‘Collective alarm-raising’: advocates wonder about future of rare disease, mental health, and home-care bilateral deals as March 2027 deadline looms

Health Minister Marjorie Michel’s office says governments don’t typically make decisions on funding deals until the year they expire. But CMHA B.C. CEO Jonny Morris says the lack of clarity is creating risk about the future of programs, staffing, and maintaining the positive impacts of funded programs.

Health Minister Marjorie Michel’s office says it will not ‘provide further comment’ on the future of bilateral deals that end next March as they currently still have funding attached to them. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

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BY TESSIE SANCI

July 20, 2026

With less than nine months to go until the March 2027 expiry date for bilateral deals for rare disease, mental health and addictions services, as well as home and community care, some advocates say they don’t know whether funding will be renewed, and they worry about losin...

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