Week of January 18, 2010

Friday, January 22 - Port Moody
What:  Protest at Port Moody ... Coquitlam MLA, Iain Blacks Office
Time:  12:30 ... 1:30
Where:  #203 ... 130 Brew Street, Port Moody
Let the Minister Responsible for Small Business, Technology and Economic Development know that eliminating workers legal rights through legislation is not an effective way to build a better and stronger British Columbia.

Week of January 25, 2010

Five years ago, in 2005, David Bland, a vocational rehabilitation counsellor and HSA member from Richmond Mental Health, was murdered at his workplace by a former client.  His tragic death served as a sombre reminder that more needs to be done to prevent incidents of violence in the workplace and to protect health care ands social services workers on the job.  

In times of great hardship and need, the labour movement shows the meaning of solidarity and mobilizes to bring support to workers, their families and their communities.

The Canadian Labour Congress, in cooperation with the Canadian Red Cross, is working to provide an easy way for union members to make a donation to help the victims of the devastating earthquake and instantly receive a tax receipt.

We invite you to support this urgent fundraising appeal by completing the form below to make your donation.

The BC Health Coalition is pleased to announce "Advocating for Seniors Advocacy in B.C." -- an important community event taking place on January 19, 2010 in Burnaby.

The BC Health Coalition is co-sponsoring this event with the BC Seniors' Advocacy Network and the Hospital Employees' Union.  They wish to develop a more constructive dialogue among advocacy groups that work with individual advocates and pursue systemic advocacy goals.

The BC Health Coalition is urging the provincial government to immediately implement recommendations regarding rights for seniors in residential care made by Kim Carter, the provincial Ombudsperson.

-Recent government announcements regarding changes to seniors care have not been encouraging.  In fact, they move seniors care in the opposite direction with regressive user fee increases and no indication of any actual improvements to care," said Alice Edge, Co-Chair of the BC Health Coalition.

The Health Sciences Association of BC (HSA) welcomes this weeks call by the Dietitians of Canada for British Columbia to adopt a comprehensive poverty reduction plan that includes an increase to the minimum wage.

-As the Dietitians of Canada report The Cost of Eating in BC 2009 notes, too many British Columbians are living in poverty. Poverty is a key factor in poor nutrition and poor health outcomes," said HSA President Reid Johnson.

On December 1, World AIDS Day, the BC government cut funding for HIV / AIDS outreach and service organizations.

If you disagree with the BC governments decision to cripple AIDS Vancouver and other community-based health organizations by cutting their funding, join with HSA members at the protest organized by cancelthecuts.org:

Saturday, December 12th ... Queen Charlotte
What:  Petition signing and food bank drive
Time:  11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where:  City Centre Stores, 121 3rd Avenue, Queen Charlotte
"Find out how can help fight for amublance services in rural BC, and donate to the community food bank.

Week of December 14th, 2009

December 6, 2009 marks the 20th anniversary of the Montréal massacre of 14 young women at the École Polytechnique. HSA encourages members to take part in vigils and ceremonies to reaffirm our commitment to ending violence against women.

If you know of an event in your community that is not listed below, please contact Yukie Kurahashi at ykurahashi@hsabc.org. Check HSAs website at www.hsabc.org for updates to this schedule of events.

Today, as local and national governments around the world reaffirm their commitment to continue the fight against HIV and AIDS, BCs government is doing the opposite.

Effective December 1 ... World AIDS Day ... BCs Ministry of Health is imposing funding cuts to community-based HIV and AIDS service organizations, including AIDS Vancouver.