Changes to be proposed in regulations for health professions

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COVID-19 Update

There are 68 new cases of COVID-19 in BC today, including three in the Island health region. The case count in our region has been on a slow but steady climb this month. There were eleven new cases confirmed in Island Health over the past week. The total number of active cases on Vancouver Island stands at twenty. Province-wide the active case count is 906.

Changes to be proposed in regulations for health professions

The minister of health will present a plan to cabinet that will change the way health professionals are regulated in B.C. Adrian Dix says the plan has been more than two years in the making and included extensive consultations with the public and with members of groups like B.C.'s college of physicians and surgeons.

The plan recommends merging 22 existing regulatory bodies and just six to improve efficiency. A new arms-length group would be created that would oversee the colleges and decide disciplinary action complaints and investigations would be made public. Dix says the changes mean more transparency and accountability.

"I think one of the frustrations in this process for many people and even in the professions is, uh, a lack of trans, a certain lack of transparency up to now. I think this makes the process of uh discipline more just when the disciplinary actions more transparent. And I think we're making the health professional colleges more efficient and ensuring that they have the resources to do the job they need to do, uh, to regulate health professions."

If cabinet approves the plan, the minister will introduce amendments to the Health Professions Act.

Unite Here 40 hunger strike

A hunger strike by laid off hotel workers has moved from the Legislature to the Ministry of Tourism. The hunger strike began last month in an effort to pressure the minister of labour to extend the recall rights of hospitality workers who were laid-off because of COVID-19. A spokesperson for Unite Here 40, says the protest has moved in front of Lisa Beare's office in Maple Ridge. Stephanie Fung says, workers want the minister to join their fight.

"The government needs to listen to us and we'll be here, um, outside your office for as long as it takes for the government to, um, put workers first."

B.C.'s minister of labour has commissioned a report into the issue, but Harry Bains has yet to decide whether to extend the workers, recall rights for two more years.

Man Jumps from Coastal Inspiration Ferry

BC Ferries is running behind schedule today because a man jumped overboard on the Duke Point-Tsawwassen run this morning. BC Ferries says the man jumped from deck seven on The Coastal Inspiration. He was rescued by another vessel that was on the scene. The unnamed man's condition is not known. Ferry spokesperson Deborah Marshall says both The Coastal Inspiration and The Queen of Alberni were diverted to assist in the rescue, which is why they are both running late now.