Issues, Campaigns and Government Relations
Lawyers representing seven BC unions filed documents and launched a legal challenge July 23 against Bill 42. Bill 42 originally attempted to restrict third party election advertising for five full months before the next provincial election. Following widespread criticism, Bill 42 was amended but still goes far beyond any similar laws in the country and essentially shuts off all third...
Three-year proposal contains increases totalling at least 14.5%, plus lump sum payments, new flexible spending accounts and improved benefitsEdmonton (9 July 2008) - The Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA/NUPGE) is conducting a ratification vote on a tentative three-year agreement affecting more than 11,000 paramedical professional and technical employees across the province.Full ratification information will be mailed to members this...
HSA Political Action Fund available to support members running or working in November municipal election HSA members who are running for municipal office, or working on campaigns to elect candidates for local government positions, can apply to HSA for the following financial support from HSAs Political Action Fund: 1. Members who are candidates can apply for up to 5 days...
Groups representing seniors, consumers and labour say access to affordable medicines threatened in CanadaOttawa (3 July 2008) - A coalition of groups representing seniors, consumers and labour is investigating a trend among provincial governments toward signing secret tender agreements with pharmaceutical companies.A research report released Thursday by Aidan Hollis, an economist at the University of Calgarys Institute for Advanced Policy...
Toronto (19 June 2008) - The Ontario government has broken an election promise to set a minimum standard of care for the 75,000 people who live in long-term care nursing homes across the province. Premier Dalton McGuinty made the pledge in 2005. Critics have called for a standard of at least 3.5 hours of care daily for elderly patients living...
In the June 11 Vancouver Sun, the B.C. Federation of Labour, and several of its affiliated unions, including HSA, called on Canadians to move from apology to action to work to improve the lives of Canada's First Nations. The Canadian government's formal apology yesterday over horrific abuses in residential schools is an important first step. Now we all need to...
The B.C. Federation of Labour is renewing its call on the Campbell government to kill Bill 42. Bowing to widespread and sustained public criticism, Attorney General Wally Oppal this morning presented minor amendments to Bill 42. "The Campbell government wanted to gag free speech rights for five months, now they want to gag free speech for three months," said B.C...
Ottawa (28 May 2008) - Canada desperately needs an effective strategic national plan to train more health professionals, says the Canadian Health Professionals Secretariat (CHPS). "Otherwise, efforts to improve access and modernize the system will fail," secretariat co-chair Elisabeth Ballermann told the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health Tuesday. See full brief here. Ballermann also emphasized in her brief...
'Profound change is essential if people living with mental illness are to receive the help they need and deserve.' - James ClancyOttawa (26 May 2008) - The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) has presented a 14-page brief to the Mental Health Commission of Canada recommending broad change in four key areas ... the national public health care...
The Kamloops and District Labour Council offers a unique opportunity for working people and community people to come together fora discussion around local and regional municipal election isues. The Think Community Forum will be held Tuesday, June 10 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. in the Clock Tower Theatre and Thompson Rivers University. Discussion group topics include: urban development, job creation...