Esquimalt takes closer look at future of local health care
Published 9:30 am Thursday, January 22, 2026
The Township of Esquimalt is moving toward a coordinated strategy to improve local health outcomes and strengthen access to medical care, following the release of two major reports that highlight ongoing pressures on the community’s health-care system.
During the Jan. 19 committee of the whole, council considered recommendations from the 2019-2025 Esquimalt’s Health Journey study. Staff was asked to prepare an impact assessment outlining the costs, benefits, and feasibility of the proposed initiatives.
The health journey study by the Pepler Consulting Group identified ongoing shortages of family doctors, walk-in clinic closures, elevated mental health challenges, limited aging-friendly housing, and growing barriers related to affordability, accessibility, and caregiving, as the areas in which Esquimalt has issues connected to health.
According to the study, nearly half of residents who commented on mental health issues talked about poor or nonexistent service availability, while many others highlighted the strain of caring for family members amid limited housing, disability supports, and financial pressures. Aging-in-place needs and housing repair challenges were also identified as escalating concerns.
Community Healthcare System Support Playbook agrees with the Esquimalt’s Health Journey study and lists what local governments can do to better support health care and emergency personnel.
These include taking action in areas of affordable housing, childcare, transportation, clinic space availability, and reducing high costs of setting up and operating medical practices.
Staff noted that some of the actions already align directly with Esquimalt’s current priorities, including doctor density bonusing, which is a planning tool created to benefit the development of medical office space and attract physicians and allied health professionals to the community.
Coun. Ken Armour said that the issue of a lack of health care practitioners persists because the province is not graduating enough doctors. He said the province is taking steps to increase the number of spaces in medical school, adding the issue is one municipal governments have little control over.
“We have always been careful to stick to our lanes. I’m a little concerned this is moving us out of our lane,” he said.
Coun. Andrea Boardman had many of the same sentiments over the recommendations.
“I agree that many of these are not in our purview at all. One of the first things we would do as a group would be to go through the recommendations and sort them out,” she said.
“I also have the same concerns: budget-wise and cost-wise. But I do see the benefits of it when it comes to the OCP, how we can best advocate to the community, even to the province, reminding them of their responsibility. I see both sides of this.” Coun. Meagan Brame noted.
Coun. Tim Morrison said the matter seems like a futile exercise, because the doctor crisis is not something Esquimalt can solve. “We are not an isolated community. We have the luxury of accessing regional services of all kinds. It’s not up to one community to solve all the problems.”
Mayor Barbara Desjardins said she had the same concerns but wanted to turn the recommendations to benefit the community.
“I’m also upset that there is a lot of downloading. But on the other hand, if we turn it around and focus on the benefit to the community, and come up with some ways to retain health care workers and keep community members fit, it will have a significant reduction of cost in other areas.”
It was moved that the committee review the two studies and come up with a series of actions that they wish to implement. Staff will be asked to prepare an impact assessment to suit the proposed actions for consideration by the council.
Any actions requiring external consultants or new initiatives would be subject to future budget approval.
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