WHEREAS children suffering from serious illnesses such as cancer who reside on Vancouver Island and in coastal communities may require treatment at the BC Childrens Hospital in Vancouver; AND WHEREAS the ferry subsidy to access non-emergency medical specialist services not available in their own community helps alleviate the financial burden incurred while travelling for reasons associated with the childrens health conditions; AND WHEREAS the ferry subsidy is restricted to the patient and an escort under certain conditions, and does not cover the cost of parents travelling back and forth from their home to Vancouver during the extended period of their childs treatment: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that BC Ferries and the provincial government, through the Ministry of Health Services, recognize the financial challenges for some families and provide help by subsidizing the ferry fares of immediate family members incurred when travelling back and forth on BC Ferries during the extended period of a childs treatment.
Ministry of Health Services The Travel Assistance Program TAP is a corporate partnership between the Ministry of Health Services and private transportation carriers who agree to provide fare discounts to patients. TAP is available province-wide to B.C. residents who are required to travel outside their home community to obtain non-emergency, physician-referred specialist medical care. At the 2008 UBCM Convention, the province committed to establish a program that would provide families needing to travel to BC Childrens Hospital with support and accommodation. The BC Family Residence Program was launched in April 2010, and 7.4 million has been budgeted for the 201011 fiscal year to help alleviate the financial hardship families may experience while their child requires care at BC Childrens Hospital.