Rule changes designed to reduce opioid overdose deaths in British Columbia in 2016 inadvertently harmed cancer and palliative-care patients by reducing their access to pain killers, a new study has found. The study published this week in the Canadian Medical Association Journal describes the impact of a practice standard issued by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of B.C. that June, about two months after the province declared a public health emergency over opioid deaths. The rule changes were designed to mitigate prescription drug misuse, including the over-prescribing of opioids among p

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says picking Julie Dabrusin as Canada's environment minister is a bad idea that forecasts renewed federal opposition to her province's wellspring oil and gas industry. ``I am very concerned the Prime Minister (Mark Carney) has appointed what appears to be yet another anti-oil and gas environment minister, ``Not only is she a self-proclaimed architect of the designation of plastics as toxic, but she is a staunch advocate against oilsands expansion, proponent of phasing out oil and gas, and for the last four years, she has served as the right hand to former enviro

The union representing thousands of Alberta government workers has voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action. The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees says members have voted 90 per cent in favour of hitting the picket lines, but says the goal remains to get a deal at the bargaining table. A strike date has not been set, but could happen in the next four months. The union represents roughly 23,000 people working in jobs ranging from law enforcement to social work. The union says it's seeking wage hikes, improved working conditions and job security. Alberta's finance minister did not

Prime Minister Mark Carney has unveiled his 28-member cabinet and it's a mix of familiar and new faces from across Canada.Carney's cabinet is smaller than that of his predecessor — former prime minister Justin Trudeau's government had 35 ministers by the end — and adds 10 secretaries of state, who are essentially junior ministers.Carney continued with the practice of gender parity in cabinet started by Trudeau in 2015.Some mainstays of the Trudeau government are also missing from Carney's cabinet. Some portfolios are new or have been split, and some ministers have changed positions.Some Tr

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's chief of staff is sounding the alarm over Prime Minister Mark Carney's pick to head up the government's environment portfolio. Rob Anderson says when it comes to new Environment and Climate Change Minister Julie Dabrusin, Albertans should ``sit down'' for what he suggests is a shocking announcement. He points to Dabrusin's website, which touts her support for putting a price on carbon pollution, her strong stance against oilsands expansion, and her push for a transition away from fossil fuels. Anderson, in a social media post, says, in his words, ``fire...mee

Alberta Municipal Affairs Minister Ric McIver has resigned from cabinet amid speculation he will run for the vacant position of Speaker of the house. Premier Danielle Smith says she's grateful for McIver's commitment and hard work in serving Albertans. She says Tourism Minister Joseph Schow will take on McIver's portfolio on an interim basis. McIver served as municipal affairs minister under two premiers and had previous experience as transportation minister, infrastructure minister and jobs minister. He was first elected to the legislative assembly in 2012 after more than a de

It will soon be difficult for defendants charged with car theft and human trafficking to get bail in Canada. Prime Minister Mark Carney announced today that his government is going to tighten the Criminal Code to make it difficult for defendants charged with car theft and human trafficking to get bail. Along with this, PM Carney also said that the first meeting of his cabinet will be held tomorrow. He also reiterated that income tax cuts for the middle class will be implemented from Canada Day.

A ban on open fires will take effect in BC’s Kamloops Fire Centre area starting May 16. This means that trash piles, grass or other similar materials cannot be burned in the open. Municipalities follow the BC Wildfire Service’s restrictions but can impose different restrictions based on local conditions. Anyone found violating the open fire ban can be fined $1,150, up to $10,000 depending on the offence. If convicted in court, the fine can be up to $100,000 and a year in prison. If an open fire causes or contributes to a wildfire, the person responsible can be ordered to extinguish the

A patient threatened staff members with a gun at Burnaby Hospital on Friday night, prompting the BC Hospital Employees Union to issue a warning. According to the union, the incident occurred due to a lack of security guards. Although no one was injured during the incident, the safety of the staff has become a matter of concern. The union says that along with the recruitment of doctors and nurses in the province, it is also necessary to recruit security guards. They said that such incidents have occurred in many hospitals in this area, due to which the staff is worried about their safety.