HSA Political Action Fund available to support members running or working in November municipal election

HSA members who are running for municipal office, or working on campaigns to elect candidates for local government positions, can apply to HSA for the following financial support from HSAs Political Action Fund:

1. Members who are candidates can apply for up to 5 days of wage replacement and/or up to $200 to cover approved personal expenses incurred to run for office. 

Groups representing seniors, consumers and labour say access to affordable medicines threatened in Canada

Ottawa (3 July 2008) - A coalition of groups representing seniors, consumers and labour is investigating a trend among provincial governments toward signing secret tender agreements with pharmaceutical companies.

A research report released Thursday by Aidan Hollis, an economist at the University of Calgarys Institute for Advanced Policy Research, suggests that the coalition has legitimate cause to worry.

Toronto (19 June 2008) - The Ontario government has broken an election promise to set a minimum standard of care for the 75,000 people who live in long-term care nursing homes across the province.

Premier Dalton McGuinty made the pledge in 2005. Critics have called for a standard of at least 3.5 hours of care daily for elderly patients living in long-term care institutions.

Ottawa (17 June 2008) - Health care is a major presidential election issue in the United States this year and Canada's public Medicare system and its advocates are attracting a lot more attention than normal.

BusinessWeek magazine recently asked James Clancy, president of the 340,000-member National Union of Public and General Employees, to participate in its Debate Room forum on the pros and cons of the Canadian system.

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.

CoDevelopment Canada is organizing a small delegation to attend the 3rd Americas Social Forum in Guatemala in October 2008.

HSA's Committee for Equality and Social Action supports the work of CoDev, an organization that links Canadian unions and community groups with counterparts in Latin America.

Download information about the Americas Social Forum delegation here.

'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.