British Columbia: The BC Nurses’ Union (BCNU) is urging candidates in the upcoming provincial elections to commit to establishing minimum nurse-to-patient ratios to strengthen the public healthcare system. BCNU President Adriane Gear emphasized that this commitment is essential for recruiting and retaining nurses, ensuring high-quality care for everyone. The union has launched a campaign to raise awareness about the benefits of these ratios and highlighted the challenges nurses face due to insufficient funding. Gear expressed concern over candidates supporting increased privatization of healthcare, stating that it would harm the public system by diverting resources. She mentioned that B.C. is the first region in Canada to negotiate such a policy but acknowledged the need for further progress. The union has 16 lobbyists in various regions actively meeting with candidates to encourage them to sign the pledge supporting nurse-to-patient ratios.