Healthcare

Susan Holt speaks at a podium surrounded by cameras and her cabinet ministers.

NB Premier Holt scraps restrictions on surgical abortions

November 8, 2024 by Johnny James

After just under a week in office, Premier Susan Holt has repealed the article in New Brunswick’s medical services payment act that prohibits coverage for surgical abortions performed outside hospitals.

Holt said it was a move that required no delays, is a negligible cost to the province and will ease minds of those who need the access. Health minister John Dornan added that there are currently women that couldn’t wait any longer for this change.

Listen to hear more about the premier’s first major healthcare announcement.

The interior of a hospital laboratory which contains a large white CT scanner. A technician prepares the scanner for a patient.

New CT Scanner improving healthcare at Haliburton Highlands Health Services

November 7, 2024 by Elizabeth Oakley

In the three months it has been in use, the new CT scanner at Haliburton Highlands Health Services, (HHHS), has already made a real difference to healthcare delivery in Haliburton County.

The scanner was delivered and installed in July — following the closure of the Minden ER, HHHS moved on its plan to acquire a CT scanner for diagnostic testing on the premises.

The scanner has had surprising positive results. Now patients aren’t forced to drive or be transported in an ambulance to Ross Memorial in Lindsay, approximately an hour away. This allows for greater convenience for patients and resources kept within the county.

So far, more than 1,000 patients have been scanned at HHHS and there are plans to add xray and Mammography departments next year.

City to promote more plant-based food options

October 25, 2024 by Christena Lawrie

After declaring ‘October is Plantiful’ in 2023, Kingston’s City Council has now approved a motion led by Sydenham councillor Conny Glenn to prioritize plant-based food options, focusing on health and sustainability.

The motion mandates that plant-based options be included in food purchases and prominently featured at events by the City. It also includes collaboration with community partners on education and awareness campaigns promoting the benefits of a plant-rich diet.

“It’s about showing by example a different way forward in terms of how we eat,” Councillor Glenn explained. “This, I think, is a reasonable motion that is, again, about moving that needle a little closer. All of the things that we’re doing in terms of efforts to promote health and wellbeing, to take pressure off the healthcare system, which is overloaded, all of the initiatives that we’re also working on towards addressing environmental issues and climate change. This is just another piece of that puzzle.”

The motion passed with a vote of 10-3.

A sign with black lettering against a yellow background from Elections NB, stating Vote Here/ Votez Ici, with grass in the foreground and brick pavement and steps in the background.

Newly elected MLA Dr. John Dornan talks about healthcare priorities for NB’s incoming Liberal government

October 24, 2024 by Iona Coe

The riding of Saint John Portland-Simonds has a new MLA with direct experience in health care.

Dr. John Dornan, a doctor within the News Brunswick healthcare system, spoke to CFMH about the most challenging issue facing the incoming government — the current state of healthcare in the province, and potential approaches to begin to deal with this complex and urgent issue.

New Brunswick’s provincial election took place on Monday, provided a mandate for a new Liberal government with the party winning 31 of the 49 seats in the province, with a 48% share of the vote.

Workers in blue scrubs stand over an operating table with fluorescent lights above.

MUHC nurses ‘not very pleased’ with new collective agreement, says union head

October 21, 2024 by Jules Bugiel

Quebec’s largest nursing union finally has a new collective agreement.

After being without an agreement since April 2023, 66.3 percent of voters in the Fédération interprofessionnelle de la santé du Québec (FIQ) approved the proposal of a conciliator in an Oct. 15-17 referendum.

Nurses will see a 17.4 percent salary gain from 2023 to 2027, but will lose their 3.5 percent pandemic premiums. A contentious mobility clause was scrapped, to be replaced by provisions at the local level.

Treasury Board President Sonia Lebel took to X to laud the new agreement, saying it adds much-needed flexibility for Quebecers trying to access healthcare in off-peak hours, and has the potential to bring private-sector staff back into the public sector.

But Jennie Rhee, president of the union local at the McGill University Health Centre, disagrees. She joins CKUT to discuss.

One on one With Conservative candidate Kiel Giddens for PG-Mackenzie riding

October 16, 2024 by Ian Gregg

CFURadio dialled in for a one on one with Kiel Giddens, the BC Conservative Party’s candidate for the Prince George–Mackenzie riding, a riding also contested by James Steidle of the Green party, the NDP’s Shar McCrory, and Rachael Weber running as an independent.

In this conversation, Giddens addressed his advocacy and lobbying for TC Energy off the bat, emphasizing the benefit of large industrial projects in our region as tax payers and drivers of economic growth. He describes a turning-point for our healthcare system, UNDRIP reform, views on disability support, and the difficulties associated with producing a costed platform as an opposition party.

This interview is a part of CFURadio’s ongoing efforts to share perspectives from as many candidates running in the three ridings overlapping Prince George – Lheidli T’enneh as possible.

A woman with brown shoulder length hair, wearing a grey sweater with a watermelon pin stands on the steps of a courthouse. She is reading from a white sheet of paper, and is surrounded by 7-8 people.

Prince George artist launches lawsuit against Northern Health for wrongful dismissal

October 15, 2024 by Ian Gregg

A local artist and former Northern Health Authority employee Amy Blanding announced a lawsuit on October 9 against her former employer, the Northern Health Authority (NHA).

CFURadio provides this story from a press conference on the BC Courthouse steps in Vancouver where Blanding, advocates and supporters gave their reasons for the lawsuit.

In Blanding’s statement she alleges that the NHA removed Ms. Blanding from her position as Director of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Accessibility (IDEA) following a springtime performance which included a song advocating for Palestinian human rights, and subsequent complaint submitted to NHA. Ms. Blanding says she was removed from her IDEA position because she refused to apologize for expressing support for Palestinian human rights in her personal time.

When asked for comment, Northern Health provided the following statement, “Northern Health cannot comment as this is a human resources matter before the courts.”

A woman sits behind a table holding a microphone as she speaks at an all-candidates forum. She wears a black top, black pants, shoulder length brown hair, and looks towards the crowd. In front of her, her notes and a blue water bottle with a skull sticker can be seen. To her left (photo right) a competing candidate is seen. Photo Credit - Ian Gregg

Head to head with NDP Candidate Shar McCrory of the PG-Mackenzie riding

October 15, 2024 by Ian Gregg

The NDP’s Prince George–Mackenzie riding candidate Shar McCrory talks to CFURadio about why she’s invested in the district and what she wants to bring to Northern BC.

The riding is also contested by James Steidle of the Green party, Kiel Giddens of the BC Conservative Party , and Rachel Weber running as an independent.

McCrory says her true strengths lay in meeting, talking, and advocating with people. She wants to bring her skills to Victoria and passionately advocate for her riding. Before getting involved in School District politics, she worked and was laid off from, local resource sector employment, affording her a range of perspective. At the top of her agenda is supporting those affected by inflation, and a stressed healthcare system. She is following up with us on her party’s stance on nuclear energy.

In the meantime, have a listen as CFURadio strives to capture all the candidates running in the Prince George Lheidli T’enneh area.

Two female professors and researchers standing side by side.

“Patients’ Den” brings the thrill of television’s “Dragons’ Den” to healthcare research

October 10, 2024 by Jai Sadler

The Patients’ Den has returned to the Lily Lake Pavilion in Saint John. The patient engagement event went on hiatus during Covid times and returned on October 8.

With the goal of including patients in the process of healthcare research, Patients’ Den brings together a panel of patient partners to hear pitches from healthcare researchers to identify which projects should receive top priority for funding.

Dr. Alison Luke, a Research Associate with the Centre for Research in Integrated Care at UNB Saint John, and Dr. Shelley Doucet, the Centre’s Director and Jarislowsky Chair in Interprofessional Patient-Centred Care, share details of the event and explain its impact.

A man with a coif of reddish hair and light beard smiles at the camera in front of a window. He wears a plaid shirt and clutches a clip board. Photo Credit - Ian Gregg - CFURadio

One on one with James Steidle, PG–Mackenzie’s Green Party candidate

October 9, 2024 by Ian Gregg

During its efforts to share local Provincial Election candidate perspectives, CFURadio had the opportunity for a one on one with James Steidle, the Green Party’s candidate for the Prince George–Mackenzie riding. The riding is also contested by Kiel Giddens of the BC Conservatives, the NDP’s Shar McRory, and Rachel Weber running as an independent.

Beyond advocating for green initiatives that would benefit the climate and environment, Steidle shared with us his views on the changing industrial forestry landscape and makes a case for locally focused economics. Advocating for change, he argues that decades of crony capitalism and poor forestry management have left Northern BC in rough shape.

Following this interview on Wednesday October 2nd, James Steidle was the sole participant at the all candidates forum later that evening.

CFURadio will be offering each candidate the opportunity to have one on ones in the time leading up to the election.

Four men sit on a stage at a table draped with a grey tablecloth.

Saint John Harbour candidates focus on the issues facing voters nearing the provincial election

October 9, 2024 by Iona Coe

With the New Brunswick provincial election fast approaching, most of the candidates for the Saint John Harbour riding gathered on Monday October 7th for a Candidates’ Forum, organized by the Human Development Council.

Present at Saint John’s Kent Theatre were Adam Smith for the Progressive Conservatives; Kenneth Procter for the New Democratic Party; David Hickey for the Liberals; and Mariah Darling for the Green Party. The only candidate missing was Libertarian Party candidate, Shelley Craig.

The topics covered ranged from healthcare to housing, also incorporating poverty and the cost of living. The wide-ranging discussion revealed both the areas of agreement and significant diversity between the platforms of each prospective candidate and party.

The audio was taken from the full video of the forum which can be found on the Human Development Council Facebook page.

The election takes place on Monday October 21. More information can be found at electionsnb.ca.

A woman wearing a blue blazer and white blouse as she addresses a press scrum. Her hair is in a bob-style. Two arms holding microphones reach towards her.

Local MLA encourages public participation as she finishes her term and enters private life

October 3, 2024 by Ian Gregg

Amidst a merger between the BC United Party and the Provincial BC Conservatives, Prince George – Valemount MLA Shirley Bond has announced her intention to retire ahead of the upcoming October 19th BC Provincial election.

Finishing the UHNBC hospital tower project remains a focal point for her as she transitions into private life. Looking at what is next for Bond after just over 20 years in office, a focus on family and being a grandma is front and centre.

She feels empowered enough as a resident of Prince George to continue to hold public officials to account, and encourages others to do the same. Additionally, she said she “would also encourage multi levels of government to work together, and encourage our elected officials in Victoria to actually support good ideas no matter where they come from.”