Just days before the kick-off to the FIFA World Cup, a new report is out with alarming new numbers showing just how much tourists are costing B.C.’s health-care system.

The figures are being shared by the BC Conservatives, who are citing financial data obtained by policy think tank Second Street through a Freedom of Information request. It says the issue is that people are coming here for treatment and skipping town without paying the bill.

The party says the numbers show that from 2020/21 to 2024/25, the province has tallied more than $200 million in unpaid health-care costs from non-residents.

The highest amount seen is in Fraser Health, which shouldn’t be surprising, given it’s the largest health authority in the province.

Second Street says Northern Health never responded to its request.

The official opposition is slamming the NDP government for this and says it’s unfair to B.C. residents who wait, in some cases, a long time for help.

“British Columbians are not guaranteed timely access to health care, be it treatment or diagnostics, and this situation continues to deteriorate under the NDP,” said Anna Kindy, MLA for North Island and Critic for Health in a release.

“Taxpayers are footing the bill for tourists’ health treatments to the tune of over $200 million — enough to cover over 21,000 hip replacements in this province while British Columbians wait months to years for that surgery.”

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The report from Second Street finds B.C. has the worst record for this compared to any other province in Canada.

“We are seeing British Columbians driving hours for basic medical care, waiting months for diagnostics, and years for surgery. Meanwhile, this research shows tourists are walking into B.C. hospitals, getting treated, and leaving without paying a cent. That is an absolute failure of this government’s priorities,” added Kindy.

This is a sentiment echoed by the firm behind the numbers.

“The government should definitely be taking a look at this problem,” said SecondStreet.org president Colin Craig. “This is costing B.C. taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars while access to health care for residents continues to deteriorate.”

The Conservatives describe this as another example of the “NDP’s financial mismanagement,” and they are calling for greater public transparency around how and where health-care dollars are being spent.

1130 NewsRadio Vancouver has reached out to the Ministry of Health for comment.

Just days before the kick-off to the FIFA World Cup, a new report is out with alarming new numbers showing just how much tourists are costing B.C.’s health-care system.

The figures are being shared by the BC Conservatives, who are citing financial data obtained by policy think tank Second Street through a Freedom of Information request. It says the issue is that people are coming here for treatment and skipping town without paying the bill.

The party says the numbers show that from 2020/21 to 2024/25, the province has tallied more than $200 million in unpaid health-care costs from non-residents.

The highest amount seen is in Fraser Health, which shouldn’t be surprising, given it’s the largest health authority in the province.

Second Street says Northern Health never responded to its request.

The official opposition is slamming the NDP government for this and says it’s unfair to B.C. residents who wait, in some cases, a long time for help.

“British Columbians are not guaranteed timely access to health care, be it treatment or diagnostics, and this situation continues to deteriorate under the NDP,” said Anna Kindy, MLA for North Island and Critic for Health in a release.

“Taxpayers are footing the bill for tourists’ health treatments to the tune of over $200 million — enough to cover over 21,000 hip replacements in this province while British Columbians wait months to years for that surgery.”

Related articles:

The report from Second Street finds B.C. has the worst record for this compared to any other province in Canada.

“We are seeing British Columbians driving hours for basic medical care, waiting months for diagnostics, and years for surgery. Meanwhile, this research shows tourists are walking into B.C. hospitals, getting treated, and leaving without paying a cent. That is an absolute failure of this government’s priorities,” added Kindy.

This is a sentiment echoed by the firm behind the numbers.

“The government should definitely be taking a look at this problem,” said SecondStreet.org president Colin Craig. “This is costing B.C. taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars while access to health care for residents continues to deteriorate.”

The Conservatives describe this as another example of the “NDP’s financial mismanagement,” and they are calling for greater public transparency around how and where health-care dollars are being spent.

1130 NewsRadio Vancouver has reached out to the Ministry of Health for comment.