B.C. now has the most doctors per capita, connecting 600,000 residents with care and welcoming over 500 U.S. health professionals.

B.C. Leads Canada in Doctors per Capita

VICTORIA — British Columbia is setting new benchmarks in healthcare. The provincial government announced that B.C. now boasts the highest number of doctors per capita in Canada, thanks in large part to targeted recruitment efforts, particularly from the United States.

U.S. Health Professionals Join B.C. Workforce

Since last year, more than 500 American-trained health workers have accepted positions across the province. This includes 109 doctors, 315 nurses, 51 nurse practitioners, and over two dozen allied health professionals. These hires reflect a strategic push to fill critical gaps in B.C.’s healthcare system.

Primary Care Access Expands Rapidly

The Health Ministry reports that nearly 600,000 residents have been paired with primary care providers — either a family doctor or a nurse practitioner — since 2023. Today, more than 75 per cent of B.C. residents have a dedicated primary care provider, signalling a major improvement in access to frontline care.

High Interest in B.C. Opportunities

Recruitment campaigns appear to be paying off. Nearly 3,000 American health professionals have applied for roles in B.C. since March of last year, showing strong interest in the province’s healthcare openings.

Growing Numbers and a Bright Future

Currently, B.C. has over 15,000 physicians, averaging 271 doctors per 100,000 residents. Over half of these are family doctors, underscoring the province’s focus on accessible, community-based care. The government attributes these gains to its ongoing training programs and international recruitment strategy, which continues to strengthen B.C.’s healthcare system.

Brandon Teixeira sentenced to life for a 2017 contract killing and 14 years for attempted murder in New Westminster, B.C., in a chilling organized crime case.

Organized Crime in B.C. Streets: Life Sentence for Murder

NEW WESTMINSTER — A British Columbia man has been sentenced to life in prison for a contract killing and an additional 14 years for an attempted murder in a case that shocked the Lower Mainland.

Brandon Teixeira, convicted last year of first-degree murder and attempted murder, orchestrated what prosecutors described as an “execution-style” attack. The chilling case unfolded in October 2017 when 28-year-old Nicholas Khabra was shot and killed, while a woman with him was seriously injured.

The Court Paints a Grim Picture

At Wednesday’s sentencing, Justice Jennifer Duncan told the B.C. Supreme Court that the case had all the “hallmarks of an organized killing.” She highlighted the careful planning: multiple guns, repeated cell phone contact, and a pre-arranged meeting on a dark residential street.

“One man’s life was cut short, and one young woman’s life changed forever,” Duncan said. She also noted that the case underscores the dangers of easy access to firearms in the region

The Motive: Money and Revenge

Crown counsel Dianne Wiedemann explained that Teixeira carried out the killing for a $160,000 contract on Khabra’s life, which he intended to split with an accomplice. Revenge also played a role, as Teixeira believed Khabra had targeted him in a drive-by shooting days earlier.

Wiedemann described the scene of Khabra’s death as “bloody and gruesome,” with four gunshot wounds and 31 stab wounds. The woman who was shot twice in the leg was unarmed and unsuspecting, highlighting the callous nature of the crime.

Victim Impact and Court Testimony

The woman who survived the attack spoke to the court about her ongoing struggle. “Some days I feel strong and some days I feel completely broken,” she said. “None of us deserved what happened.”

Despite the severity of the crimes, the judge stopped short of giving Teixeira a second life sentence, as there was no evidence that the attempted murder of the woman involved advanced planning.

Defense Stresses Limited Violence History

Teixeira’s lawyer, Reza Mansoori-Dara, emphasized that his client had no long history of violence and argued that shooting the woman in her legs suggested he did not intend to kill her. He maintained that the attempted murder conviction should result in a sentence of 12 to 15 years.

Teixeira, who fled to California after the murder and lived under an assumed name until his arrest in 2019, did not address the court during sentencing. His previous attempt to dismiss the case over trial delays was rejected.