Nelsonites call for Feds to return to table as Canada Health Accord expires
More than a hundred healthcare advocates rallied in the courtyard in front of Nelson City Hall Monday to protest the end of Canada’s 10-year-old, $41-billion health accord. The rally was part of the National Day of Action for a new Health Accord to protect and strengthen public health care. “Because (Prime Minister) Stephen Harper says […]
LETTER: Local MP decries expiration of Canada Health Accord
Dear Minister, My constituents are very concerned about the future of health care in our country. They are asking the federal government to commit to a renewed Health Accord in 2014 and to work with the provinces and territories on health care innovation so Canadians can continue to receive the care they need. Health care ...
Interior Health closely monitoring outbreak of measles in Fraser Valley
Although no cases have been reported in the region, Interior Health is closely monitoring the recent outbreak of measles in the Fraser Valley and Lower Mainland, asking the public to be aware of the symptoms associated with the disease. “We’re monitoring the situation in the Fraser Valley and provincially for any signs of the...
Green bin program moving to rural Grand Forks
The Grand Forks kitchen scraps compost curbside collection program will soon expand to include nearby rural residents and become the first rural area in British Columbia to receive this type of waste collection service. On Feb. 27, the Board of Directors of the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary gave approval to the concept...
NPD not bursting to bust grow ops when new regulations hit
While the Nelson Police Department (NPD) says it will be generally be taking a moderate approach to enforcing new laws around medical marijuana production set to come into effect on April 1, they do intend to continue the crackdown on recreational grow ops and keep any storefronts out of the Queen City. April 1 will see the...
COMMENT: Horsemeat -- Unsafe for Human Consumption
Horses are not raised according to the food safety protocols required of food animals. The wide array of highly toxic medications they are commonly administered convinces me that horsemeat poses an unacceptable risk to the health of those who consume it. In the hopes of legislating severe restrictions on Canada’s horse...
BC Nurses take to the streets to rally against staffing cuts
Hundreds of nurses marched through downtown Vancouver today and rallied for safe staffing levels and safe patient care at the Art Gallery. BC Nurses’ Union President Debra McPherson told the crowd “the healthcare system needs more nurses, not less. Patients need safe staffing levels. Without it, safe patient care is at...
Silver Alert needed in BC
It’s time for B.C. to implement comprehensive measures to help locate and protect missing seniors with dementia, says Selina Robinson, MLA for Coquitlam-Maillardville. On Tuesday, Robinson introduced the Silver Alert Act in the legislature. The bill would create a program which would alert the public of a missing person who...
COMMENT: Income splitting
During the last federal election, Stephen Harper promised that the government would introduce an income-splitting proposal, after balancing the federal budget. Income splitting has the worthy objective of making it easier for two-parent families to choose to have one parent work, or work part time, in order to spend time...
Kaslo and Area Health Care Select Committee responds to Interior Health decision to reduce ER hours
The Kaslo and Area Health Care Select Committee is not totally surprised of the recent decision by Interior Health to change the hours of operation at the Victorian Community Health Centre emergency department after doctors were unable to follow through with a proposed plan for 24/7 coverage. IH made the announcement Thursday, effective Tuesday, April […]
