On Friday, British Columbia Conservative Leader John Rustad unveiled a new reproductive health plan that includes a commitment to fund two cycles of in vitro fertilization (IVF). This proposal significantly expands upon the B.C. NDP government’s earlier pledge to provide one free cycle of IVF, a program that has $68 million allocated and is scheduled to launch in April 2025.
While Rustad emphasized that a Conservative government would finance an additional IVF cycle for those who need it, he did not disclose specific funding amounts associated with this promise.
IVF is a medical procedure where an egg is fertilized by sperm outside the body, commonly used by individuals experiencing infertility due to factors such as age or reproductive health issues. Penny Blesch, the founder of the non-profit Fertility Coalition of B.C., noted that the Conservatives appear to be responding to the needs of families affected by infertility. Blesch, who contributed to the Ministry of Health’s consultations regarding the NDP’s plan, pointed out that for many couples, a single round of IVF is often insufficient.
However, she expressed concerns regarding Rustad’s campaign commitment. “I would be very interested to know what the budget is,” she remarked. “Is it going to be double what the NDP’s is, or is it somehow leveraging other treatments?”
As the October 19 election approaches, with advance voting already underway, the Conservative Party is the only major party that has yet to unveil a detailed, costed platform. Rustad indicated that the delay in releasing this information was intentional, asserting that the plan would be made public in the coming days. “Once you release a fully costed platform, you’ve released your entire platform,” he explained. “And so, we’re using this opportunity through the campaign for people to understand who we are, the things that we want to bring.”
The IVF funding proposal is part of a broader five-point reproductive health plan by the Conservatives, which also includes support for women after pregnancy loss, training for midwives, financial assistance for adoption, and increased research on women’s health. In response, the B.C. NDP stated that many elements of the Conservatives’ reproductive health plan echo initiatives already being implemented, including the IVF funding.
The NDP’s statement also highlighted the absence of any mention of access to abortion or contraception within the Conservatives’ plan. Rustad previously noted on social media that “under a B.C. Conservative government, access to abortion, contraception, and other items will remain exactly as it is now.”
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