Issues, Campaigns and Government Relations
The 2008 provincial budget fails to address the needs of BC patients, Reid Johnson, President of the Health Sciences Association of B.C. charged. -The budget demonstrates the government has no plan to address the key challenge in BCs health care system ... human resources planning," Johnson said. -Furthermore, the most significant spending commitment made by the government today is to...
Today the BC Health Coalition is supporting Canadas nurses and hospital workers, which have teamed up to launch the -Know your Medicare Rights" campaign. The campaign will focus on providing citizens with an opportunity to report incidences of extra-billing and other violations of the Canada Health Act through a new national website. -In British Columbia, and across Canada, the right...
'The National Union has set out a ten step plan for addressing wait-times and putting our Medicare system on stable footing. This report suggests that we are on the right track.' ... James Clancy, NUPGE presidentOttawa (4 Feb. 2008) ... A new report from the Health Council of Canada (HCC) makes an important contribution to the on-going dialogue regarding health...
Ottawa (24 January 2008) ... The 340,000-member National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is urging Canada's provincial and territorial premiers to adopt a comprehensive climate change plan when the Council of the Federation meets next Monday and Tuesday in Vancouver. New Brunswick Premier Shawn Graham is the current chair of the federation. The premiers routinely deal with front-line...
Ottawa (23 Jan. 2008) - A recent proposal by Dr. Brian Day, president of the Canadian Medical Association (CMA), to create private medical schools in Canada is being condemned by Canadas largest organization of health science professionals. -Its no surprise Dr. Day and the CMA would push a private solution to a public problem," says Elisabeth Ballermann, co-chair of the...
HSA President Reid Johnson responds to the Jan. 18, 2008 editorial in The Province on the need for improved wait times in diagnostic testing. Read his letter to the editor here.
In 2005, David Bland, a vocational rehabilitation counsellor and HSA member from Richmond Mental Health, was murdered at his workplace by a former client. His tragic death served as a sombre reminder that more needs to be done to prevent incidents of violence in the workplace and to protect health care and social services workers on the job. To honour...
Tune into Shaw TV's Voice of BC with Vaughan Palmer Thursday night for a debate about health care policy between the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and the Fraser Institute. The show will be broadcast on Thursday, January 10th from 8-9 pm and re-broadcast on Saturday at 10 am and Sunday at 2 and 8 pm. Outside Vancouver, please check...
HSA is offering scholarships and bursaries to all members and their children. We will be awarding ten scholarships for full-time studies, twenty bursaries for full-time studies and two aboriginal scholarships.The criteria and details are set out on the application forms. To obtain a copy please see the HSA website: www.hsabc.org or contact your chief steward.Completed application forms and transcripts must...
There will be elections at all 3 levels of government during the next 18 months. A federal election is expected to be called in early 2008. Municipal and school board elections will be held in November, 2008. The provincial election is scheduled for May, 2009. If you want to help elect representatives who will support public health care and community...