Issues, Campaigns and Government Relations

HSA welcomes plans to invest in new and upgraded health care facilities and hopes to work with the provincial government on a plan to deal with the shortage of health science professionals needed to staff them.“New buildings are only as good as the people who work in them,” said Val Avery, president of Health Sciences Association of BC. “We’re very...

The 23 recommendations made by the BC Legislature’s Committee on Children and Youth are critical to addressing the current crisis in mental health services for children and youth.Health Sciences Association (HSA) represents health professionals working in mental health and addictions in acute and community health care settings throughout the province. Members include child and youth mental health support workers, psychologists...

As a result of the Section 54 issued in February of 2015, the PHSA laboratory redesign will now be proceeding, starting with a Phase One job fair February 3 and 4, 2016. If you are not available February 3 or 4 please ensure that you speak with PHSA redesign and your HSA LRO. On January 25, 2016, PHSA issued a...

This week, the provincial and territorial health ministers are meeting in Vancouver. This is the first time the Health Ministers have met since a new federal government was elected last year. It is an important opportunity to ask the Health Ministers to "put the heart back in health care" so that our public system stays public and improves to serve...

HSA REPORT MAGAZINE, DECEMBER 2015 On October 19th, Canadians soundly rejected the Harper Conservatives' refusal to provide federal leadership on health care. Instead, we elected a majority Liberal government which made important promises during the election campaign to improve Canada's public health care system. During the campaign, Liberal leader Justin Trudeau promised $3 billion over the next four years to...

With flu season around the corner, HSA members are reminded of the provincial influenza control policy in effect in BC.In spite of changes in other provinces, the flu prevention policy in BC has not changed, and health care workers who choose not to be vaccinated have options available to them, including wearing a surgical mask.Health care workers must report their...

Last week, HSA launched a series of radio ads designed to promote the work of our diverse professions. The series of five ads, broadcasting on radio stations across the province for the next six weeks, demonstrate how our many professions connect to each other, and how we connect the public to modern health care. You can listen to the ads...

On Tuesday, HSA launched a new series of ads designed to promote the work of our diverse professions. The series of five ads, appearing on radio stations across the province for the next six weeks, demonstrate how our many professions connect to each other, and how we connect the public to modern health care. You can listen to the ads...

Last month over 50 RPNs from around BC came together for the RPN Summit on Workplace Violence at the HSA Head Office. Today, we’re releasing a video featuring HSA RPN members as they share their experiences with violence in the workplace. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YllMK-vdn0&feature=youtu.be The day-long solutions oriented summit featured hands-on workshops and presentations on the Provincial Summit on Workplace Violence from...

HSA has contracted with Viewpoints Research to conduct a survey to find out more about how HSA members feel about how their union responds to concerns and communicates important information. A representative sample of members across the province will be selected randomly and contacted by telephone. Your feedback is important. Note that this is one of many opportunities allowing members...