The Conservative Caucus of British Columbia is raising concerns over the provincial government’s decision to quietly end a $500 bursary that helped new nurses cover mandatory licensing costs. The bursary was discontinued in September 2025, citing fiscal pressures, despite the ongoing nursing staffing crisis in the province.
Claire Rattée, MLA for Skeena and Official Opposition Critic for Mental Health, Addictions and Housing Supports, says her office has been flooded with emails from constituents worried about the impact of the cut. She explains that new nursing graduates face significant expenses beyond tuition, including textbooks, unpaid clinical placements, and costs related to licensing and registration. Many also incur travel expenses to write licensing exams.
Dr. Anna Kindy, MLA for North Island and Critic for Health, adds that the decision undermines recruitment efforts and disproportionately affects rural and northern communities where staffing shortages are critical. She calls the bursary modest but essential support for new nurses entering the workforce.
Both MLAs are urging the government to reverse the decision immediately and reinstate the bursary as part of a credible, comprehensive plan to support and retain healthcare workers across British Columbia.
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