VICTORIA, B.C.: The B.C. Conservative Official Opposition is raising serious concerns after it was revealed the provincial government has quietly reinstated cuts to the BC Family Residence Program, a program that helps families stay with their children while they receive critical medical care away from home.

As of March 12, the province reduced the maximum stay from 30 days to 21 days and introduced a new household income cap of $80,000, where previously there was no income restriction.

Dr. Anna Kindy, MLA for North Island and Critic for Health, says the decision is both harmful and deeply out of touch.

“This is one of the most stressful and vulnerable times a parent can face, when their child is seriously ill and receiving care far from home,” said Kindy. “Cutting support in that moment is not just wrong, it’s unconscionable.”

The changes come despite the government previously reversing similar cuts in 2025 following significant public backlash. “They knew this was the wrong decision last year. They reversed it. And now they’ve quietly brought it back, without notifying the families who rely on this support,” Kindy said. “That raises serious questions about both their judgment, transparency and their promise to prioritize healthcare.”

Kindy also pointed to the realities faced by families outside major urban centres, where specialized pediatric care often requires travel. “Equity in healthcare means recognizing that families in rural and remote communities don’t have a choice, they have to travel to access care,” said Kindy. “These changes risk excluding the very children who are the sickest and need their families the most.”

With the cost of living continuing to rise across British Columbia, Kindy says the new $80,000 income cap is out of step with reality. “In today’s economy, $80,000 is not a high income, it’s two working parents trying to get by,” she said. “This policy doesn’t reflect the real cost of living in British Columbia, and it punishes families at the worst possible time.”

Kindy is calling on the government to immediately reverse the cuts and ensure families can focus on their child’s recovery, not financial stress.

“When a child is sick, the government should be doing everything possible to support that family and their children in their most vulnerable time, not making their situation harder,” said Kindy. “British Columbians expect compassion and common sense, and this decision shows neither.”

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Media Contact:
Francesca Guetchev, Press Secretary
Francesca.Guetchev@leg.bc.ca
+1 (672) 922-0948