Andrew Longhurst, BA (Hons), MA, is a research associate with the BC Office of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA–BC) and served as senior advisor to the BC Ministry of Health’s Primary and Community Care Research Initiative. He is also a PhD student in the Department of Geography at Simon Fraser University, researching health care reform in Canada and internationally. He has authored numerous publications including, Assisted Living in British Columbia: Trends in Access, Affordability and Ownership (CCPA, 2020), The Importance of Community Health Centres in BC’s Primary Care Reforms (with M. Cohen, CCPA, 2019), Privatization and Declining Access to BC Seniors’ Care (CCPA, 2017), Reducing Surgical Wait Times: The Case for Public Innovation and Provincial Leadership (with M. Cohen and M. McGregor, CCPA, 2016), and Precarious: Temporary Agency Work in British Columbia (CCPA, 2014). Follow Andrew on Twitter
The case for bold, evidence-based action on surgical waiting times—especially for hip and knee replacements that are among the longest in the country—is clear. That is why the BC government’s move to take decisive action to reduce surgical waiting times throughout the province is very good news for all British Columbians. Data reported by the… View Article
Soon we expect the Fair Wages Commission to advise the BC government on a path towards a $15 minimum wage and a plan for regular increases. This will be very good news for our province. Increasing the minimum wage is an important step in reducing poverty and income inequalities that cause poor health. In charting… View Article
The transition to power for a new government in BC provides the opportunity to set a new course that addresses both immediate and longstanding policy challenges. On the health care front, there is no shortage of pressing issues facing the new government. It is reassuring, however, that one of the foundational principles of the NDP… View Article
By Andrew Longhurst, Marcy Cohen and Dr. Margaret McGregor Have you had to wait months for surgical consultation, let alone the surgery itself? If so, you’re not alone. British Columbians are waiting an unacceptable amount of time to receive the care they need. Since 2010, surgical wait times have increased significantly for key procedures, including… View Article
