On June 16, 2025, our Executive Director, Pablita Thomas, represented the BC Hospice Palliative Care Association (BCHPCA) at the 2026 Budget Consultation in Victoria. Speaking directly to members of the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services, Pablita delivered a powerful message: hospice societies are delivering critical health and mental health services across BC, but they are under-recognized and under-resourced.
Pablita’s presentation called on the provincial government to take bold, necessary action in three key areas:
- Make End-of-Life Care a Provincial Priority
She emphasized the need for a renewed, equity-informed end-of-life care strategy—one that includes community hospice societies as true partners in delivering care across urban, rural, and Indigenous communities.
- Recognize Grief and Bereavement as Public Health Priorities
Grief affects every part of our society, from those mourning the loss of loved ones to those grieving due to trauma, addiction, and social disruption. Yet grief remains largely unsupported in the public system. Pablita called for grief-informed approaches to be embedded across ministries and service models.
- Stabilize Hospice Societies Across BC
Despite reaching more than 120,000 people annually, most hospice societies operate without sustainable core funding. BCHPCA is recommending a modest $3.3M annual investment to stabilize existing services, a move projected to protect $145M in health system costs.
BCHPCA Budget 2026 Recommendation
We ask that MLAs and ministries:
- Recognize hospice societies as essential health and mental health partners
- Champion core operational funding of $3.3 million in Budget 2026
- Prioritize grief and bereavement and invest in low-cost, high-value services rooted in compassionate, community-based care
Pablita closed by reminding committee members that grief, dying, caregiving, and loss are universal experiences. They are not partisan issues—they are public health priorities. She urged government to recognize and invest in the compassionate, community-rooted work already being done by hospice societies across BC.
We are proud to have had the opportunity to speak on behalf of our members and the communities they serve. Stay tuned for updates as we continue advocating for meaningful investment and recognition of hospice palliative care across British Columbia.
BCHPCA 2026 Budget Estimates - Poster
