BC NDP promise extended job protection, upfront travel payments for serious illness patients

BC NDP Leader David Eby says that, if re-elected, his party will implement improvements for people dealing with serious illnesses.

Speaking in the Kootenay town of Castlegar on Tuesday, Eby announced two new commitments to improve access to care and “boost” job protection.

“If you’re facing a cancer diagnosis, the last thing you need to worry about is whether or not your job will be there after you go through surgery or treatment,” Eby said.

He says the current period for job protection is eight days, but the party promises to expand it to 189 days — 27 weeks.

“By expanding this protection for your job, by making sure that your job will be there when you’re ready, when you’re healthy and ready to come back to work, we’re able to ensure that one less thing is on your plate to worry about. And you can just focus on getting well for yourself and for your family.”

In a release Tuesday, the party says that change would have B.C. match federal standards and proposals in Manitoba, Nova Scotia, and Ontario.

Eby also announced the NDP’s plan to reduce costs for British Columbians who need to travel for health care.

The party promises to expand the Travel Assistance Program to allow mileage claims for trips where flights are not available or feasible and to ensure that reimbursements are made upfront.

“A lot of people with the cost of daily life being what they are right now, global inflation, interest rates, everything else, putting money up front to travel is a step too far, and it might mean they have to go without getting the care that they need by providing people with the financial support they need to travel in advance,” said Eby.