The Province is taking significant steps to ensure seniors and people with complex health needs in publicly funded care homes, and the workers who care for them, continue to have the support they need, regardless of where they live or work.

A new memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the Ministry of Health, the Health Employers Association of B.C. (HEABC) and the Facilities Bargaining Association (FBA) will bring eligible care-home operators to HEABC membership, ensuring workers are covered by an HEABC-negotiated collective agreement. This transition reinforces consistent provincial labour standards across the sector, 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,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Health. “By reinforcing consistent standards across the sector, we’re supporting a fair and sustainable workforce, reducing turnover and ensuring that the dedicated workers who care for seniors every day can continue to provide familiar, consistent care for seniors and their families.”

The MOA was reached through collective bargaining between HEABC and the FBA. It is subject to ratification votes expected to conclude by Dec. 20, 2025. Once completed, this change will deliver immediate and long-term improvements, including:

• 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, who currently lack access to pensions and benefits comparable to those doing the same type of work in our hospitals,” Osborne said. “This agreement supports fairness for workers, providing fair wages, benefits and protections, while strengthening care for seniors.”

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

During the transition, wage levelling will continue for HEABC-eligible sites until at least March 31, 2027, ensuring stability for workers throughout the province. For all other sites that receive some public funding but may not meet HEABC membership criteria, the Province will continue wage levelling, subject to a 90-day notice of termination.

The MOA is an important step consistent with government’s long-term objective to create a fair and consistent funding framework for all operators.

Quotes:

Susie Chant, parliamentary secretary for seniors’ services and long-term care –

“A stable delivery of health-care services starts with treating workers with respect and investing in people. Today, our government is taking steps to ensure that fair wages and good working conditions are the standards in B.C.’s long-term care and assisted-living sectors. The collective efforts we are making with our partners will benefit seniors and people with complex health needs in the long run.”

Lynn Bueckert, secretary/business manager, HEU –

“This announcement is a major step in reversing decades of privatization that fragmented seniors’ care. Reuniting thousands of workers under the public agreement will improve working conditions, stabilize staffing and deliver better care to seniors. It’s a victory for front-line workers, for seniors and the public health-care system. And it’s the result of years of tireless advocacy by HEU members.”

Edil Bukid, care aide, Vancouver –

“Being brought back under the public agreement has changed everything, for the seniors I care for and for me. I finally have a pension again, decent sick leave and a fair wage. But more importantly, our residents now see familiar faces every day. This decision means better care, more stability and real respect for the work we do.”

Kim Slater, founder, Family Councils of B.C. –

“This will improve the delivery of more personalized care for seniors. Seniors advocate reports have consistently shown that improved staffing, stability and the delivery of relational care are paramount to helping residents age successfully and with dignity. This change will promote the kind of resident-centred care that focuses on people’s health needs. Our seniors want, need and deserve that.”