Category Archives: Health

Cost of Climate Change, Fire, Health

Wildfire Smoke Is Making Us Sick

By Michelle Gamage, The Tyee, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

It’s early June and there are 80 wildfires burning in the province, according to the BC Wildfire Service dashboard. 

There are evacuation orders in place for areas of the Peace River Regional District, and localities close to significant fires are blanketed in smoke.  

Fires are also bringing hazy skies to  Vancouver and other areas of the province farther away from active  fires. Across the continent, smoke is coating Toronto and New York right now. 

While smoky days and even weeks might be a  regular feature of future Canadian summers, they’re not something we  should be complacent with, according to health experts. 

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Health

BC Promises Four New Cancer Care Centres

By Michelle Gamage, The Tyee, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

British Columbians will get four new cancer care centres that can offer radiation treatment as the province gets ready for an increase in  cases of age-related cancers. 

Health Minister Adrian Dix said Thursday that new cancer care centres will be opening in Kamloops, Nanaimo, Surrey and Burnaby. 

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Health, Politics

Municipal governments respond to public drug consumption amid decriminalization project

By Alexandra Mehl, Ha-Shilth-Sa, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

On Jan. 31, 2023, the province of British Columbia decriminalized personal possession of some drugs, which would allot for 2.5 grams of opioid (heroin, morphine, and fentanyl), crack and powder cocaine, methamphetamine, and MDMA (ecstasy) for personal use, for a three year period.

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Health, Politics

Port Moody to explore training city’s frontline staff on use of naloxone kits

By Patrick Penner, Tri-Cities Dispatch, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Port Moody’s frontline staff may soon receive training with naloxone kits to help save people suffering from a lethal dose of drugs. 

Following the 7th anniversary of the provincial declaration of the public health crisis in April, Port Moody councillors vowed to take more action. 

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Health, Politics

Will BC Towns’ Bylaws Undermine Drug Decriminalization Pilot?

 

The Tyee, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

B.C.’s three-year pilot drug decriminalization program is aimed at reducing the barriers and stigma that prevent people from accessing life-saving supports and services. 

But since the possession of  small amounts of drugs was decriminalized on Jan. 31, some  municipalities have looked at bans on public drug use that advocates  warn undermine the provincial effort.

In Campbell River, the city decided to  implement its own bylaws three days before decriminalization took  effect, banning and ticketing public use of controlled substances. 

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