Issues, Campaigns and Government Relations

After many months of dialogue and deliberation by the Racial Justice Working Group, the Terms of Reference for the Racial Justice Committee has been approved by the Board of Directors. HSA would like to express deep gratitude to those who have participated in the creation of these Terms of Reference, the Racial Justice Working Group: Anita Bardal, Donna Barker, Sonia...

The Health Sciences Association of BC, representing over 20,000 specialized professionals working in health care and community social services, stands in solidarity with CUPE OBSCU workers who seek only fair pay for the hard work they do delivering critical work in Ontario’s schools. The Ontario government’s response to them – invoking a constitutional sledgehammer that blocks their right to act...

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR HSA MEMBERS AFFECTED BY THE ORDER HEABC has announced that a Provincial Health Officer order from April 2020 restricting health care workers from working at multiple sites will be lifted effective January 1, 2023. The order affects health care workers at long-term care facilities, assisted living facilities, and provincial mental health facilities, and had an impact on...

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR HSA MEMBERS AFFECTED BY THE ORDER HSA has learned that a Provincial Health Officer order from April 2020 restricting health care workers from working at multiple sites was lifted in Vancouver Coastal Health Authority by an exemption issued by the local Medical Health Officer on July 7, 2022. The employer failed to inform the union of the...

As health science professionals across the province continue to report critical staffing shortages, crushing workload, and increasing concern about how they can maintain a high standard of care for patients, HSA welcomes the introduction of a health human resources strategy today by Health Minister Adrian Dix and Advanced Education Minister Anne Kang. “HSA members have reached their breaking point. This...

Update (December 2022) Subsequent to Arbitrator Hall’s decision (and monetary award to HSA) it quickly became clear that HEABC as the employer was determined to appeal the decision, delaying and perhaps preventing this money from benefiting members. During bargaining the parties agreed to consider the damage award to be annualized funding allocated to the classification redesign. This negotiated outcome replaced...

In 2021, the Government of Canada declared September 30 the “National Day for Truth and Reconciliation”. The declaration responds to Truth and Reconciliation Call to Action No. 80, which calls for the creation of a statutory day “to honour Survivors, their families, and communities, and ensure that public commemoration of the history and legacy of residential schools remains a vital...

HSA President Kane Tse today welcomed news that the BC government is adding 322 new training spots for health science professions facing dire shortages, and providing bursaries for internationally-educated health science professionals looking to join the BC workforce. “Heavy workload and growing shortages of specialized health professionals have pushed the health care system to the brink,” said Tse. “HSA has...

Since its launch, the Emergency Health Provider Registry (EHPR) has adapted to respond to health system emergencies (including floods, wildfires, and other climate-change related disasters) and the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 10,000 people are currently registered with the EHPR and the Ministry of Health is undertaking a refresh of the system to update registrant information and improve our capacity to...

Please note that applications for this fund are not yet open. Members will be notified when application forms are available. The Health Sciences Association of BC is pleased to announce $3 million in new funding for professional development of health science professionals. The new funding, secured from the BC Ministry of Health, is the latest in the union’s long-standing program...