Vancouver/CMEDIA: Significant steps are being taken by the Province of British Columbia (BC) to ensure support for seniors with complex health needs and the workers who care for them, in publicly funded care homes, regardless of where they live or work.
To ensure workers are covered by the Health Employers Association of BC (HEABC), a new memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the Ministry of Health, and the Facilities Bargaining Association (FBA) will bring eligible care-home operators to HEABC membership.
Reinforcing consistent provincial labour standards across the sector, this transition strengthens the workforce and promotes high-quality and reliable care for seniors and people with complex health needs.
“Every senior in British Columbia deserves dependable, compassionate care…By reinforcing consistent standards across the sector…ensuring that the dedicated workers who care for seniors every day can continue to provide familiar, consistent care for seniors and their families,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Health. “
Through collective bargaining between HEABC and the FBA, The MOA was reached and is subject to ratification votes expected to conclude by Dec. 20, 2025.
While delivering immediate and long-term improvements, this change once completed would include:
- consistent labour standards across long-term care and assisted-living sites;
- stronger recruitment and retention due to fair wages and benefits;
- reduced turnover and more stable staffing;
- better continuity of care for seniors; and
- a more equitable, resilient long-term care and assisted-living sector.
“This agreement benefits more than 5,000 workers, most of them women and racialized workers…supports fairness for workers, providing fair wages, benefits and protections, while strengthening care for seniors,” Osborne said.
The transition will be implemented in two phases:
- Phase 1 (Oct. 1, 2026 until Sept. 30, 2027): approximately half of the eligible operators will return to HEABC
- Phase 2 (Oct. 1, 2027 until Sept. 30, 2028): all remaining eligible operators transition to HEABC
Wage levelling will continue for HEABC-eligible sites until at least March 31, 2027 during the transition to ensure stability for workers throughout the province.
For all other sites receiving some public funding but may not meet HEABC membership criteria, the Province will continue wage levelling, subject to a 90-day notice of termination.
As an important step, The MOA is consistent with the government’s long-term objective to create a fair and consistent funding framework for all operators.
