JointHealth
English
BC 2026 provincial election

#Vote4Arthritis BC Provincial Election 2026

Helping British Columbians living with arthritis make informed choices

More than 920,000 British Columbians live with arthritis. During this provincial election, promises about primary care, surgery and prescription drug coverage will affect whether people can get a diagnosis, access an arthritis care team and receive the treatment they need.

In 2025, arthritis had an estimated $6.5 billion economic impact in BC. It was also associated with an estimated $14 billion in lost social value due to pain, disability and reduced wellbeing. Long waits for care are felt by people trying to work, care for family and stay independent.

Arthritis Consumer Experts (ACE) created #Vote4Arthritis to help voters examine party commitments and ask candidates specific questions. Our four priorities draw on ACE’s advocacy work and Arthritis Action Now: The Plan to End Arthritis in Canada.

Four priorities for arthritis care
  • Team-based care: connect primary care, rheumatologists, arthritis-trained practitioners and rehabilitation services through timely referral pathways.
  • Joint replacements: reduce hip and knee replacement waits and ensure patients can prepare for surgery and receive rehabilitation afterward.
  • Medication access: improve BC PharmaCare coverage and modernize Special Authority criteria and prior treatment requirements.
  • Equitable care: improve access in rural and remote communities and develop culturally safe arthritis care with Indigenous partners.
Use the election materials

Read the BC election backgrounder for the evidence behind these priorities and the actions ACE recommends. Use the party questionnaire to ask candidates how they will address priorities in arthritis care. ACE will share party and candidate responses and assess relevant commitments as the campaign progresses.

ACE is seeking responses from the BC New Democratic Party, Conservative Party of BC, BC Green Party and CentreBC.

ACE survey and party responses

ACE letter sent to each candidate included:
Party Responses To Survey
  • BC Green Party
  • BC New Democratic Party
  • CentreBC
  • Conservative Party of BC
Individual Candidate Responses
This section will be updated as we receive responses from individual candidates.
  • BC Green Party
  • BC New Democratic Party
  • CentreBC
  • Conservative Party of BC
Use the election materials
Read the BC election backgrounder for the evidence behind these priorities and the actions ACE recommends. Use the party questionnaire to ask candidates how they will address priorities in arthritis care. ACE will share party and candidate responses and assess relevant commitments as the campaign progresses.

ACE is seeking responses from the BC NDP, Conservative Party of BC, BC Green Party and CentreBC.

Ways to vote
To make voting easier for all voters, Elections BC has provided several options, including advance voting, voting on election day, at your local election office, or by mail.