On April 22nd, BC Care Providers Association (BCCPA) held its latest Care to Chat session with Canada’s top health journalist, Globe and Mail columnist and award-winning author, André Picard, at the Terminal City Club in Vancouver. André sat down with BCCPA CEO and former B.C. Minister of Health, Terry Lake, for a thought-provoking conversation on Canada’s seniors living and care sector.
Picard kicked off the conversation by addressing the state of the healthcare system, pointing to a resistance to change and poor allocation of resources (rather than lack of funding) as key barriers to progress. He noted that the important leadership role of the federal government in healthcare, with no province adequately preparing for Canada’s aging population. In B.C., Lake noted the absence of a dedicated seniors’ ministry where responsibilities are fragmented across housing, home care, long-term care, and assisted living, and calls for a comprehensive, integrated approach to seniors’ care.
Picard emphasized that universal healthcare doesn’t mean everything is free, rather it means that basic services are accessible to all. With more clarity on which seniors’ care services are publicly funded and available, Canadians can be more proactive in planning for their own aging journey.
He identified three top priorities:
1. Universal access to primary care – Every Canadian should have a family doctor.
2. Solving the health human resources crisis – Improve job design, promote career laddering, and allow full-scope practice.
3. Clear guidance on aged care planning – Define what’s funded, what’s not, and how people can plan ahead.
Picard also highlighted the important role of immigrants in seniors’ care and the need for career development and better wages for health care assistants. He pointed to Quebec’s success in improving compensation and training pathways.
On technology, Picard criticized Canada’s slow adoption of new tools, with fax machines still in use for example. He sees great potential in AI and robotics for medication delivery, mobility support, and care planning.
Closing on a hopeful note, Picard calls for a Canada where seniors are fully integrated into our communities, as outlined in his book Neglected No More. Here, older adults can age in place at home or, when needed, in campuses of care, offering continuity and comfort for seniors while reducing strain on the broader system.
Thank you to our Season 12 Care to Chat sponsors who make these conversations possible.
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Click here to view photos from the event.
