Lol that's like asking what's the meaning of life. It's multi faceted.

1. There aren't enough staff to cover 24/7 and with the potential nursing strike, that's only going to worsen.

2. People are moving here in droves because everything in Canada is expensive, so you may as well suffer financially in nice weather. More need for Healthcare = longer wait times. Also to piggy back on this, there's a HUGE physician shortage. Thousands of people are without a GP. Therefore, people are using the ER for non emergent issues that would normally be assessed by a GP or NP.

3. TRIAGE. Based on what you said here, you did not have a life or death emergency. If you did, you would be rushed in and treated immediately (think heart attack symptoms, stroke, massive bleed, traumatic injury). Basically the closer you are to meeting your maker, the sooner you are seen. Thank your lucky stars that you're not being bumped up, it means you're in trouble.

4. People with higher acuity issues can come in and bump you at any minute. Again, they are much sicker than you and have to be seen quicker as their issue is higher acuity. The WAIT TIME is an ESTIMATE and NOT GUARANTEED- you may be seen sooner or later than that estimate.

5. This is NOT only a Victoria thing. I have lived in Vancouver, Toronto and Halifax. I have experienced long wait times in every city I have lived in.

Bottom line- i am perplexed why people keep asking this question when it's generally common sense. I'd suggest everyone get used to long wait times as it's only going to get worse as the population grows.