BC Nurses' Union Congratulates NDP on Strong Election Results

The BC Nurses' Union is looking forward to working with the BC NDP and all members of the new provincial parliament after preliminary results from Saturday show the New Democrats are set to control 55 seats in Victoria and will form a majority government for first time since 1996.

The NDP's strong finish comes even as half a million mail-in votes have still to be counted.

BCNU President Christine Sorensen says it is more important than ever for the government to develop effective solutions around many of the union's key priorities. These include addressing the province's nurse shortage, confronting the opioid crisis, investing in seniors' care, addressing mental health needs and more.

The new government must also look at the ways it can better support nurses and health-care workers who face the ongoing challenge of working through the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Nurses have been working tirelessly throughout this unprecedented public health crisis, meeting surgery restart goals and bracing for cold and flu season ? and all while the system remains understaffed," says Sorensen. Nurses care for all and it's critical this government make health care a top priority in this time of great uncertainty and stress."

BCNU believes BC's post-pandemic road to recovery will require collaboration and creative thinking from those of all political stripes, and will aim to work inclusively with all parties, including the majority government.

"This is a time when parties on both sides of the aisle should be sitting down and working together," says Sorensen. "We are excited to work with ministers on a number of key portfolios such as staffing, workload, mental health and violence."

BCNU would like to acknowledge the effort of each political party to run a safe campaign during the pandemic. However, unacceptable instances of racism and sexism over the last five weeks indicate that more work is needed to ensure that BC elections are respectful and inclusive. The union was especially troubled when campaign signs for NDP Vernon-Monashee candidate and BCNU member Harwinder Sandhu were defaced in early October.

"It is vital that we work together in a respectful environment and focus on the challenges that lay in front of us," says Sorensen. "BC's health-care professionals and patients deserve nothing less."