BC government to investigate serious allegations of racist practices in the province's health system

Health Minister Adrian Dix spoke this morning to reports of racist behaviour at perhaps multiple health care facilities in the province, noting that the province has begun an investigation into the alleged incidents that rocked the health care system today.

"Last night, I was made aware of serious allegations of racist and completely abhorrent practices in an emergency room or emergency rooms in B.C. 

If confirmed, this conduct is beyond unacceptable. The allegation is that a game was being played to guess the blood-alcohol level of patients in emergency rooms, with Indigenous peoples and perhaps others. 

If this is true, it’s intolerable, unacceptable and racist. Actions like this profoundly affect patient care. This requires, in my view, an immediate and swift response."

Mr. Dix did not identify the locations where the racist behaviour is said to have taken place and committed the government to a full review of the issues and to seek remedy and reconciliation, announcing that the province has tasked Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond to conduct the investigation of the allegations.

“As an independent investigator, Ms. Turpel-Lafond will work to determine the facts of these specific allegations. We need to get to the root of these problems, and that begins with an understanding that racist attitudes and actions have a real and devastating impact on health outcomes, creating trauma that can affect generations. 

She will help determine the prevalence of these attitudes and actions at a systemic level in our health-care system. Everyone who comes to our hospitals deserves and should be able to expect access to respectful and culturally safe care."

The British Columbia Government has called on
Mary Ellen Tuprel-Lafond to investigate disturbing
allegations of racism in the BC Health care system

No timeline as provided today to offer up guidance on how long it will take for the province to assemble all the facts to determine the extent of the alleged events.

In his Press Conference the Health Minister noted the need for extensive consultation from many First Nations authorities to determine the extent of the alleged behaviour.

"What I want to do is establish all the facts, there is sufficient, in my view, the allegations are sufficient to require an investigation. But that investigation will determine all the facts and I think it's important to allow that to happen. But I want to say very clearly,  that if substantiated, these practices are racist and unacceptable and there's a path to go on that we need to go on together.  

And of course I will be part of it, it's not just Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, and many other people. We need to involve the many leaders both of the  First Nation's health Council, the First Nation's Health Authority, the Metis Authority, all relevant authorities in BC have to be involved in this and we have to be involved together to address these issues. This requires remedy  yes and reconciliation as well" -- Health Minister Adrian Dix on the investigation into racist behaviour at BC health facilities

Premier Horgan spoke to the alleged behaviour during the noon hour today, calling for a full account of the allegations and to make changes as warranted.

“I am outraged by reports of ugly, anti-Indigenous, racist behaviour at multiple health-care facilities in B.C. “This behaviour degrades the standards and provisions of health care in our province. It cannot stand. There is no excuse. There is no explaining this away. 

No one should fear discrimination when they need help the most. No one should worry that when they visit a hospital that they will be prejudged and given a lower standard of care. If confirmed, this is a heartbreaking example of systemic racism in our province. 

These serious allegations of unacceptable, dehumanizing behaviour will be thoroughly investigated by former justice Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond. Health Minister Adrian Dix will work with Indigenous leaders and leaders in Indigenous health. He has my full support to ensure that the details of this case will be revealed and that the voices of anyone who has experienced this racist practice will be heard. 

This will not be swept aside. We will not look the other way when racism is exposed. We will get a full account and changes will be made.”

The Health Minister's full statement can be examined here.

Mr Dix hosted a media briefing this morning to provide an account of what the province knows to this point and to address the disturbing allegations.



While individual Health Authorities, such as Northern Health, have yet to offer a comment on the revelations of this morning; the Provincial Health Service Authority has spoken for them with this information statement.

We fully support the provincial investigation Minister Adrian Dix announced today and are committed to working with the Ministry of Health and Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond on this issue. 

Indigenous leaders have provided us guidance and support to eradicate racism in B.C.’s health system and we know there is still much work to do. 

We remain actively engaged with Indigenous partners on immediate and longer-term action plans to combat anti-Indigenous racism. Together, we will make changes to ensure the health care system in B.C. is safe and equitable for all.

A wider overview of this story can be explored later tonight when we collate the provincial news items of note for the day as part of our Victoria Viewpoints from our D'Arcy McGee blog.

For more notes related to health care in Northern BC see our archive page here.