On October 16, 2026, BC Care Providers Association (BCCPA) kicked off the 2026-27 season of Care to Chat with a special election edition, #HomesNotHospitals, featuring veteran political reporter Rob Shaw. With the 2026 B.C. General Election approaching, the discussion explored how the seniors’ care sector can use its collective voice to advance BCCPA’s #HomesNotHospitals campaign and engage candidates on the issues that matter most in seniors’ care.
At the core of the discussion was the campaign, which brings together providers, seniors, families, and communities to advocate for a stronger, more sustainable seniors’ care system in British Columbia. The campaign calls for urgent action to ensure seniors receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time.
During the conversation, Rob joined BCCPA CEO Mary Polak to answer audience questions, share insights on the provincial political landscape, and discuss effective advocacy strategies. He emphasized the importance of leveraging real, personal stories that put a human face on the challenges facing seniors’ care. By highlighting real problems and offering practical, achievable solutions, providers can help cut through political noise and capture the attention of potential decision-makers. Rob also stressed the importance of building strong relationships with local MLAs and creating opportunities for them to connect directly with seniors, residents, and care providers in their communities.
Furthermore, Rob noted that the NDP government remains largely focused on public-sector and has been reluctant to embrace a bigger role for the private sector. He encouraged providers not to take this personally, emphasizing that meaningful progress requires continued engagement, even when conversations are difficult. In his view, maintaining relationships, keeping a seat at the table, and achieving incremental progress are all critical to advancing priorities.
Looking across political parties, Rob observed that support for home care has emerged as common priority among the major parties. He noted that home care is increasingly recognized as a more cost-effective approach that allows more seniors to receive care at home while reducing pressure on hospitals and long-term care. At the same time, he pointed out that no party has yet presented a clear plan to address the province’s projected $13.3-billion deficit.
Service providers understand the challenges facing seniors’ care, having both the firsthand experiences and practical solutions needed to bring the realities of the sector to life for elected officials. That is why grassroots advocacy remains so important. By sharing their stories and speaking up, both during the election and after, providers can help shape the policies and investments needed to improve care for seniors across British Columbia.
Thank you to our sponsors for making this event possible:
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