British Columbia

Pharmacists in B.C. will be able to prescribe certain medications beginning in spring 2023, under the province’s new Health Human Resources Strategy. (Credit: Unsplash)

B.C.’s new 5-year health-care strategy promises to breakdown barriers, expand powers

Pharmacist prescribing, reduced hurdles for international grads, more medical seats among promises

 

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry presents the latest information on COVID-19 and influenza in a briefing on Sept. 28. (The Canadian Press/screenshot)

VIDEO: B.C. prepares for flu and COVID-19 this fall

Province expecting worse influenza season than seen in past 2 pandemic years

 

In this Feb. 9, 2018, file photo, a radiology technician looks at a chest X-ray of a child suffering from flu symptoms. Radiologists in B.C.. say hundreds of thousands of patients are waiting for medical imaging. (AP Photo/David Goldman, File)

‘Hundreds of thousands’ waiting for medical imaging in B.C., radiologists say

Delays could cause ‘tsunami of cancer cases,’ radiological society warns in letter to Dix

 

Paramedics respond to a call as Vancouver city councillor Jean Swanson attends a march on International Overdose Awareness Day, in Vancouver, on August 31, 2021. In August 2022, the BC Coroner Service says 169 British Columbians died to the toxic drug supply. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

169 British Columbians killed from toxic drug supply in August: Coroner

Number a small decrease from 192 deaths in July

Paramedics respond to a call as Vancouver city councillor Jean Swanson attends a march on International Overdose Awareness Day, in Vancouver, on August 31, 2021. In August 2022, the BC Coroner Service says 169 British Columbians died to the toxic drug supply. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Melanie Mark speaks to the media after becoming the first First Nations woman to serve in the B.C. legislature, at a swearing-in ceremony on Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2016. Mark has resigned her ministerial portfolios to go on medical leave. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

B.C. cabinet minister Melanie Mark resigns and takes medical leave

Mark was the minister for tourism, arts, culture and sport

Melanie Mark speaks to the media after becoming the first First Nations woman to serve in the B.C. legislature, at a swearing-in ceremony on Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2016. Mark has resigned her ministerial portfolios to go on medical leave. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
A bed in need of cleaning is moved in the COVID-19 intensive care unit at St. Paul’s hospital in downtown Vancouver, Tuesday, April 21, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

B.C. may move hospital patients to free up beds ahead of projected COVID, flu surge

Up to 1,800 current patients could be switched to community care or care homes, says province

A bed in need of cleaning is moved in the COVID-19 intensive care unit at St. Paul’s hospital in downtown Vancouver, Tuesday, April 21, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Adrian Dix, B.C. Minister of Health. (Union of B.C. Municipalities photo)

PODCAST: UBCM hosts ‘reimagining health care in B.C.’ session

Today in B.C.: Panel offers transformative solutions to province’s health care problems

Adrian Dix, B.C. Minister of Health. (Union of B.C. Municipalities photo)
(Black Press Media file photo)

B.C. can’t resolve repeat offender problem without more mental health, addictions support: report

Authors suggest specialized crisis response and long-term support units for offenders

(Black Press Media file photo)
Vince Ditrich. (Submitted photo)

PODCAST: A chat with longtime Spirit of the West drummer turned author Vince Ditrich

TODAY IN B.C.: Second book ‘The Vicar’s Knickers’ released in the Tony Vicar trilogy

Vince Ditrich. (Submitted photo)
Bonny Glambeck and Dan Lewis of Clayoquot Action collect fish farm samples. (Photo credit: Jérémy Mathieu / Clayoquot Action)

Ottawa is scaling back its promise to phase out open net-pen salmon farms, critics say

3 expansions approved since phase-out promise made

  • Sep 19, 2022
Bonny Glambeck and Dan Lewis of Clayoquot Action collect fish farm samples. (Photo credit: Jérémy Mathieu / Clayoquot Action)
A group from Parks Canada and First Nations along with others gather in a circle to discuss the clam bed restoration project underway while on the Salish sea garden tour on Russell Island, a 32-acre Gulf Island National Park near Salt Spring Island, B.C., Thursday, Sept. 8, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

VIDEO: Restoring the culinary and cultural bounty of ancient Indigenous sea gardens in B.C.

Indigenous leaders are looking to gain approval for clam harvesting using their sea garden method

A group from Parks Canada and First Nations along with others gather in a circle to discuss the clam bed restoration project underway while on the Salish sea garden tour on Russell Island, a 32-acre Gulf Island National Park near Salt Spring Island, B.C., Thursday, Sept. 8, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
The Battleship Mountain wildfire near Hudson’s Hope, B.C. as seen Sept. 10. (Photo courtesy of BC Wildfire Service)

Wildfire in B.C.’s Peace region doubles, no rain expected for relief

Residents around Hudson’s Hope were ordered to evacuate Saturday

The Battleship Mountain wildfire near Hudson’s Hope, B.C. as seen Sept. 10. (Photo courtesy of BC Wildfire Service)
Smoke from wildfires in B.C., Washington State and Oregon continue to cause poor air quality across much of the province. (BC Wildfire Service/Twitter)

Air quality improving, but varying degrees of smoke to remain in much of B.C.

Wildfires burning in B.C., Washington State and Oregon causing hazy skies

Smoke from wildfires in B.C., Washington State and Oregon continue to cause poor air quality across much of the province. (BC Wildfire Service/Twitter)
A man pauses at a coffin after carrying it during a memorial march to remember victims of overdose deaths in Vancouver on Saturday, August 15, 2020. The B.C. Coroners Service reported 192 more deaths in the month of July 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

190 adults, 2 children died from B.C.’s toxic drug supply in July: Coroner

Number equates to 6.2 deaths per day

A man pauses at a coffin after carrying it during a memorial march to remember victims of overdose deaths in Vancouver on Saturday, August 15, 2020. The B.C. Coroners Service reported 192 more deaths in the month of July 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
B.C. health minister Adrian Dix speaks on the healthcare crisis at the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention in Whistler Sept. 13. (Credit: Union of B.C. Municipalities)

Dix offers words but no prescription as B.C. municipalities demand healthcare solutions

Mayors, councillors gathered in Whistler for Union of B.C. Municipalities convention

B.C. health minister Adrian Dix speaks on the healthcare crisis at the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention in Whistler Sept. 13. (Credit: Union of B.C. Municipalities)
The Tiny Home Village in Victoria’s North Park neighbourhood welcomed 30 residents in May 2021. (Black Press Media file photo)

Tiny home villages as solution to homelessness? 3 B.C. mayors say yes

Sites up and running in Victoria and Duncan, Port Alberni on its way to do the same

The Tiny Home Village in Victoria’s North Park neighbourhood welcomed 30 residents in May 2021. (Black Press Media file photo)
Finance Minister Selina Robinson talks about financial aid due to inflation and the cost-of-living increases and support during a press conference at Goudy Field in Langford, B.C., on Wednesday, September 7, 2022. Robinson says preliminary financial numbers for the first three months of the current fiscal year show the province is in a strong position despite ongoing global economic risks. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

B.C. says financial outlook improving, forecasts $706 million surplus

Finance minister presented province’s first quarterly report Sept. 12

Finance Minister Selina Robinson talks about financial aid due to inflation and the cost-of-living increases and support during a press conference at Goudy Field in Langford, B.C., on Wednesday, September 7, 2022. Robinson says preliminary financial numbers for the first three months of the current fiscal year show the province is in a strong position despite ongoing global economic risks. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
The Battleship Mountain wildfire burning near Hudson’s Hope, as seen Sept. 10. The town, as well as surrounding areas in the Peace River Regional District, have since been evacuated. (Photo courtesy of BC Wildfire Service)

Much of B.C. under air quality advisory as wildfires force evacuations, spread smoke

Evacuation orders in effect around Hudson’s Hope and Hope

The Battleship Mountain wildfire burning near Hudson’s Hope, as seen Sept. 10. The town, as well as surrounding areas in the Peace River Regional District, have since been evacuated. (Photo courtesy of BC Wildfire Service)
A white sturgeon is seen in B.C. waters after being captured during sampling by the Fraser River Sturgeon Conservation Society in an undated handout photo. British Columbia government scientists are asking for the public’s help to solve a mystery after 11 of the iconic and endangered fish were recently found dead in the river in central B.C. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Fraser River Sturgeon Conservation Society

River mystery: what is killing the giant sturgeon of B.C.’s Nechako River?

The bodies showed no visible external injuries and scientists don’t believe disease or chemicals are involved

A white sturgeon is seen in B.C. waters after being captured during sampling by the Fraser River Sturgeon Conservation Society in an undated handout photo. British Columbia government scientists are asking for the public’s help to solve a mystery after 11 of the iconic and endangered fish were recently found dead in the river in central B.C. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Fraser River Sturgeon Conservation Society
A doctor examines a patient with a stethoscope. In B.C. more than a quarter of adults don’t have a family physician. Those who do have one say it’s hard to get in. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Thomas Kienzle0

More than 60% of B.C. adults have no family doctor or poor access to one: poll

Of those who do have a family doctor, just 7% say they have easy access to them

A doctor examines a patient with a stethoscope. In B.C. more than a quarter of adults don’t have a family physician. Those who do have one say it’s hard to get in. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Thomas Kienzle0