Delta Council is engaged in continued advocacy on many of they key issues impacting Delta residents. These issues, including healthcare, transportation, and more, fall outside of municipal control. However, Council works to raise these topics with other levels of government, pushing for meaningful action on behalf of Delta residents. See below for more detail on this advocacy work.
Delta Hospital provides an essential service for residents of Delta, Tsawwassen First Nation, and those employed within Delta’s diverse industrial and commercial sectors, as well as BC Ferries passengers and commuters on Delta’s Highway 99, 91, 17, and 17a network.
In 2025, Delta Hospital saw increasing service interruptions, where the emergency room was closed overnight on four separate occasions, leaving the region without 24/7 emergency coverage. Delta Council has been engaging in continued advocacy with the Province on this critical issue, calling for additional support to keep Delta Hospital open without interruption, as well as asking for two Urgent and Primary Care Centres in Delta to relieve pressure on the hospital and provide better access to non-emergent healthcare in our community.
Date Action / Milestone Notes / Impact Oct 9 Meeting with Minister of Health, Delta Council, and Key Partners A meeting is scheduled between Minister Josie Osborne, Delta Council, City of Delta staff, Fraser Health representatives, and the Delta Hospital and Community Health Foundation to discuss ongoing service disruptions, regional health planning, and next steps toward establishing two UPCCs. Oct 6 Council Resolution – Examination of City-Operated UPCCs Delta Council introduced a Notice of Motion directing staff to explore the feasibility of establishing City-operated Urgent and Primary Care Centres (UPCCs) in North and South Delta. The motion calls for a consultant-led analysis to assess healthcare access gaps, review successful models, and outline costs, funding options, and governance structures. Oct 4–5 Fourth Emergency Department Closure Delta Hospital’s Emergency Department closed again from Saturday, Oct 4 at 6:00 pm to Sunday, Oct 5 at 6:30 am. The fourth closure of 2025. The repeated disruptions underscore the ongoing staffing crisis and reinforce Delta’s call for new UPCCs and better resourcing of Fraser Health. Sept 22–26 Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) Convention – Victoria Delta Council continued its advocacy at UBCM, submitting a resolution calling on the Province to address temporary emergency room closures following Delta’s repeated ED disruptions. As this resolution was endorsed, UBCM will now advocate on Delta’s behalf to the provincial government. Delta also used ministerial staff meetings to reinforce the need for two UPCCs serving North and South Delta. Aug 26 Letter to Fraser Health’s New CEO, Dermot Kelly Delta congratulated the new CEO and reiterated requests for collaboration on addressing emergency care challenges and advancing UPCC planning. Aug 5 Letter to Minister Osborne – “Third Service Disruption at Delta Hospital and Lack of Action from Fraser Health” Delta expressed frustration with Fraser Health’s inaction and lack of accountability. The letter highlighted that Fraser Health serves 39% of BC’s population but receives only 28% of the provincial health budget, calling this inequitable and unsustainable. Aug 4–5 Third Emergency Department Closure Delta Hospital’s Emergency Department closed overnight on Monday, Aug 4 to Tuesday, Aug 5, marking the third service disruption in six months. The closure occurred after a staff illness left the department unable to operate safely. Jul 30 Follow-Up Letter to Minister Osborne Mayor Harvie thanked the Minister for the meeting, reaffirmed the urgent need for two UPCCs, and enclosed Delta’s UBCM Resolution: “Addressing Temporary Emergency Room Closures.” The resolution called for sustained support to ensure emergency departments remain fully staffed 24/7. Jul 28 BCEHS Delegation to Council Representatives from BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS/Ambulance) presented to Council as a follow up to Council’s Jun 2 letter to BCEH Chair, Elizabeth Cull. Jul 2 Meeting with Minister Osborne Minister Osborne met with Delta Council and Staff at City Hall to discuss healthcare access issues, the February closures, and the City’s UPCC proposal. Jun 2 Letter to BC Emergency Health Services Delta wrote to BCEHS Chair Elizabeth Cull, noting that Delta has the slowest ambulance response times in Metro Vancouver and inviting BCEHS to present to Council to discuss solutions. May 8 News Release – “Delta Advocates for Two New Urgent and Primary Care Centres” Publicly released the joint UPCC proposal, emphasizing collaboration between municipalities and the urgent need for provincial support. May 6 Joint Letter to Minister of Health (Delta, TFN, Surrey) Delta, Tsawwassen First Nation, and the City of Surrey jointly urged the Province to establish two UPCCs—one in or near North Delta and another in South Delta or on TFN lands to improve healthcare access and reduce strain on Delta Hospital. April 16 Response Letter from Fraser Health CEO Lynn Stevenson, the Interim President and Chief Executive Officer of Fraser Health, sent a letter in response to Council's request and declined to attend a meeting on behalf of Fraser Health to discuss this issue. Mar 7 Letters to Minister Osborne, Fraser Health Chair, and CEO Mayor Harvie invited Minister Osborne, Fraser Health Board Chair Jim Sinclair, and Interim CEO Dr. Lynn Stevenson to attend a Regular Meeting of Council to discuss emergency service interruptions and the critical need for UPCCs. Mar 4 News Release – “Delta Council Adopts Motion Calling for Urgent and Primary Care Centres” Announced the motion following the February closures and emphasized the need for UPCCs to improve access and reduce reliance on Delta Hospital’s ER. Mar 3 Council Meeting and Motion on Urgent Care Fraser Health representatives (Cathy Wiebe, Dr. Sally Barrio, Dr. Dan Rubin) presented to Council. Delta Council unanimously adopted a motion calling for the establishment of Urgent and Primary Care Centres (UPCCs) and requested provincial and Fraser Health leaders attend a public Council meeting. Feb 28 Letters to Minister of Health, Premier, and Fraser Health Mayor Harvie wrote to Minister Josie Osborne, Premier David Eby, and Fraser Health Interim CEO Dr. Lynn Stevenson, outlining the community’s vulnerability during the closures and requesting immediate action to restore 24/7 emergency coverage. Feb 24 Emergency Council Meeting and News Release – “Delta Council Unanimously Adopts Resolutions in Response to Hospital Closures” Council held a special meeting to address the closures and directed staff to contact Fraser Health, the Minister of Health, and the Premier, and to prepare a resolution for the upcoming UBCM Convention. Feb 22–24 First and Second Emergency Department Closure Delta Hospital’s Emergency Department closed overnight on Saturday, Feb 22 and Sunday, Feb 23 due to staffing shortages. Residents were left without 24/7 emergency coverage, prompting immediate advocacy from Council.