The province will spend $4 billion over the next three years to expand urgent and primary care centres, reduce wait times for surgeries and hire thousands of new health-care workers in response to the pandemic and the province’s five-year overdose crisis.

In presenting her $69 billion budget, B.C. Finance Minister Selina Robinson said that the past year has highlighted the importance of strong health care and mental health services.

The spending includes $900 million in one-time funding to help deliver COVID-19 related