When you have epidemiologists and virus experts declaring 'this is terrifying' maybe we should wake up and take notice
The next pandemic might already be here; not only are we not prepared, we have become violently opposed to public health measures, our leaders want us to wallow in blissful ignorance
If bird flu does cross over into the human population it will be devastating - Covid is nothing compared to H5N1
Costs and CO2 emissions to get across the Salish Sea for a family of 4. (Nanaimo-Vancouver)
One way totals:
BCF w/ car: $129.95 25kgCO2
BCF w/o car: $80.40 25kgCO2
SeaAir: $502.80 38kgCO2
Hullo Ferry: $180.56 46.8kgCO2
These are the kinds of conversations we should be having around carbon pricing, affordability, and responsibility. Not stupid nonsense "axe-the-tax” click bait crap.
#NoFault#evictions like these — without any missed rent payments or damage to a unit — account for roughly 85% of the total in #BritishColumbia according to a 2023 #UBC study of the period between 2016 & 2021. During that interval, one-in-10 #BCrenters studied were #evicted.
These rates outpace the rest of #Canada in both total ousted #tenants & ones kicked out for no fault of their own.
From strengthening primary care to mental health supports to transport in and out of hospital, @ubc med students tell our health reporter @michelle_gamage how to improve emergency care in B.C. #bcpoli
In my experience, a phone call with a personal touch and a note of thanks for the hard work of political staff can be a lot more effective than an email. I'll explain why in this thread, and how I use these conversations to build rapport.
As part of #VulnerabilityIsntSeasonal, we’re amplifying the voices of just a few of the people who’ve been impacted by BC‘s fluctuating mask protections.
Next up, from Jay (he/him, they/them):
🚨 Content warning: surgery, medical negligence
“I had surgery last year after masks were discarded in BC hospitals. It was a nightmare. Despite the fact that I’m disabled and extremely medically vulnerable (including immune system damage from previous Covid infections), staff didn’t mask in my hospital room. It was entirely on me to “manage my own risk”, even though that meant I couldn’t safely remove my mask to eat or drink. The lack of healthcare mask protections risked my recovery, and could have resulted in me bringing new illnesses home to my high-risk family members. Patients shouldn’t bear the burden of infection control, especially at their sickest and most vulnerable. That’s why we need proper airborne precautions in healthcare year round.”
The British Columbia Utilities Commission has rejected a FortisBC plan that would have seen the company’s existing customers paying to provide more expensive renewable natural gas in new buildings. #bcpoli
Don't get me wrong about the linked news bulletin on public sector wages. I am very very very happy and grateful (especially to my Union!) to be getting a 3% raise as of April 1st. This is one of the biggest single-year raises I’ve had in 23.5 years working at VIU.
But the cost of a loaf of bread has increased by 100%, and no I am not exaggerating, in the past year alone so....
I just looked at my taxes going back to 2008.
In 2008 I made $65,342. Last year (2023) I made $77,342. Next year I should make about $79,662. Overall that’s an increase in 16 years of 21.9% or 1.4% per year on average.
According to the Bank of Canada inflation calculator, $100 in 2008 is $141.53 today.
Fewer B.C. seniors are qualifying for grants to help pay rent as government has failed to adjust the Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters program to rising incomes and housing costs, says Seniors’ Advocate Isobel Mackenzie. @AndrewMacLeod reports. #bcpoli
My friend @FrankeJames has an OpEd in The Star on the plight of so many vulnerable and disabled people literally being warehoused in unsuitable long term care homes without consent
I’ve had a chronic stomach condition I’ve dealt with through medication for years before this pandemic started. It all began with the removal of my gall bladder in 2009.
As of a recent call to the pharmacist, I’ve now been told they only have 20 pills out of the year supply I usually get.
The pharmacist said he hasn’t had a shipment in months and that both options of the medication I use are dry out with no word on when new meds may arrive. We’ve simply been told “there is a manufacturer shortage” from all local pharmacists.
This effectively puts me into an immediate dire situation. The loss of this crucial medication will make it impossible for me to work and as a result I will now need to apply for disability.
Why is there no mention of this in the news? Medication shortages are one thing, but to just let people run out of critical meds with no other options is just unreal. We are being abandoned.
You know Cathedral Grove, right? Trees that are hundreds of years old on the highway to Tofino on Vancouver Island? (It was featured as part of the Opening Ceremonies of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.)
Well, the bright lights of forestry machines were visible on its borders this morning.
I don't know if they are taking any Old Growth, maybe not, but the forest around the Grove (MacMillan Park) is critical to protect it from wind storms and fire.
#SasquatchResources is trying to determine if it’s economically feasible to mine metals from the tailings of four former mines that closed decades ago.
The company says if it goes ahead, it would clean up the #environmental mess that was left behind.
For one of the most devastating #PublicPolicy#crises of this century, half of the governments in this country have published no internal reflection.
Why the lack of reports? It could be that governments simply haven’t gotten around to it yet. The federal government recently tasked a panel of experts with a report reviewing the federal approach to #pandemic#science advice and #research coordination. It is set to be published in March.
Last year I stood outside a Poilievre "Axe The Tax" pep rally in BC and handed out a factsheet I made myself about the BC Carbon Pricing Tax Credit ... eligibility, how much you get, when you get it, no you don't have to apply for it to get it, etc. etc. #bcpoli
People were mostly polite if disbelieving, but clearly unwilling to admit they were standing there holding signs calling for axing the federal carbon tax in a province that doesn't pay the federal carbon tax.
Uhoh! Someone’s mad at journalists again and Social Media companies are like “ok!”.
“YouTube is blocking access in India to a story by CBC's The Fifth Estate on the alleged contract killing of a Canadian Sikh separatist after the Indian government ordered the social media platform to take that action.” #CanPoli#CdnPoli#India#Nijjar#BCPoli#Youtube#Censorship
#Protests & citizens' #dissent does work to increase pressure on government - on rare occasions, changes happen fairly quickly.
Since this sign was made - Selina Robinson resigned & Randall Garrison isn't running again👍
here's the thing - you might think as an individual there is little you can do on any issue - that the lobbyists, big money control politics, and while that is largely true on a wider scale, believe me, emails or phone calls, SoMe outing, to elected officials have effect
I've worked in the BC Leg, on campaigns - staff see it, have to respond - the only way we get change is through pressure
The City of #Vancouver & #VancouverParkBoard staff have announced the second version of a draft plan to clean up parts of #CRABPark, raising concerns from park residents that they will be forced out.
At a news conference Tuesday morning, staff said the decision was made last December to make the area safer and cleaner for residents of the park's #TentCity.