In the June 11 Vancouver Sun, the B.C. Federation of Labour, and several of its affiliated unions, including HSA, called on Canadians to move from apology to action to work to improve the lives of Canada's First Nations.

The Canadian government's formal apology yesterday over horrific abuses in residential schools is an important first step.

Now we all need to do our part to move forward from apology to action - to go forward with aboriginal people on the path to reconciliation, self-determination, dignity and justice that has so long been denied.

'Profound change is essential if people living with mental illness are to receive the help they need and deserve.' - James Clancy

Ottawa (26 May 2008) - The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) has presented a 14-page brief to the Mental Health Commission of Canada recommending broad change in four key areas ... the national public health care system, health human resources, community-based social services and the criminal justice system.

Ottawa (28 May 2008) - Canada desperately needs an effective strategic national plan to train more health professionals, says the Canadian Health Professionals Secretariat (CHPS).

"Otherwise, efforts to improve access and modernize the system will fail," secretariat co-chair Elisabeth Ballermann told the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health Tuesday.   See full brief here.

The B.C. Federation of Labour is renewing its call on the Campbell government to kill Bill 42.

Bowing to widespread and sustained public criticism, Attorney General Wally Oppal this morning presented minor amendments to Bill 42.

"The Campbell government wanted to gag free speech rights for five months, now they want to gag free speech for three months," said B.C. Federation of Labour President, Jim Sinclair. "Bill 42 is still a gag law."

Bill 42 also includes changes to voter identification requirements that will make it difficult for the homeless to vote.

The Kamloops and District Labour Council offers a unique opportunity for working people and community people to come together fora discussion around local and regional municipal election isues.

The Think Community Forum will be held Tuesday, June 10 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. in the Clock Tower Theatre and Thompson Rivers University.

Discussion group topics include: urban development, job creation, affordable housing, P3s, environmental issues, ethical purchasing and tranist.

HSA has joined a number of other B.C. public-sector unions in their call on the Liberal government to withdraw legislation that severely restricts public-interest advertising and communication in the five months leading up to the May 2009 provincial election.

Bill 42, the Election Amendment Act, would eliminate the kind of information campaigns about service cuts launched by the labour movement  in the lead up to the 2005 provincial election.

Ottawa (8 May 2008) ... Representatives of the Canadian Health Professionals Secretariat (CHPS) gathered in Ottawa recently to assess public policy and labour relations developments over the last six months and to map the course ahead for Canadas health professionals.

Among the issues covered during the May 1-2 meeting was an overriding concern about the significant and growing shortage of health professionals across the country and the need for a long-term national health human resources strategy.

New Health Legislation threatens Medicare as we know it, unless we act now and send a message to Health Minister George Abbott telling him to Kill Bill 21!

British Columbians have spoken: they know universal public health care is the most efficient, fair and affordable way to provide health care to all regardless of income. They want proven, public solutions to make Medicare stronger.

Speak out against the threat to public health care in BC

Join us!
Friday, April 18

March: noon
Assemble beside the Hilton Metrotown
6083 McKay Avenue, Burnaby
(McKay & Kingsway)

Rally: 12:15-1:15pm
Northeast corner of Central Park
Corner of Kingsway & Patterson, Burnaby
1 block from Patterson Skytrain station
Parking available off Patterson

Ottawa (10 April 2008) ... In the lead-up to National Medical Laboratory Week, Canadas largest organization of health science professionals is sounding alarm bells that accessible and high quality patient care is threatened by an escalating shortage of medical laboratory technologists across the country.