Tag Archives: Gov of BC

Energy

The northern B.C. pipeline you’ve never heard of — Enbridge’s Westcoast Connector

By Matt Simmons, The Narwhal, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

The Coastal GasLink pipeline is currently B.C.’s most infamous — with the arrests of Indigenous land defenders and journalists, repeated environmental infractions and celebrity activism from the likes of Mark Ruffalo, Greta Thunberg and Leonardo DiCaprio. 

But the list of controversial pipeline projects in the province doesn’t stop there.  

Continue reading The northern B.C. pipeline you’ve never heard of — Enbridge’s Westcoast Connector →
Health

B.C. needs to invest in primary care to stem the bleeding of family doctors from rural areas

National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Rural communities in B.C. will continue to suffer critical doctor shortages and the knock-on effect of repeated emergency room closures until B.C.’s primary care system is modernized, an expert says.

New physicians are shunning family practice, while established doctors are abandoning it because of the way primary health care is delivered, said Dr. Rita McCracken, a family physician and researcher with the University of British Columbia’s Department of Family Practice.

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Forests

Old-growth forests remain at ‘immediate risk’ despite B.C. government promises, report finds

By Natasha Bulowski, Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

B.C.’s old-growth forests are still in jeopardy despite the province’s pledge to work with Indigenous nations to temporarily ban logging in specific areas, a new report by Stand.earth finds.

More than 55,000 hectares of B.C.’s proposed old-growth deferrals are still at “extreme risk” of being logged, Stand.earth’s spatial analysis revealed. Satellite imagery analysis shows some deferrals have already been destroyed or are in the process of being clear-cut.

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Health

North Coast leaders met with the province to voice ambulance concerns

By Kaitlyn Bailey,  Prince Rupert Northern View, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Spurred by growing concern about paramedic shortages and gaps in service, three leaders from Haida Gwaii and Nuxalk Nation lobbied for solutions during a meeting with Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, and Leanne Heppell, executive vice president and chief ambulance officer at BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS), on Aug. 3.

The province introduced a new paramedic staffing model for rural and remote communities in the fall of 2021, which they refer to as Scheduled on Call (SOC).

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Housing, Politics

Mawhinney identifies housing as the #1 issue in Area C

Robyn Mawhinney identified housing as the #1 issue in this upcoming October 15 election.

“There are already two levels of government, federal and provincial, which are working on housing. I’m not sure that we can ever completely solve it, but it’s really important that we tackle it and there’s many small shifts that could happen,” explained the candidate for Regional Director in Area C.

Continue reading Mawhinney identifies housing as the #1 issue in Area C →