The same day British Columbia’s Green Party is expected to roll out its complete election platform, NDP Leader David Eby has pledged pair of health-care initiatives.

Eby says his government would cover travel costs for cancer treatments and extend employment protections for people with serious illnesses.

He told a campaign event in Castlegar, B.C., that rural residents face “unique challenges” accessing health care, and bolstering travel assistance would allow them to be reimbursed for mileage if they can’t get a flight to access treatment.

The New Democrats say in a statement that changes to the province’s travel assistance program would allow people to receive “upfront payments.”

An NDP government would also extend the “job protection” period for people with illnesses to 27 weeks, up from the current eight days, with Eby saying people shouldn’t fear losing a job “when they’re fighting for their life.”

Green Leader Sonia Furstenau is meanwhile scheduled to hold a news conference in Victoria to release her party’s platform.

The Greens have already laid out a number of commitments, including promises to establish a network of 93 community health centres, cover six visits per year with a mental health professional under the provincial medical services plan, and maintain carbon pricing in B.C. while increasing the amount of the rebate residents receive.

As part of the second week of the election campaign, all three major party leaders are expected to come face-to-face for multiple events on Wednesday.

They will debate live in the morning on Vancouver radio station CKNW, followed by an event hosted by the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 1, 2024.

The Canadian Press