Issues, Campaigns and Government Relations
HSA members working in medical imaging throughout the Lower Mainland received notice yesterday of a region-wide plan to move their services back to the original four health authorities. For the last 13 years, Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) has overseen the consolidated operations of Lower Mainland Diagnostic Imaging services within the four different health authorities in the Lower Mainland. HSA learned...
SWITCH BC which stands for Safety, Wellbeing, Innovation, Training and Collaboration in Healthcare is a new organization focused on the health, safety, and wellbeing of everyone working in healthcare in B.C. Part of the work of SWITCH BC is to do a refresh of the Provincial Violence Prevention Curriculum, updating it and making it meaningful, effective and inclusive to healthcare...
In the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, police raided the Stonewall Inn in New York City — a gathering place for young, mostly racialized members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Outside, the crowd that watched the bar’s patrons being herded into police vans became enraged. Before long, under the leadership of Marsha P. Johnson (who is said to have...
Release from the BC Health Coalition (BCHC) Today, the Supreme Court of Canada dismissed Cambie Surgeries Corporation’s (CSC) attempt to overturn previous decisions made by BC’s courts that upheld the BC Medicare Protection Act. This decision marks the end of the corporation’s lengthy legal battle to overturn key provisions in the BC Medicare Protection Act that ensure equitable access to...
HSA President Kane Tse today welcomed the momentous news that Dr. Brian Day and Cambie Surgeries Corporation’s assault on the public health care system in British Columbia has reached the end of the legal road with a decision by the Supreme Court of Canada that it will not hear an appeal of the decisions of BC courts to uphold the...
Today, March 31st, is the International Transgender Day of Visibility – a day to recognize and honour transgender, non-binary, Two-Spirit, and gender diverse people. This day of observance aims to increase awareness of the contributions made by the community but also the ongoing harms and marginalization the community faces. We are currently witnessing transphobic sentiments escalating in Canada and in...
Health Sciences Association, the union representing over 20,000 specialized health and community social service professionals in communities across BC, today welcomed new investments to rebuild a health care workforce depleted by three years of pandemic workload. “A crisis of serious proportions demands a serious response,” said Kane Tse, HSA President. “Today’s announcement of $995 million to support the provincial health...
Health Sciences Association is pleased to announce the formation of HSA’s first-ever Racial Justice Committee. The purpose of the Racial Justice Committee is to advance racial justice by addressing racism within health care and social services workplaces with a focus on addressing systemic issues. This work is a critical step in taking action on HSA’s principles in justice, equity, diversity...
Health Sciences Association of BC welcomes the BC government's decision to support the operations of Starbright Children's Development Centre with a new service agreement. Starbright was facing imminent closure after a pilot project on establishing centralized services for children and youth with special needs was awarded to another agency in January. "This is very good news," said HSA President Kane...
February is Black History Month. This month of observance is intended to highlight Black history, excellence, and joy, while also recognizing the ongoing systemic oppression and racism that Black individuals face. The brutal murder of Tyre Nichols by five police officers has once again brought to the forefront the ongoing anti-Black violence in our society. We recognize that events such...