News & Updates

The Report: January / February 2001 vol.22 num.1 by SARAH O'LEARY Q: How will the new Employment Insurance provisions affect me? A: In the 2000 federal budget, the Liberal government introduced some changes to the Employment Insurance Act. Bill C-32: An Act to Implement Certain Provisions of the Budget was tabled in parliament on February 28, 2000. These changes will...

The Report: January / February 2001 vol.22 num.1 by YUKIE KURAHASHI Lori Scherer Ultrasound Technologist Mission Memorial Hospital Like many sonographers, Lori Scherer knew she wanted to pursue ultrasound "the minute" she walked into medical imaging. "I like sonography because I like people," she says. "I like the one-on-one contact with the patient, and I wish I had more opportunity...

Union president says increased training spaces will help address shortage of x-ray technologists but more needs to be doneThe Health Science Association of BC, the province's third largest health care union, is pleased that the provincial government's new health care strategy includes a plan to train more x-ray technologists.HSA president Cindy Stewart says the plan demonstrates that the government has...

British Columbia's acute shortage of health science professionals is leaving some BC communities without access to critical health services. Physiotherapy, pharmacy, radiation therapy and ultrasound are just some of the professions where shortages are particularly severe.To raise awareness about this growing problem, the Health Sciences Association of British Columbia (HSA) is launching a province-wide campaign calling on government, health authorities...

The Report: November / December 2000 vol.21 num.6 by CAROLE PEARSON That a policy to improve health care should create so many headaches is ironic. But when the BC Ministry of Health implemented its Better Teamwork Better Care approach through regionalization, it created a tangle of jurisdictional and contractual issues. Then-Health Minister Joy MacPhail called it the "dawn of a...

The Report: November / December 2000 vol.21 num.6 by YUKIE KURAHASHI Most recipients of the coveted Bowl of Hygeia ... the highest honour in pharmacy ... are fairly certain which of their achievements is being recognized by the award. Some may be state senators. Others might be city mayors. Still others might receive the award for devoting their time and...

The Report: November / December 2000 vol.21 num.6 HSAs executive staff are the Executive Director of Labour Relations, Executive Director of Operations, Executive Assistant / Human Resources Coordinator ... and their secretarial support. Executive Director of Labour RelationsThe Executive Director of Labour Relations is one of the two senior executive staff positions in HSA and reports directly to the President...

The Report: November / December 2000 vol.21 num.6 by CINDY STEWART Meeting rooms in nine communities around the province: $5,000.Members wage replacement: over $50,000.Hearing first hand from activists about the issues they care about: priceless. I cant think of a better way to describe how I feel about the importance of the HSA Regional Meetings that are held every fall...

The Report: November / December 2000 vol.21 num.6 by SARAH O'LEARY What medical information does my employer have a right to ask for? There are several situations in which members may find that they are asked by the employer for a medical certificate, or further medical information about the state of their health. Understandably, workers are touchy about these requests...

The Report: November / December 2000 vol.21 num.6 by RACHEL NOTLEY Does "due diligence" under the revised Workers' Compensation Act increase supervisory responsibility or liability? Due diligence is a legal defence offered to employers and supervisors in the event that someone experiences damages in some way as a result of their action (or inaction). If someone being held responsible for...