Monday, March 18, 2024

Victoria Viewpoints: Saturday-Monday, March 16-18,2 024




Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Provincial scene for  Saturday-Monday, March 16-18, 2024



Globe and Mail 




CBC





Vancouver Sun 





Victoria Times-Colonist                              




Victoria News



       
Global          




        






                                                
CHEK TV     

Ottawa Observations: Saturday-Monday, March 16-18, 2024


Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Federal scene for Saturday-Monday, March 16-18, 2024





Hamas/Israel/Gaza 








CBC



Toronto/Vancouver Star








Global 








Miscellaneous            





Repeat and Rinse in Prince Rupert ... Northern Health issues another Emergency Room closure advisory for midnight tonight



Spring break seems to be creating havoc for Northern Health's Prince Rupert hospital physician staffing; with the third consecutive night for Emergency Room Closures set to take place later tonight for the Prince Rupert Regional Hospital.

The Northern Heath advisory was issued just after 6 PM through their Social Media stream noting of a closure as of midnight until 8AM Tuesday morning

As it has been in the past incidents of such closures,  challenges with physician coverage is the reason stated.


As it was this past weekend, the guiding advice for those facing serious health concerns is as follows:

If you have an emergency: People in Prince Rupert and area who need life-threatening emergency care (i.e. chest pains, difficulty breathing, or severe bleeding) should call 9-1-1 for transport to the nearest available and appropriate facility.

That nearest facility is Mills Memorial Hospital in Terrace.

You can review the background to the four closures this month from our archive page.

Third Prince Rupert Hospital ER Closure in less than ten days, will raise concerns of a new normal for residents of the North Coast


Three Emergency Room closures since March 9th, two of them in less than 24 hours this past Saturday and Sunday continue to make for some shockwaves for residents concerned for the state of Health Care in Prince Rupert.

As we've noted over the course of those ten days,  last night, on Saturday and a week ago, the closure of the Emergency Room at PRRH was required as a result of an inability to secure physician services.

March 17 -- Sunday interruption added to weekend Closure issued for Emergency Room Service in  Rupert

March 16 --  Another Emergency Room Closure for Prince Rupert, as lack of physician coverage issue rises again  

March 9 -- Prince Rupert Regional Hospital Emergency Department unavailable to residents Overnight to 8AM Saturday

Patients with health concerns were being directed to either virtual health options or to call 911 for serious health issues and a possible transit to Terrace two hours to the east of the city.

Northern Health used it's social media stream to share word of the closures, with two of three of the ER closures also shared by the City of Prince Rupert.

Prior to the twin closures of this weekend, Northern Health appeared to be preparing the community for more of those situations, with a social media relay of information focused on what Service Interruptions are about.


With the increased frequency of the closures for the Prince Rupert Emergency Room, still to be heard from is comment from the BC Ambulance service, providing some background on how the potential increase of transits to the Terrace facility may impact on local service in the community.

It wasn't that long ago that the local Ambulance station was facing short staffing and other issues that had raised concerns of City Council.   

What measures may be in place to bolster Ambulance service with this additional burden now in place,  should be one of a number areas of note that Northern Health should include as part of a review for the public. With the Heath Authority also advising as to what steps they are taking to address what is a very concerning situation when it comes to Health care for the community.

As Prince Rupert residents were weighing their options as to whether their health issues of the weekend required a late night trip to Mills Memorial Hospital in Terrace. 

In perhaps the worst timing possible for a release of a promotional video for the new Terrace hospital ... Stikine MLA Nathan Cullen, North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice and Terrace Mayor Sean Bujtas posted a Video to X-Twitter on Saturday.  

The trio having just taken a tour of the new facility earlier in the day; clearly quite impressed at the state of the art medical care set to come  to the Terrace area by year's end.

For Ms. Rice, the first focus was on the modern facility that will be opened to the public in Terrace.

"It's incredible, it's so modern, I don't think a lot of us in the Northwest are used to this calibre of modernization.

Ms. Rice also had some notes to direct to Prince Rupert residents towards the new status of the Terrace facility as a Trauma centre.

"But I think it's really important just for the folks back home in Prince Rupert that are feeling a bit jealous.

 But I think it's really important to know that this is going to be a trauma centre, so when your loved one gets shipped out, you're only two hours away or an hour and half away.

So instead of them going to Vancouver like we've been doing for years and years out of Prince Rupert, you'll be able to drive here or find a ride here and be there to comfort your loved one.

So this is a really important hospital for the entire Northwest"

All valid points for regional health care, but at the moment, that's likely not the number one discussion point that Ms. Rice's constituents might have for their MLA, who is also the Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Health.

You can review their thoughts on the new Terrace facility here.

More background related to Health Care in the Northwest can be explored here.

Cross posted from the North Coast Review.

With 167,000 dollars in support, Province of BC takes a few seats at the Lester Centre


The Lester Centre of the Arts has an additional 167,000 dollars to put to use this week, that following last Friday's announcement that the Province of BC is taking a seat, more than a few actually, at the city's Arts and Culture Centre.

As part of the BC Arts Council's, 'Arts infrastructure Program' the funding will be used towards the acquisition of new theatre seats through the Lester Centre's "Please Be Seated' Project.

Crystal Lorette, President of the Prince Rupert Performing Arts Centre Society expressed her appreciation for the funding as part of the Friday announcement.

“We’re over-joyed with this funding from the provincial government, which will help us with this important renovation project. We’re grateful that the province has recognized the importance of arts and culture organizations to the communities they serve.”

The importance of the Lester Centre to the region was the focus for North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice how noted of the benefit it brings the community.

“The Lester Centre’s successful outreach to the ‘Arts Infrastructure Program’ is contributing a great benefit to Prince Rupert.The theatre is an incredible asset, and this support means continuing maintenance to make sure we have a beautiful place to gather, attract entertaining shows, and make memories. I look forward to settling into a new seat and appreciating a show with my family once the project is complete.”

The provincial funding from Friday, is in addition to federal government funding of $85,000 last year for the project through its Canada Cultural Spaces Fund. 

Locally, residents and supporters of the Lester Centre have made donations of over $35,000 as part of the Please Be Seated campaign.


The volume of support for the initiative was hailed by Lester Centre General Manager Chris Armstrong.

“This tremendous support brings our project one step closer to reality,. The Province, like the federal government and local donors, has shown that they understand how facilities like ours provide a sense of connectedness for the community through live entertainment. And with this funding, we will ensure that happens for many more years into the future.”


More background on the Please Be Seated program can be explored here.

A wider overview of Arts in the Northwest is available from our archive page.

 

Saturday, March 16, 2024

Another Emergency Room Closure for Prince Rupert, as lack of physician coverage issue arises again


For the second weekend in a row, residents of Prince Rupert have been put on notice about a  closure for the Prince Rupert Regional Hospital Emergency Department, this latest one, effective at midnight Saturday to 8 AM Sunday.


The advisory was relayed late Saturday afternoon through the Northern Health social media stream.

As it was one week ago, an inability to arrange for physician coverage is the reason for the eight hour closure.

Much as the situation of last Friday, the most important piece of advice for residents is that of the alternative options for the closure period, for those who may be facing life threatening situations.

"If you have an emergency: People in Prince Rupert and area who need life-threatening emergency care (i.e. chest pains, difficulty breathing, or severe bleeding) should call 9-1-1 for transport to the nearest available and appropriate facility. 

Any time services are interrupted, our partners in patient transfer and local health services are notified and signage will be in place at the hospital informing patients to call 9-1-1 for transport."


More notes related to Health Care in the Northwest can be reviewed from our archive page.

MLA's Week: March 11-14, 2024



This was getaway week for MLA's, the four days of Legislature work moving forward a number of initiatives and bills prior to their two week Spring break just ahead.

The Three Northwest MLA's had a few opportunities to speak on themes of note the list including the sporting success of local teams to Health Care and work on current Legislation.

At week's end, the BC Government also reprised some news from the Budget of February.   
With Premier Eby and a government contingent including Minster Nathan Cullen and MLA Rice all went to Terrace to formally declare success for the North West BC Resource Benefit Alliance.

Their statement and comments reviewing much of the talking points of February, though the actual distribution formula for each of the 21 participating communities has yet to be released.

The official announcement from Friday can be reviewed here.

As for more on the work from the House, the sessions of the week  unfolded for the three regional MLA's as follows:

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On the week, Ms Rice was mentioned three times  in the record  for the week in the  Legislature from March 11-14.

Her first notes coming on Monday morning when she spoke of the Government's program on recruiting and retention of health professionals, as well as to comment on the current health care situation in Prince Rupert.


Tuesday Afternoon the MLA began a string of commentaries related to Bill 8 the Athlii Gwaii Legacy Trust Winding up act


That Bill move quickly through the legislature, with Ms. Rice noting on Social media that it gained Royal Assent on Thursday.

Wednesday, Ms Rice offered up a salute to the Boys Basketball team from Haida Gwaii which finished second in the 1A provincial championships. 


Ms. Rice currently serves as the Government's Parliamentary Secretary for Rural health.



The North Coast MLA also addressed a range of themes and relayed  a number of government announcements through her Social Media Stream.

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For our readers from the Terrace-Kitimat region, Skeena MLA Ellis Ross  was  mentioned three times in the record  for the week in the Legislature from March 11-14, 2024.

Thursday, the Skeena MLA provided for some introductions of a visitor in the gallery to the Legislature (see video at 10:06)

As the North Coast MLA had, Mr. Ross had a sports update for the Legislature as well, noting on Thursday of the travels ahead for three Terrace minor hockey teams. 


He also participated in the Debate on Bill 5 related to the Child Family and Community Service Amendment Act (see that discussion at the 16:07 mark)

Mr. Ross serves as the BC United critic on LNG and Energy

Committee Membership for MLA Ross for the Spring Session at the legislature has yet to be detailed:

The Skeena MLA also addressed a range of themes  featured as part of the MLA's social media work.


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For our readers from the Bulkley Valley area, Stikine MLA Nathan Cullen  was  mentioned  twice  in the record for the week in the  Legislature from March 11-14, 2024.

This was a busy week for the Minister, with the latest Land use measure gaining some progress, though as we noted the legislation on changes to Dock management on the coast, which was proposed last week is facing some push back from dock users 



Tuesday Morning, the Minister participated in Question Period speaking to issues of Conservation financing in the province (10:43 AM)

On Thursday afternoon Mr. Cullen introduced Bill 9 the Miscellaneous Statutes Act (see video at 13:48)

Committee Membership for MLA Cullen for the Spring Session at the legislature has yet to be detailed:

Mr. Cullen serves as the Government's Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship.

The Stikine MLA also had comments on a range of themes through his Social Media stream this week

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There is more background on all three Regional MLA's available from our  MLA's Week Archive, as well as our constituency archives below.





Members now head out on their own Spring Break, with a return to the legislature set for Tuesday, April 2nd.


A larger overview of provincial issues can be found on our  Political Portal D'Arcy McGee.