The Hook: Political news, freshly caught
Bureaucrats forced into last-minute pitch to save some refugee health benefits
OTTAWA - Newly released documents show Citizenship and Immigration staff had to scramble to make the case for preserving some refugee health-care benefits that were on the chopping block earlier this year. Read more…
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Do you think Naheed Nenshi will win the Alberta NDP leadership race? Read the results of that poll here.
Researcher expected to receive Alzheimer's drug data
When former British Columbia health ministry employee Ron Mattson spoke to the media last week, he released his termination letter which said he'd improperly prepared to release data to researcher Bill Warburton. Today, through his lawyer, Warburton made a statement. Read more…
Chief vows to 'die' if necessary to improve the lot of aboriginal people
OTTAWA - Aboriginal protests against recent federal legislation are gaining momentum, with at least one prominent chief vowing to die for her people. Read more…
Health ministry shakes up access to drug data
The British Columbia health ministry has outsourced access to prescription drug data at a time when the system is under scrutiny due to an investigation that saw seven people fired or suspended without pay. Read more…
Health ministry employee made complaint that led to firings
The complaint that led to the firing of seven British Columbia health ministry employees came from somebody within the ministry, according to an auditor general's report released today. Read more…
BC backing down on flu shot requirement, says BCNU
The British Columbia Nurses' Union is claiming victory in a battle it and other unions waged with the provincial government over mandatory flu shots for health care workers. Read more…
BC expands treatment program by millions towards ending HIV/AIDS in province
The government says it's committing $19.9 in new annual funding to expand a program aimed at ending HIV transmission altogether. Read more…
Crown to consider charges related to two sawmill fires
Having completed investigation reports into sawmill fires earlier this year in Prince George and Burns Lake, WorkSafe BC has referred both matters to Crown counsel for further consideration. Read more…
Regulations drop price BC will pay for generic drugs
Starting in April, 2013, the British Columbia government will drop what it will pay for generic drugs to match the price set in Ontario three years earlier. Read more…
Provinces and patients will pay if feds meet EU patent demands: Dix
With International Trade Minister Ed Fast in Belgium this week for trade talks with the European Union, British Columbia NDP Leader Adrian Dix is calling on the federal government to reject the EU's proposed changes to Canada's drug patent laws. Read more…
Bulk buying and competitive bids would lower generic drug costs, says researcher
The commitment Canada's premiers made to begin bulk buying some prescription drugs could save taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars, but more can be done to cut costs, an article in the Canadian Medical Association Journal argues. Read more…
Use research, genetics to improve help for mistreated children, study says
Governments need to do a better job of tracking and pinpointing which of a myriad of social programs would best help children cope with abuse in their early years, says a study released Thursday. Read more…
BC child and youth watchdog criticizes unstable child services
A new report from the Representative For Children and Youth finds insufficient mental health services contributed to most of the child suicides and incidents of self-harm among kids and youth in government care. Read more…
Plan now for effective disaster relief: advocates for BC residents with disabilities
With earthquakes shaking B.C.'s north coast and news from the east coast storm catastrophe pouring in this week, an advocacy group for B.C. residents living with disabilities is calling for improved planning for people with mobility issues or disabilities in the case of natural disasters. Read more…
Health ministry keeps drug contracts secret
The B.C. Ministry of Health is refusing to release a list of drug research contracts awarded since Jan. 1, 2011, for fear disclosure would harm law enforcement. Read more…
BC health ministry fires sixth person in data investigation
A sixth person has been fired in the ministry of health's investigation that minister Margaret MacDiarmid has said is related to potential conflicts of interest, contracting and responsible data management. Read more…
Drug companies dominate BC health ministry stakeholders list
The invitation from deputy health minister Graham Whitmarsh to a November stakeholder session went to a long list dominated by drug companies. Read more…
BC to withhold BCNU contract details until other unions reach deals
The British Columbia government won't say how it is funding wage hikes for the B.C. Nurses' Union until all health labour contracts are completed, Health Minister Margaret MacDiarmid said today. Read more…
BC medical researchers encouraged to seek US military funding
An industry group and a Canadian government agency will host a workshop next month on the University of British Columbia campus to encourage researchers to compete for contracts from the United States military. Read more…
BC E. coli case linked to XL Foods recall
The B.C. Centre for Disease Control today announced that the province has had its first E. coli case linked to the recall of beef products from XL Foods in Alberta. Read more…
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