(This information applies to HSA members of the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association.)

In January of 2008 the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association successfully negotiated an agreement to resolve issues flowing from the Supreme Court of Canada decision that certain sections of Bill 29 were unconstitutional. HSA made professional development for our members a priority. As a result, the final agreement included a fund for professional development education for all HSPBA members.

Employees at 10 Metro Vancouver locations of CML Healthcare, a private medical imaging and laboratory company with locations across Canada, have voted to join the Health Sciences Association of BC. The 120 employees join HSA members working at 12 CML facilities in Metro Vancouver and on Vancouver Island.

The Municipal Pension Plan continues to offer pension seminars to plan members. 

Plan members have a choice of two seminars:

Your Pension, Your Future is aimed towards new and mid-career plan members.  In this seminar, the emphasis is on the value of plan membership, explaining pension benefits and helping members understand how decisions they make today can impact their future pension income.  Members will learn how to read their Member's Benefit Statement and find out ways to make the most of their future pension.

According to new research by the Canadian Stroke Network (CSN), nine out of 10 hospital deaths involving recovering stroke patients could be prevented if they were put in an organized follow-up program that involved care provided by health science professionals such as physiotherapists and occupational therapists.

HSA President Reid Johnson responds to February 24, 2008 Vancouver Province columnist Brian Lewis, who praises the new facilities and equipment at the Abbotsford P3 hospital set to open next year.

See letter to the editor here.

Critical shortages of health science professionals will continue to grow, thanks to the lack of planning exhibited by the BC Liberal government in the Speech from the Throne, HSA President Reid Johnson said today.

-I had hoped todays plan from government would include some concrete steps toward real solutions to the growing crisis of shortages of highly skilled and specialized health science professionals in the public health care system," Johnson said.

Today the BC Health Coalition is supporting Canadas nurses and hospital workers, which have teamed up to launch the -Know your Medicare Rights" campaign.  The campaign will focus on providing citizens with an opportunity to report incidences of extra-billing and other violations of the Canada Health Act through a new national website.

Highlights include a $3 million fund for re-dress and education

The HSA Board of Directors has approved a tentative Memorandum of Agreement with the provincial government and HEABC that includes a one-time payout of $3-million that will compensate members financially harmed by Bill 29 and establish an educational fund for health science professionals covered by the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association contract.

Ottawa (23 Jan. 2008) - A recent proposal by Dr. Brian Day, president of the Canadian Medical Association (CMA), to create private medical schools in Canada is being condemned by Canadas largest organization of health science professionals.

HSA is offering scholarships and bursaries to all members and their children. We will be awarding ten scholarships for full-time studies, twenty bursaries for full-time studies and two aboriginal scholarships.

The criteria and details are set out on the application forms. To obtain a copy please see the HSA website: www.hsabc.org or contact your chief steward.