@
Stephen Andrew on Facebook 
Stephen’s extensive experience includes work as a municipal councillor, television journalist, legislative reporter, and radio talk show host. Stephen is tenacious and has a
reputation for standing up for others and always seeking out the truth.
Stephen Andrew
BC Conservatives candidate for Oak Bay-Gordon Head
Healthcare
Diagnostic and procedure wait-times
BC Conservatives's promises
If wait-times exceed a set limit, patients would be reimbursed for accessing care at a pre-approved facility out-of-province
"After a brief consultation period, the Conservative Party of BC will:
- Implement the Patients First Wait Time Guarantee for select diagnostics and surgical procedures.
If diagnostic or medical procedures exceed medically recommended wait times, patients would be able to access care at a pre-approved facility out-of-province and be re-imbursed according to a set fee schedule. A similar policy (Cross Border Directive) has been helping patients across the European Union since 2013."
— conservativebc.ca, retrieved 2024-10-08
Pay for patients to access specific priority procedures and diagnostic services at non-governmental clinics
"The Conservative Party of BC will:
- Pay for patients in the public system to receive quality health care services in non-governmental clinics for specific priority procedures and diagnostic services.
We will get people off waiting lists and into operating rooms and diagnostic clinics for services like MRIs and priority surgeries. It makes no sense for non-government health facilities to sit idle when they could be contracted to help BC patients right now."
— conservativebc.ca, retrieved 2024-10-08
Health administration
BC Conservatives's promise
Fund hospitals, health authorities, and non-governmental facilities by how many patients they treat, instead of in block grants
"Instead of simply throwing money at health facilities and hoping for the best (the “block grant” model), the Conservative Party will implement what has effectively worked well in European countries and Quebec – a policy known as “activity-based funding”.
This will see hospitals, Regional Health Authorities, and/or other non-government facilities funded based on their output – each time they treat patients for specific diagnostic and priority procedures, they receive additional funds. This approach incentivizes providers to be more efficient and treat as many patients as possible."
— conservativebc.ca, retrieved 2024-10-08
Health staffing
BC Conservatives's promises
Rehire healthcare workers who didn't take COVID vaccines
Review and expand existing programmes to incentivise doctors and nurses to work in high-need communities
Ensure a path for Healthcare Assistants and LPNs to upskill
"Nurses that want to improve their credentials should have flexible options for career training. As experienced professionals retire, our system will need to replace this expertise. We will ensure that front line staff like Healthcare Assistants and Licensed Practical Nurses that want to upskill their credentials have a path that ensures they can both support our healthcare system and advance their careers." — conservativebc.ca, retrieved 2024-10-08
Repeal the Health Professions and Occupations Act
"Immediately repealing the Health Professions and Occupations Act (Bill C-36) to reduce the unnecessary red tape, political and ideology control that the NDP have imposed on the healthcare system.
- The front lines understand and know their professions better than government. We want to work with them to establish legislation that ensures that the oversight of medical professions is neither politicized, nor needlessly restrictive and/or government regulated."
— conservativebc.ca, retrieved 2024-10-08
Hospitals
BC Conservatives's promises
Fund hospitals, health authorities, and non-governmental facilities by how many patients they treat, instead of in block grants
"Instead of simply throwing money at health facilities and hoping for the best (the “block grant” model), the Conservative Party will implement what has effectively worked well in European countries and Quebec – a policy known as “activity-based funding”.
This will see hospitals, Regional Health Authorities, and/or other non-government facilities funded based on their output – each time they treat patients for specific diagnostic and priority procedures, they receive additional funds. This approach incentivizes providers to be more efficient and treat as many patients as possible."
— conservativebc.ca, retrieved 2024-10-08
Increase security and ban illicit drug use in hospitals
Housing & Homelessness
Housing prices
BC Conservatives's promise
Allow people to exempt $3,000/mo of rent or mortgage interest costs from provincial income taxes, starting with $1,500/mo in 2026
"1) Largest tax cut for renters and homeowners in BC history – $3,000 per month of rent or mortgage interest costs will be exempt from provincial income taxes. This will be achieved by issuing a tax credit worth 5.06% of eligible housing costs, equivalent to the rate of BC’s base tax bracket.
2) Immediate relief in Budget 2026 - by exempting $1,500 per month, increasing by $500 per year to the full level of $3,000 per month. This is a clear and long-term commitment to British Columbians who work hard.
3) A fair and fiscally responsible tax credit – The 2026 budget impact will not exceed $900 million, and we will design a targeted tax credit that ensures the relief goes to people who need it to get ahead in life." — conservativebc.ca, retrieved 2024-10-08
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Biography
submitted by the candidate or their team
Stephen’s extensive experience includes work as a municipal councillor, television journalist, legislative reporter, and radio talk show host. Stephen is tenacious and has a
reputation for standing up for others and always seeking out the truth.His reporting on significant issues including exposing a fraudulent landlord cheating UVIC students out
of rent for a non-existent apartment, exposing an unscrupulous restaurant employer who refused to pay staff, and highlighting allegations of a property manager demanding
sexual favours from a tenant. Stephen’s work as a journalist has been recognized with regional, national, and international honours, including a Jack Webster Award for
journalism and several RTDNA Edward R. Murrow awards. His work on homelessness has been recognized by the Public Health Association of BC, First Nations, and
homelessness communities.
Stephen's impact extends beyond his professional journalistic roles. As the Executive Director of a national cancer patient support group, he played a pivotal role in getting
BC to pay for a life-extending/saving cancer drug for patients without private drug plans, a first in Canada. His personal journey as a stage four cancer survivor added a
profound depth to his advocacy work.
In the Community
Stephen's dedication to the community is evident in his active roles on two boards, including the RunSport Victoria Society (owner and manager of the TC10k). He also
serves on the board of a community association that provides childcare, financial literacy, and support for youth, seniors, and families facing financial barriers. His past
board membership with Lifetime Networks, which provides programs for individuals with developmental disabilities, further demonstrates his enthusiasm for community focused
initiatives. Stephen's passion for fundraising is reflected in his support for numerous local organizations, including those for cancer patients, people with developmental
disabilities, theatre for young people, animal advocacy and support, and the Fringe Festival.
Stephen is married to his partner of thirty-two years, contemporary artist Danny Everett Stewart.
Reason for running
submitted by the candidate or their team
I felt like I had to run, I had to at least try to be part of the badly needed change we need in BC.
Running for provincial office was not in my mind at all until John Rustad and his team called. Like the majority of British Columbians, I’m fed up with the NDP and I’ve had enough of this government and the direction they’re taking the province. Understanding that the BC Conservatives are a big tent party, and understanding that here was a real opportunity to make a difference, to demonstrate the care I have for my community, I felt like I had to run, I had to at least try to be part of the badly needed change we need in BC.