Category Archives: BC Politics

B.C. Liberals Turn Their Backs On Our Most Vulnerable Children

BC Politics, Vancouver

CHILDEXPLOITATION




Safe houses for 13 to 15 year old homeless, runaway children — who were disproportionately aboriginal — didn’t always have a 100 percent occupancy rate. So, for an uncaring B.C. Liberal government more interested in saving money than saving lives, they were an easy target.
The houses were closed last month.
The Underage Youth Safe House Project, initially funded by the previous New Democratic government, was a voluntary short-term programme for street involved, sexually exploited Vancouver youth. Over the three years the programme existed, the safe house project provided safe haven for hundreds of at-risk children, offering constructive alternatives to these children in crisis, in non-judgmental surroundings.
Most of the traumatized youth who arrived at the doors of the safe houses were in a state of crisis, resulting from years of exposure to abuse, exploitation, poverty, alcohol and drug abuse, and disease. The majority of these early teens were also dealing with feelings of suicidal ideation.
Most of the hundreds of kids who passed through the safe houses — the vast majority of whom were re-united with their families or returned to their foster families or group homes — were also struggling with serious emotional issues related to family member loss, abuse histories, and untreated psychiatric issues. The majority also had access to both soft and hard drugs and were at severe risk of becoming drug dependent.
Even as former residents spoke out against the cuts, the government stood fast on their plans to close the houses. In a recent Vancouver Courier column, Allen Garr wrote about the impact of the closures.

The Work Less Party of B.C. — Alarm Clocks Kill Dreams

BC Politics

NOHEART

The Work Less Party of British Columbia was founded because modern Western culture’s work ethic — the idea that the worth of a human being depends on the work that he or she does — no longer serves our society well.
With vast increases in productivity over the past centuries, the Work Less Party believes that we no longer require every single person’s efforts to be directed towards our survival. And yet, the party says, it does not question the work ethic that drives many of us to work long hours at jobs that we don’t like, that provides us with little personal and professional satisfaction, that harms our health, that takes our precious time in exchange for mere consumer goods, that drives the economic engines of over consumption, and that ultimately leaves our planet barren.
The Work Less Party stands for the idea that a human being’s worth is inherent and not dependent on a job. The party believes that working less can, indeed, lead to making a positive contribution to society.
And working less, as if you didn’t already know this, is definitely a more way fun way to live your life!

Full-Scale Health Care Strike Begins in British Columbia

BC Politics

HEALTHCARESTRIKE

Ten unions representing 43,000 B.C. hospital and long-term care workers began job action on Sunday with a ban on overtime, escalating to a full strike on Monday. The 10 unions represent X-ray and ECG technicians, biomedical engineers, trades, housekeepers, dietary staff, lab assistants, orderlies, licensed practical nurses, unit coordinators, clerical staff like medical transcriptionists and booking clerks, and group home workers.
The escalating job action comes as health employers continue to privatize health functions after unions refused deep concession demands. Health employers and the B.C. Liberal government continue in their refusal to put layoffs on hold during province-wide talks and move off their massive wage concession demands worth $900 million over three years.
For full background on the dispute (something you’re unlikely to see made available anywhere else, outside of VanRamblings or rabble.ca), watch this web video address from HEU Secretary-Business Manager Chris Allnutt from last Thursday’s press conference giving 72-hour strike notice.

Women Banned For Life From the British Columbia Legislature

BC Politics

ASSAULT-BY-TRESPASS

Five women activists who were arrested and hauled away in handcuffs when they refused to leave the B.C. legislature building after a March 12th meeting with Ida Chong, the minister responsible for women’s and seniors’ issues in the Liberal government of Premier Gordon Campbell, have been banned for life from B.C.’s legislature. The five were protesting a complete funding cut to the province’s 37 women’s centres. Trespassing charges were later dropped.
The ban stands.
“This is nothing short of mean and vindictive,” says George Heyman, B.C. Government and Service Employees’ Union (BCGEU/NUPGE) president.
“There is absolutely no reason why these women should be banned from the legislature. They are not a threat to anyone. All charges against them have been dropped. They did nothing wrong, and should have access to the legislature the same as any other British Columbian.”