Tag Archives: Sheila Malcolmson

BC’s Opioid Lawsuit Win No Cause for Celebration, Say Advocates

By Moira Wyton, The Tyee, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A British Columbia-led lawsuit against more than 40 pharmaceutical companies has resulted in a proposed $150-million settlement with Purdue  Pharma Canada for health-care costs related to the company’s marketing  of opioid pain medications.

But advocates say the  lawsuit is also an exercise in distracting the public from the  government’s failure to make changes — including introducing safe supply  — that would have saved thousands of lives lost to toxic drugs.

Continue reading BC’s Opioid Lawsuit Win No Cause for Celebration, Say Advocates

BC expanding safe supply to check overdose deaths

National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The B.C. government is expanding access to safe supply to provide more pharmaceutical alternatives to people who use drugs to curb skyrocketing deaths due to the toxic street supply.

Continue reading BC expanding safe supply to check overdose deaths

worst year on record for drug overdoses: 1,716 deaths

National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Where’s the plan?

That was the dominant question asked Thursday as B.C.’s chief coroner Lisa Lapointe announced 1,716 people died from toxic street drugs in 2020, marking the worst year on record for the province.

Continue reading worst year on record for drug overdoses: 1,716 deaths

Election 2020: update to the Preliminary Voting Results for Vancouver Island

The most recent change to Elections BC’s Preliminary Voting Results, at the time of this writing, was made at 2:53 PM on October 28, 2020. 

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Nanaimo Hunger Strike Finished: More Forest Events Begin

The night before the Nanaimo hunger strike began, Sabina Dennis had a dream about trees. Mother Earth told her, “Why are you scraping off my skin? Now I am exposed. The sun is harmful to me. My flesh is what protects me from it.” The next morning Dennis read about the hunger strike on the internet. She immediately began a fast, but is very slender and became physically ill after four days. She also reached out to the two Nanaimo men through a mutual friend in Sierra Club BC. Sabina Dennis is one of several environmental leaders planning more forest events.

Continue reading Nanaimo Hunger Strike Finished: More Forest Events Begin