B.C. Greens call for government progress reports on poisoned drug crisis
VICTORIA, B.C. - As National Overdose Awareness Day approaches and BC Coroners Service reveals over 190 lives lost to the toxic and unregulated drug supply in July, it is time to move beyond generic statements and demand transparency in the measures being taken to prevent further loss of life.
“Year after year, month after month, we have witnessed the devastating toll of unregulated toxic drugs on our communities,” said Sonia Furstenau, Leader of the B.C. Greens and MLA for Cowichan Valley. “While condolences and expressions of sorrow are appreciated, it is no longer good enough to simply acknowledge the problem. Concrete actions must be taken, and progress must be reported month to month.
Resources for staying safe - BC wildfires (Cont'd)
As wildfires continue to rage across BC, we wanted to follow up on our last email with additional support and information.
If you missed our previous blog post, you can read it on our blog.
We have compiled a list of resources and services for anyone looking for support such as accommodation, food, or clothing in an emergency situation.
Resources for staying safe - BC wildfires
As you know, BC is experiencing its worst wildfire season on record.
Wildfires have already destroyed parts of Kelowna and are threatening other communities across our province. Smoke from wildfires is also having a dangerous impact on air quality and people’s health.
Please prioritize personal health and safety.It is critical that you follow evacuation orders and alerts from your local authorities. For information on evacuations, preparing for emergencies, travel restrictions, droughts and more, please visit https://www.emergencyinfobc.gov.bc.ca/. To report a provincial emergency, please call 1-800-663-3456. |
B.C. Greens release new digital ad to promote community health centres
VANCOUVER B.C. – The B.C. Green Party has released a digital ad to promote community health centres, a core component of the Party’s suite of solutions to address the ongoing crises in B.C.’s healthcare system. Community health centres are comprehensive integrated healthcare centres run by family physicians and nurse practitioners, who work in a team-based environment with specialist physicians, physician’s assistants, mental health professionals, and other support services, such as physiotherapists, dieticians, and others, depending on the needs of the local community.
Olsen renews call for regulation of short-term rental market
VICTORIA B.C. – B.C. Green Party MLA Adam Olsen is renewing the party’s call on the government to regulate the short-term rental market as the housing crisis worsens across the province.
With many communities struggling to house local workers, the short-term rental market is getting out of control in British Columbia. A business license is required to host an Airbnb in Vancouver, but there are only 2,964 business licenses registered in the city, compared to 4,929 active Airbnb listings. This suggests that there are thousands of unlicensed short-term rentals in Vancouver and a lack of regulatory enforcement. These short-term units take away housing opportunities for those living in the city long-term, making the housing market even more difficult to navigate.