On October 19, BC Nurses Vote

The 2024 BC election campaign is now officially underway. This is an important opportunity for BCNU members to shape the future of the province, particularly as it relates to health care. Voters face a stark choice – continuing investments in public health care or turning to privatization and widespread budget cuts.

The BC Legislature is destined for a significant amount of change regardless of how British Columbians vote. Redistribution of electoral districts, which happens every two elections to ensure fair representation for voters in the legislature, added six new seats, bringing the total number of MLAs from 87 to 93. A stunning 29 incumbents have also decided not to seek re-election, and there are three electoral districts where two incumbent MLAs are running against each other. Together, this means the next legislature will have a minimum of 38 new MLAs. The coming turnover makes it vitally important for members to be engaged with their local candidates to highlight the concerns of nurses.

The latest issue of Update Magazine is in members’ mailboxes and includes an envelope of leaflets outlining the union’s key asks. The leaflet urges British Columbians to make health care a priority when they vote. Members can use them in conversations with election candidates and share them with family members, friends, neighbours and co-workers to spark conversations about health-care issues that matter in this election.

Throughout the summer, the union’s Ratios Save Lives campaign has been on billboards, social media and other online spaces to educate the public about the importance of ratios. Starting this week, radio listeners across the province will also hear a message from BCNU President Adriane Gear encouraging them to think about public health care when they vote.

BCNU is emphasizing the importance of its members and all eligible voters to get out and cast their ballots. With a membership of more than 48,000 strong, the union has the potential to have a significant impact on the election result. With the future of the province’s public health-care system at stake, voting has never been more important.

How to Vote

Advance voting is open Oct. 10 – 13, 15 and 16, and final voting day takes place Oct. 19. Ensure you are registered to vote with Elections BC to receive information on where, when and how to vote.

It’s important to remember that all employees in BC are entitled by law to four consecutive hours free from work during voting hours on general voting day for the purposes of casting a ballot. Nurses have the same right under the Nurses’ Bargaining Association agreement (Article 36, Leave – Elections). This does not necessarily mean four hours off work, but rather a four-hour period, free from work, during voting hours. It is up to the employer to decide when their employees can take time off work to vote on Oct. 19.

If you have a scheduled day shift on general voting day and are being pressured by your employer to vote at another time rather than being excused from work, see your local steward immediately. You must be given time off work to vote if you are voting on Oct. 19 during the voting hours of 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.

This election, vote like your health depends on it.