Column: Affordable ways to avoid climate catastrophe
Cutting greenhouse gas emissions to keep the world from heating to catastrophic levels is entirely possible and would save money. Although emissions continue to rise, there’s still time to reverse course. Ways to slash them by more than half over the next seven years are readily available and cost-effective — and...
Supreme Court of Canada upholds BC Supreme Court's landmark decision protecting public health care
Today, the Supreme Court of Canada dismissed Cambie Surgeries Corporation’s (CSC) attempt to overturn previous decisions made by BC’s courts that upheld the BC Medicare Protection Act. This decision marks the end of the corporation’s lengthy legal battle to overturn key provisions in the BC Medicare Protection Act that ensure...
COLUMN: The benefits of decisive action on climate change
Decisive climate action will bring a healthier, more prosperous future There’s no shortage of available, affordable solutions to avoid the worst impacts of a changing climate — and more are being developed every day. Employing them will also bring many other benefits. But with the world rapidly heading toward the threshold ...
Editorial: Alzheimer's Disease and other upsetting realities
What’s in a name? A contentious sign of the times Alzheimer’s is, especially for older people like me, a frightening possibility. Most of us know people, some of them close and cherished, who have been altered by the disease and died from it. Some of us don’t like to be reminded of it. Many decades ago, locals enjoyed...
Opinion: Profit over safety = recipe for disaster
On February 3, a 150-car train carrying toxic chemicals derailed near East Palestine, Ohio. Close to half the town’s 4,700 residents had to evacuate as deadly gas and smoke fouled the air and chemicals contaminated waterways. Fortunately, no people were killed (although at least 3,500 fish perished), unlike in the devastating...
B.C. renews use of emergency operation centres to support patients, hospitals
Beginning Monday, Jan. 9, 2023, emergency operation centres (EOCs) will be reactivated in health authorities to ensure patients continue to have access to the hospital care services they need as respiratory illness season continues in B.C. Activating EOCs is another proactive step in the Province’s plan to provide enhanced ...
Opinion: Privatizing long-term care is a bad idea
Why for-profit homes won’t solve long-term care issues: Privatizing health services is a bad idea that just won’t go away Authors: Pat Armstrong, Distinguished Research Professor of Sociology, York University, Canada, and Marjorie Griffin Cohen, Professor emeritus, Simon Fraser University Canadian health economist Robert ...
Five ways to avoid pain and injury when starting a new exercise regime
By Lewis Macgregor, Lecturer in Sport, Health & exercise Science, University of Stirling (UK) Getting in the habit of exercising isn’t easy. Not only is finding the time to exercise a major deterrent for people, the fear of aches, pain and injuries is also a reason that people put off starting a new exercise regime. But...
Minister’s statement on mental-health supports for the holiday season
Jennifer Whiteside, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, has released the following year-end statement regarding mental-health supports during the holiday season: “The holiday season is a time for celebrations, but for many, it can also be the season of loneliness, stress and difficult memories. “British Columbians have...
Lower Columbia Community Health Centre Proposal Gathers Steam - Resident Input Requested
A committed group of doctors, nurse practitioners, and community members are working together to bring a Community Health Centre (CHC) to the Lower Columbia region. The Lower Columbia CHC Network Working Group is proposing a CHC that includes 3-4 clinics to serve Rossland, Warfield, Trail, Montrose, Fruitvale, and RDKB Areas...