BCNU In the News

BCNU has been the leading voice in mainstream media during the COVID-19 health pandemic on PPE supply and access, nurses' well-being, public health measures, and much more. We also advocate for seniors' care, the environment, social determinants of health, government policy and other issues that impact health care, nurses, patient care and the public.

Recent media coverage featuring BCNU is highlighted below:

September 22

Lack of Housing Blamed for Below-average Nursing Program Enrolment – CTV News Vancouver Island

September 20

From Waitlist to Vacant Seats in Camosun Nursing Program – Times Colonist
Union of BC Municipalities Proposes Urgent Reforms to Tackle Opioid Crisis – Prince George Citizen

September 13

Staffing Issues Close Maternity Ward at Prince Rupert Regional Hospital – The Northern View
Staffing Shortages Leave Expectant Parents in the Lurch – The Tyee

September 12

BC's Health-care Crisis: First Look at Massive Markups by 'Parasitic' Staffing Industry – CTV News Vancouver

September 9

Surrey Residents Feel ‘Failed by the Healthcare System’ – Surrey Now Leader

September 7

Gregor Craigie Speaks with Adrian Gear, the new President of the BC Nurses' Union – CBC On the Island

September 1

Greater Victoria Will Have Four Empty ORs This Fall, Surgeries Postponed for 160 People – CHEK News
New President of BC Nurses’ Union Starts Duties – Vernon Matters

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August 31

BC Marks Overdose Awareness Day as Toxic Drug Supply Continues to Kill – CityNews

August 18

Vaughn Palmer: Advice to Understaffed BC ER — Call 911 – Prince George Post

August 17

‘Bizarre to me That They Would be Saying for an ER to be Calling 911’: BC Nurses' Union – The Interior News
Leaked Memo Outlines Plan to Keep Smithers ER Open With Nurses Calling 9-1-1 – CBC Daybreak North (Listen at 35:26)
Unsupervised Nurses Faced With an Emergency Told to Call 911 – CFAX 1070 (Listen at 4:54)

August 16

'It’s Lunacy': BC Nurses Told to Call 911 When No ER Doctors on Shift – CTV News

August 11

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July 21

BC Government Slow to Dole out Back Pay, Including for Forest Firefighters – CHEK News

July 20

BC Nurses, Wildland Firefighters Owed Thousands Due to Payment Backlogs: Union – Global News

July 18

CNC, UNBC Vying for Students to Address Nursing Shortages – Prince George Citizen
Inside Victoria’s Escalating Hospital Staffing Crisis – The Tyee

July 17

BC Government Expands Program for Mental Health Calls, but Nurses Union Worries About Staffing – Global News

July 10

Nurses Rally at Victoria General Hospital, Calling for Workload Relief – Times Colonist
Green Party Leader Elizabeth May Hospitalized for Fatigue and Stress, Husband Says – CFAX

July 9

‘Morally distressed’: B.C. Nurses Hold Rally Outside Victoria General Hospital – Global News
Nurses Rally Outside of Victoria General Hospital Over Staffing Concerns – CHEK News
'Morally Distressed': Nurses Rally Outside Victoria General Hospital Over Staffing Shortages – CTV News

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June 26

Island Health Nurses Face Months-long Wait for Thousands Owed in Retroactive Pay – CBC News

June 24

Why ERs are Under Intense Pressure Across Canada — And How to Help Fix Them – CBC News

June 14

Health Workers Doubt BC’s New Whistleblower Protections – The Tyee

June 11

Health Minister’s Hospital-Circuit ‘Vacation’ Signals Spending Spree – Northern Beat

June 7

Health Minister Announces Expansion of Services at Beleaguered Surrey Memorial Hospital – CBC

June 6

'Someone is Going to Die,' Prince George Nurses' Union Head Warns – Prince George Citizen

June 4

Pandemic-related Surgery Backlog Virtually Cleared: Health Minister Adrian Dix – My Bulkley Lakes Now

June 3

Pandemic-Related Surgery Backlog Virtually Cleared: Health Minister Adrian Dix – MY PG Now
Grand Forks Pride Day Grows Bigger With More Support From Community – Partners Grand Forks Gazette

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May 31

Emergency Operations Centre Activated at Surrey Memorial Hospital – CTV News
BC Nurses Calling on the Government to Address Staffing Shortage – CBC On the Coast
BC Nurses Rally in Vancouver, Call on Government to Address 'Untenable' Conditions – City News
Hundreds of BC Nurses March in Vancouver Amid Staffing Crisis – Global News
PHOTOS: Protest Highlights BC’s ‘Dire’ Nurse Staffing Shortage – Kelowna Capital News
'We Believe Patients Deserve Better': BC Nurses Rally in Vancouver to Demand Better Working Conditions – CTV News

May 30

Health Minister Dix will “Almost Certainly” Come North to Personally Assess UHNBC this Summer – PF Now
Care Homes Say Agencies Lure Away Nurses With Higher Pay – Times Colonist

May 25

BC Nurses’ Union Demands Action During Latest Rally – CKPG TV
“Our Entire Region is in Crisis:” Nurses Demand Action at Rally in Prince George – My Cariboo Now
Nurses Warn of 'Breaking Point' at Prince George Hospital, the Largest in Northern BC – CBC

May 15

Teen, Dad Hurt After Surrey Hospital Stabbing – CityNews
The Jill Bennett Show Speaks to BCNU President About Increased Security in Health-care Settings – CKNW (Listen at 18:03)
Father and Son Stabbed in Random, Unprovoked Assault at Surrey Memorial Hospital – Global News

May 10

Al Ferraby Speaks to BCNU President Aman Grewal About National Nursing Week – CFAX Radio

May 9

Patients’ Healthy Futures Depend on the Care That Nurses Provide – Nanaimo News Bulletin

May 8

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April 28

BC Nurses Ratify New Three-year Collective Agreement – CHEK News
BC Nurses Reach 'First-in-Canada' Deal With Province – City News
BC Nurses Ratify New Three-year Collective Agreement – CTV Vancouver
Increased Wages, Workplace Reforms Part of Ratified Agreement With BC Nurses' Union – Kelowna Now

April 27

BC Nurses' Union Ratify New Contract by 61 Percent – Vancouver Sun
BC Nurses Ratify New Deal With More Than 13% in Wage Increases Over 3 years – Global BC
Nurses Ratify Collective Agreement With BC Government – My PG Now

April 10

Supreme Court of Canada Refuses BC Surgeon's Private Health-care Challenge – Western Standard
“We’ve Been Asking for This for 25 Years,” BC Nurses Union CEO on New Patient-nurse Ratios – My PG Now

April 7

Ontario Nurses Eye BC's Plan to Cap Nurse-to-patient Ratio, Ease Workload - The Canadian Press

April 5

BC Nurses Contract Aims to Recruit, Retain and Increase Nurse-to-patient Ratio – CityNews
BC to Become 1st Province to Adopt Nurse-to-patient Ratio – CBC News
BC to Become First Province in Canada to Mandate Nurse-to-patient Ratios – CTV News
BC to Become First Province to Set Patient Ratios for Nurses – Vancouver Sun
BC to Roll Out Minimum Nurse-patient Ratios in Deal Union ‘Has Waited Years For’ – CHEK News
New BCNU Deal Includes Mandate on How Many Patients a Nurse Can Care For – CFAX 1070
Province Announces New Staffing Model for Nurses Across BC – CKPG Today

April 4

BC to Get Patient-to-nurse Ratios, a First in Canada – Global News

April 1

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March 31

March 19

Cost of Travel Nurses in Sask. Justified Due to Threat of Service Disruptions: Province – CTV News

March 14

North Island Health-care Crisis Gets Shot in the Arm as 4 Nurses Hired, but Port Hardy ER Closures Remain – CHEK News

March 11

Longer Surgery Waits, Overflowing Hospital Beds in North – Northern Beat

March 10

Patient Charged with Manslaughter After Another Patient Dies in Prince Rupert Hospital – The Province

March 5

Recruiting More Male Nurses Would Help Ease Shortfalls, But Stigma Persists – Times Colonist

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February 28

Budget Includes $6.4B in New Funding for Health-care and Training in BC – CTV News
Health Budget Includes Free Contraception, $1-Billion Boost for Mental Health and Addictions – Times Colonist
Son Whose Father Died After Long Wait to See Oncologist Hopes to See More Health Funding – Times Colonist

February 27

BC Budget Lookahead: Housing, Health-care, and Affordability – CityNews Vancouver

February 23

Greater Victoria's Unaffordable Housing Market is Forcing People into Extreme Situations – CBC News

February 21

BC Budget 2023: Advocates, Business Owners Outline Their Budget Wish Lists – Vancouver Sun

February 16

Eagle Ridge Hospital: A Case Study in BC's Health-care Crisis – CTV News
Another Day, Another Rally in Support of Hospital Workers – CBC Radio
Nurses Rally in Port Moody For Better Working Conditions, Safe Patient Care - Indo Canadian Voice

February 8

BC Nurses' Union Suggests Federal Health-care Funding Offer a Positive Step – Radio NL

February 7

BC Health Workers Face Record Levels of Violence – Asian Pacific Post

February 1

New Federal Recommendations on Long-term Care Standards Has BC Nurses' Union Asking for Clarification – Global News

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January 31

BC Health-care Workers at 'Breaking Point' Seeking Mental Help in Growing Numbers – CTV News Vancouver
Daphne Bramham: BC Health Professions Bill Hands New Weapon to David Eby Haters Seeking His Recall – Vancouver Sun
Health Workers Are Facing Record Levels of Violence – The Tyee
Patient Dies After Suffering Injury in Incident at Hospital: Northern Health – The Province

January 27

North Vancouver Island Hospitals Close Overnight Indefinitely – Capital Daily Victoria

January 24

Some Rural BC Mayors Call for End to Vaccine Mandates to Get More Nurses Working – Vancouver Sun

January 22

Despite Staffing Crisis, Nurses Face Roadblocks in Upgrading, Returning From Retirement – Times Colonist

January 20

January 19

'Insult to Injury': BC Nurses' Union Calls Out Professional College Over Fee Increase – CTV News

January 18

Threats, Discipline, Fear: The Muzzling of BC Health-care Workers – CTV News
Spotlight on Travel Nurses on Vancouver Island – CTV Vancouver Island

January 17

Nurse Vacancy Rate Down, Short Staffing Challenges Continue at RIH – CFJC News
Leaked Employee Survey Shows Issues With Senior Leadership at Island Health – CHEK News

January 16

The Need for Protective Service Officers in Our System – Mike Smyth Show (Interview Begins at 00:20)
Vernon Hospital Attack – CBC Daybreak South (Interview Begins at 1:08:35)
Inside a Vernon, BC Care Centre’s Struggle With a ‘Critical’ Nursing Shortage – Global News

January 12

Daphne Bramham: Canada's Response to Nursing Shortage Lacks Urgency and Co-ordination – Vancouver Sun

January 11

BC Cuts Costs to Bring International, Retired Nurses Into Fray – Kamloops This Week
Only 4 of 334 'Protection Officers' Have Been Hired for BC Hospitals – CTV News

January 10

Advocates Question Whether BC's Supports for Nurses Go Far Enough – CBC
BC Offers Support for Internationally Educated Nurses – CTV Morning Live
BC Takes Steps to Bolster Nursing Workforce – Global News

January 9

BC Announces Incentives to Get More Nurses Working – Times Colonist
BC Government Announces More Support for Nurses – CKNW (Interview Begins at 20:45)
BC Government Covering Costs for Internationally Educated Nurses to Deal With Staffing Shortage – Global News
BC Plans to Streamline Licensing for Internationally Trained Nurses – CBC
BC Removes Financial Barriers in Attempts to Recruit More Nurses – CTV News
BC Will Help Pay for Former and International Nurses to Relieve Staffing Shortage, Burnout – CHEK News
BC Will Pay Fees, Fund Schooling Upgrades to Get More Nurses in Health-Care System – CFAX 1070

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December 19

The Growing Toll of Job Injuries You Can’t See – The Tyee

December 12

Health Workers Attacked. Investigations Bungled. Will This Spur Change? – The Tyee

December 10

Nursing Crisis at Lady Minto Hospital – The Times Colonist

December 8

Northern Health Fined for Long-term Care Safety Investigation Violations – CityNews

December 7

BC Health Authority Fined $355K for Insufficient Response to Care Home Violence – CTV News
Northern Health Fined for Work Safety Investigation Violations – Coast Reporter

December 6

Protecting Nurses - WorkSafe issues NHA fine – CKNW Simi Sara Show (Listen at 28:37-36:55)
Northern Health fined $355K for Failing to Adequately Complete Workplace Safety Investigations – CBC
Health-Care Workers Are Facing an Epidemic of Violence – The Tyee
Northern Health Fined Over $350,000 – CKPG TV
Northern Health Slapped With $355,000 Fine After Failing to Complete Safety Investigations – My Cariboo News

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November 25

BC Flush With $5 Billion in Extra Cash, Officials Say in Quarterly Update – CTV Vancouver
Nurses' Concerns at RIH: MLAs Have Heard Similar Sentiments – Kamloops This Week

November 24

Health Officials Brace For Surge in Hospital Visits Due to Flu, COVID, RSV – CHEK News
Nurses Rally in Nanaimo to Demand Action With Health-care System ‘In a State of Crisis’ – Nanaimo News Bulletin
VIDEO: ‘It’s Just Not Sustainable, They’re Exhausted:’ Nurses Rally at Nanaimo Hospital For More Resources – Nanaimo News Now

November 22

BC Nurses' Union Calling For Action From Province With New Ad Campaign – Radio NL

November 17

Canada's Health-care System Has A Data Problem, Experts Say. And It Puts Patients At Risk –CBC News
Violence at Vancouver General Hospital Highlights Need for Security Improvements – Global News

November 9

Nurses Meet With Health Care Ministers - CFAX 1070
Port Hardy Hospital’s Emergency Department Closed Temporarily, Island Health Says – Global News

November 8

‘They’re Burnt Out’: Nurse Shortage a Challenge for Port Hardy Hospital – CHEK News
“We Need Investment Into Health Care Now,”: BC Nurses' Union President – My Cariboo Now

November 7

Ottawa Hints at Cash Injection for Beleaguered Health-care System – CTV News

November 6

Ottawa and Provincial Health Ministers Urged by Nurse Union Head to Stop ‘Squabbling’ as They Sit Down for First Meeting Since 2018 – Globe and Mail

November 4

BC Nurses Hold Rally in Downtown Vancouver – Global News

November 3

Interior Health Responds to Growing Safety Concerns at Penticton, BC Regional Hospital – Global News

November 2

Doctor Travels to Port Hardy to Keep ER Open, Department Closes Anyway Due to Lack of Nurses – CHEK News

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October 24

With Violence in Health Care Rising, BC Announces New Protection Service Staff for High-risk Facilities – CBC News
Nurses Being Punched, Grabbed, Kicked to Benefit from Anti-violence Program: Union – CHEK News
The BC Government Announced Funding to Help Keep Health-care Workplaces Safer – Global News
'Punched, Kicked, Sexually Harassed': BC to Hire 320 Security Guards to Address Hospital Violence – City News
Health Minister Unveils Violence Reduction Plan for Hospitals – Canadian Press
BC to Hire 320 Protection Services Officers for Healthcare Settings – Prince George Now
Royal Inland Hospital Among 26 Facilities to Get Beefed-up Security – Kamloops This Week

October 19

Vancouver Health-care Workers Question Ken Sim's Plan to Hire More Nurses – City News

October 18

BC's Population Surge Adds to Health-care Stress – Richmond News

October 13

NDP Leadership Hopeful Anjali Appadurai Promises 25% Raise for Nurses – Global News
BC NDP Leadership Race: Anjali Appadurai Pomises 25-per-cent Pay Raise for Nurses – Vancouver Sun
BC Nurses Rally Outside VCH as Hospital Employee's Union Ratifies New Agreement – CityNews

October 5

BC Nurses Hold Protest in Vancouver on Health-care Crisis – Vancouver is Awesome
BC Nurses March in Downtown Vancouver Amid Health-care Pressures – City News
BC Nurses’ Union Hold Demonstration in Downtown Vancouver, Wednesday – Global News
Hundreds of Frustrated Nurses March Through Downtown Vancouver (PHOTOS/VIDEOS) – Daily Hive
Nurses Rally in Vancouver to Sound Alarm Over System in Crisis – Global News at Noon
Nurses Rally to Highlight 'Crisis' in BC Health-care System – CTV News

October 3

BC Nurses Left Out of Provincial Health-care Changes – Global News

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September 30

BC to Train More Doctors, Expand Pharmacists’ Ability to Provide Primary Care Under New Health Plan - Globe and Mail

September 28

BC Could Move 1,800 Patients Out of Hospital to Free Up Beds for COVID, Flu - Global News

September 21

BCNU Members Tour Northern BC; Rally Friday in Prince George - Prince George Daily News
BC Nurses’ Union Sounds Warning: ‘System is on the Brink of Collapse’ - Castanet
Nursing Shortage a Hot Topic During CBC Townhall Tuesday Night - CBC The Early Edition

September 20

BC Health Care ‘on the Brink of Collapse’: BC Nurses’ Union Demanding Action From the Government to Fix Ailing System – Alaska Highway News
BC Nurses’ Union Travelling to Meet With Northern Nurses This Week – My PG Now

September 9

Port McNeill Emergency Room Faces Weekend Closure Due to Staff Shortage – CHEK News

September 7

Canadians Less Satisfied With Their Access to Health Care Than Americans: Poll – CHEK News

September 2

BC Nurses Are Burnt Out. BC’s Health Care System Could See More Shortages and Emergency Room Closures. – Press Progress

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August 25

August 23

BC Nurses Continue to Face Burnout – CFAX 1070
Time to Start Seeing More of BC's 'Top Nurse?' New Federal Chief Spurs Discussion – CTV News
Will Appointing a New Chief Nursing Officer Help British Columbia's Nurse Shortage? - CKNW (Listen at 9:56)

August 19

Closures of 2 ERs in BC's Southern Interior Putting Pressure on Region's Biggest Hospital – CTV News

August 18

Pressure Mounts on BC Government as Public Sector Strike Drags On – Global News
BC Nurses Sound Alarm, Working up to 133% Overcapacity at Kootenay Hospital – Global News
BC Nurses' Union Tours East Kootenay to Hear Feedback on Staffing Concerns, Challenges – The Cranbrook Townsman
BC Nurses’ Union Discussing Staffing Shortages With Members – Castanet

August 15

BC Liberals Push 30-day Action Plan for Doctor Shortage – Glacier Media

August 10

Nurses’ Union to Hold Rally at Campbell River Hospital Over North Island Closures – CHEK News
BC Nurses’ Union Speaks Out About Kamloops Incident – CBC Radio
Nursing Shortage Plaguing North Island Communities – My Comox Now
Nurses Rally for Change in Campbell River – Campbell River Mirror

August 9

BC Nurses’ Union on Severe Shortage of Nurses and Difficult Working Conditions – CBC Early Edition
BCNU VP Adriane Gear speaks to Mike Smyth about the tremendous pressure on the health care system – CKNW (Listen at 25:49)

August 8

August 6

‘Situation is Dire’ BC Nurse Staffing Shortage Reaching Crisis Level, Union Says – CityNews
BC’s Unemployment Rate Remains Little Changed, But Faces Headwinds – Vancouver Sun

August 5

BCNU VP Adriane Gear Speaks to As It Happens Guest Host Paul Hunter About the Nurse Shortage in BC Hospitals – CBC Radio (Listen at 27:50)
'Extremely Dire': Nurse Union VP Says Staffing in BC Hospitals is Worst She's Ever Seen – CTV News
Alert Bay Residents Worried as Overnight ER Services Shut Down for Two Weeks – National Observer

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July 27

Bond Calls for Audit on Urgent and Primary Care Centres – CKPG TV

July 26

'Devastated' Nurses Point to Short-staffing in Patient's Death in Lions Gate Hospital ER – North Shore News
Lions Gate Patient Died in ER Got Significant Care': BC Health Minister – Vancouver Sun

July 22

'It's a Disaster:' Deaths of Women in North Van, Ashcroft Blamed on ER Staff Shortages – Vancouver Sun
BC Doctors Ask for Help, Support Amid Growing Health-care Crisis – City News
Patient Dies After Being Stuck in Hospital Waiting Room for Two Days – The Jill Bennett Show (BCNU VP’s interview starts at 17:49)

July 20

Primary Health Care ‘Collapsing’ in Rural BC Cities, Critics say – National Observer

July 19

More Weekend ER Closures Put Pressure on Health-Minister for Long-term Fix – Vancouver Sun
‘We are Getting Ourselves Set up for the Future’ RIH Surgeon Excited About New ORs. – CFJC TV

July 15

Court Rejects Private Care; Clinic Operator Says Solutions Must be Found to Long Waits – Times Colonist
A BC Doctor Fighting for the Right of Private Health Care has Lost his Legal Challenge in a BC Courtroom – CHEK News (begins at 12:09)
BCNU Pushing for More Nursing Students, TRU says Not enough Clinical Space at RIH – CFJC TV

July 14

Staffing Shortage in BC Emergency Rooms Piles Pressure on Those Left to Pick Up the Slack – The Globe and Mail
BCNU President Worries About Decreasing Staff at New Patient Tower – CFJC TV

July 12

Let's Talk About Staffing Shortages – Working Short The Nursing Podcast
BC Nurses Need Help Facing Burnout – CFAX 1070
BC Nurses Add Their Voices to Calls for More Federal Health-care Funding – Global News
Staff Shortages Driving BC Nurses to the Breaking Point – CKPG TV
Protesters Demand Better Health Care – CTV News (story runs from 9:45 - 12:16)
BC Nurses' Union President Aman Grewal to Canada's Premiers: Action is Needed Now – Indo Canadian Voice

July 11

Premiers Unite to Demand More Health-care Dollars From Ottawa – Vancouver Sun
Premiers Pressure Federal Government to Carry Half the Health-care Load: Horgan – CHEK News
BC Nurses Union President Calling on Premiers to Address Overrun Health-Care System – My Bulkley Lakes Now

July 6

Burnt-out Canadian Nurses Are Leaving to Find Better Opportunities – Jill Bennett Show with Guest Host Bruce Claggett on 980 CKNW
(Listen to President Aman Grewal’s Interview From 16:46 to 28:20)

July 4