All posts by Guest Post

Health

Temporary Farm Workers Don’t Have Access To Adequate Health Care

By Marc Fawcett-Atkinson, Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Every summer, thousands of migrant farm workers flock to B.C. bearing painkillers and antibiotics. These personal pharmacies reflect workers’ concerns they won’t have access to adequate health care in the province, despite working in one of B.C.’s most dangerous  — and essential — industries. It’s a situation advocates say puts farm workers at risk despite government assurances the system is working. 

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Indigenous Nations, Politics

IndigiNews: Let’s talk sovereignty

By Chehala Leonard, The Discourse, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

In this weekly roundup, we share the latest news from across the Okanagan and Turtle Island. This week, let’s talk about sovereignty. In Kelsie Kilawna’s latest article, she explores what the concept actually means in response to common misconceptions and questions raised by readers. As well, we take a look at water rights and land disputes at Sx̌ʷəx̌ʷnitkʷ (Little Falls), also known as Okanagan Falls. 

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Energy, Environment

Six Years Later: Mount Polley Disaster Recommendations Not Implemented

By Matt Simmons, The Narwhal, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

Six years after the Mount Polley disaster, B.C. and international regulatory organizations are still failing to  make mining safe, according to several groups monitoring the industry.

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Forests

Federal Environment Minister ‘Shares’ concerns of Nanaimo hunger strikers

Carl Meyer, Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Two people are on a hunger strike on Vancouver Island, demanding an end to logging of old-growth forests in B.C., and Canada’s federal environment minister says he shares their concerns over biodiversity loss.

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Housing, Poverty

+1500 homeless in Greater Victoria

By Francois Macone, Radio Victoria,  CILS 107.9 FM, Local Journalism  Initiative Reporter

The Regional Capital District (CRD), in partnership with the Community Social Planning Council and the Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness, released the results of the 2020 Greater Victoria Spot Count on Friday. It follows previous biennial counts conducted in 2016 and 2018 and is funded by the Government of Canada. As of March 11, 2020, 1,523 people were homeless in the Capital Region, compared to 1,525 on March 15, 2018.

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