sector, forcing bed closures, paused admissions, and unsafe staffing levels.”
The numbers support Sturko’s claims. According to the BC Care Providers Association, the lack of funding will have critical impacts on the sector, including 61% who report significant impacts. This comes amid already lengthy wait times for admission into publicly subsidized long-term care (average length of 290 days) and assisted living (132 days) that according to providers are expected to grow, leaving many older adults in hospitals or at home without adequate support.
NDP’s cuts are estimated to strip $34.6 million annually from the sector. Province-wide, 80% of operators report they will be unable to meet staffing requirements, 37% will pause move-ins, while 44% will need to close beds.
In the Fraser Health region alone, the impact on thousands of seniors is devastatingly clear. Operators in the region report that they stand to lose nearly $6 million in supports, with 63% warning they cannot meet staffing accountabilities. A staggering 23% anticipate pausing admissions to both long-term care and assisted living, while 23% expect to shutter beds, leaving families in Surrey and beyond scrambling for alternatives.
“Imagine a senior in Surrey or anywhere in the province, finally approved for assisted living after months in hospital, only to find that no bed is available. We’re talking about real people — our parents, grandparents — being failed by the NDP.”
“The NDP government must put seniors first — reinstate funding, collaborate with operators on a sustainable workforce strategy, and invest in recruitment, retention, and real solutions”
Elenore Sturko, MLA
(Independent), Surrey-Cloverdale
