2008: News Archive

The BC Health Coalition presents "Choices that Matter - True Stories from Behind the Curtain of Private Health Care" featuring: Dr. Allyson Pollock, University of Edinburgh with true stories of damage done by P3s in the UK. Dr. Wayne Hildahl, CEO of the Pan-Am Clinic in Winnipeg with his story of taking a private clinic public. Dr. Michael Klein, Founding...

Vancouver Sun Dear Editor: Putting such a human face on the personal as well as institutional challenges in health care is not an easy task. Reporter Pamela Fayerman successfully raises important issues about how rehabilitation and the patients who need it can be better served in our system -- so much better than reports full of statistics could ever do...

NUPGE among supporters of new websiteOttawa (11 March 2008) - StraightGoods.ca is pleased to announce the addition of a new member to its family of websites: www.PublicValues.ca . The site is an online magazine presenting news about privatization and the fight to preserve public services, resources, spaces and enterprise. It will be updated frequently. Readers are encouraged to submit ideas...

A campaign to raise awareness of important community-based social services is getting support from municipal councils across BC. Social services workers and in some cases, community agencies and allies, have presented resolutions to city councils asking that March be designated as Community Social Services Awareness month. To date, 17 city councils have supported the awareness month. Community Social Services include...

On March 8, International Women's Day, the Canadian Labour Congress is launching a women's economic equality campaign ... -Equality! Once and For All!" An exciting year-long campaign, the CLC will use every opportunity to raise awareness about the lack of attention paid by politicians, employers and the media to the growing economic inequality of women, through the use of creative...

Three quarters of adults will fill a prescription this year, at a cost of nearly $25 billion. The use and cost of medicines may increase significantly if manufacturers are allowed to advertise prescription drugs directly to consumers as they do in the United States. Canadian laws that prohibit direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA) are being challenged on grounds of freedom of expression...

Whether its politicians, corporate leaders, or health experts, its getting increasingly difficult to know who to believe these days. Even journalists cant always be trusted! Well known TV journalist Wendy Mesley takes you behind the scenes for an insiders look at how media, marketing and politics influence how we are informed. Full of anecdotes from her years as a political...

The Province Editor, The Province: Columnist Brian Lewis misses the point in his effusive review of the new Abbotsford hospital. I have no doubt that the facilities are impressive, the technology is top-notch and the equipment is shiny. But without the highly trained and skilled health-science professionals needed to perform the vital diagnostic tests on that equipment all that shiny...

What Finance Minister Jim Flaherty calls a budget of -focus, prudence, and discipline" is actually -feeble, paltry and disappointing," says Larry Brown, secretary-treasurer of the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE). See NUPGE's reaction to the federal budget here.

The Canadian Labour Congress is calling on governments to take the issue of Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) more seriously. Statistics Canada reported in 2003 that one in 10 Canadians suffers from an RSI enough to limit their normal activities. Download leaflet here.