HSA in the news

Public health care is one of Canada’s greatest achievements. But our most-cherished social program is under threat. A group of plaintiffs led by Dr. Brian Day, CEO of the for-profit Cambie Surgeries Corporation, is challenging the constitutionality of key provisions of B.C.’s Medicare Protection Act , which protects our universal health care system. The long, costly trial is expected to...

Health Minister Margaret MacDiarmid on Monday announced that new nursing legislation had been signed into law, bringing licensed practical nurses under the same bargaining structure as the B.C. Nurses’ Union. The legislation – Bill 18, the Health Authorities Amendment Act – passed last month over the objections of the Hospital Employees’ Union, which called the legislation a last-minute change prepared...

Vancouver Sun By: Darryl Walker, Barry O'Neill and Bonnie Pearson And Reid Johnson Every day throughout British Columbia, some of our most vulnerable citizens need assistance with basic life issues - women and children fleeing domestic violence; immigrants and refugees looking for jobs or coping with language and settlement issues; people with disabilities who need help with speech, occupational or...

Penticton Herald More than 100 people didn't let a light rain dampen their enthusiasm for the proposed $300-million expansion of Penticton Regional Hospital. The placard-waving crowd turned out for Wednesday's outdoor rally next to the hospital, reiterating previous calls for provincial government money for the project. Dozens of passing motorists honked their horns in support. The rally followed the recent...

Times Colonist (Victoria) Workers who care for some of the province's most vulnerable citizens have reached a tentative two-year deal with the B.C. government. The agreement calls for community social service workers to receive 1.5 per cent wage increases on April 1 and Jan. 1, 2014. In response to one of the unions' key demands, entry-level workers will get an...

castanet.net The public is invited to disco dance for a good cause in Penticton on Thursday night. The South Okanagan Victim Assistance Society is holding SOVAS Goes Disco to benefit its financially challenged men's counselling program. “We are desperate for funding to keep this going,” said Amberlee Erdmann, resource development coordinator for SOVAS. “Our hope is the community comes together...

Prince George Citizen The tentative deal between the Health Sciences Association of BC and the provincial government is set to run until March 2014, an incorrect date appeared in a story in Friday's Citizen. Also the union represents a number of medical professionals including lab and radiation technologists. An incorrect description of their job title appeared in the story.

Richmond News Dozens of community social services workers, many from the Developmental Disabilities Association (DDA), went on a one-day strike Wednesday morning outside the DDA head office on Shell Road. DDA executive director Alanna Hendren was present and spoke to media and workers about the starting wages that are $15.54 an hour, down from $16.83 in 2002. "During a time...

Prince George Citizen Health science professionals will work longer hours, but get higher base pay, if a tentative deal announced Thursday is ratified. The Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association and the provincial government announced the two-year tentative agreement Thursday, which includes a three per cent wage increase over the length of the deal as well as a return to a...

New Westminster News Leader Health Sciences Association of British Columbia, a union with 16,000 members, will be the anchor tenant in the Brewery District's third building. Wesgroup, the project's developer, has applied to the city for a development permit to build a two-storey 27,000 square foot building on the triangular slice of land where Brunette Avenue meets East Columbia Street...