Advocacy opportunity 📣 BC's Finance committee is now accepting written feedback on what to include in BC's 2027 budget. This is a critical chance to tell policy-makers to support clean air, Long COVID care, testing, wastewater monitoring and more.

Learn how to submit your written feedback at https://donoharmbc.ca/bc-government-2027-budget.../ - and find some sample answers you can use to make it easier! In past years, budget feedback has resulted in some notable successes - including a 2024 commitment of over $3 billion in continued pandemic funding.

This year's feedback deadline is 2 pm (Pacific Time) on Friday, June 19. Note that if you're already scheduled to present directly to the finance committee, you do *not* need to do a written submission as well.

#BCBudget #BCBudget2027 #BCHealthcare #CleanTheAir #CleanAirEverywhere #LongCovid #NovavaxNow #N95sSaveLives #CovidIsNotOver

Input opportunity 📣 We've been asked to share a new initiative by a research team at UBC. Right now, they're setting priorities for new research around "healthcare barriers related to respiratory infection risk" - and they want to hear from people across BC about what to focus on!

Do you live with chronic physical health conditions that increase risks from respiratory infections? Are you a family member, caregiver, or advocate for people with chronic physical health conditions? Your input can help shape future research projects!

👉 Take the anonymous survey: https://ubc.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6xtweXavuikuiOy (Note: if you comment, like, or share this post you may become publicly identified with the study.)

Questions? Email: [email protected]. More about who's working on this initiative: https://heet.nursing.ubc.ca

#BCHealthcare #KeepMasksInHealthcare #CovidIsNotOver #CovidIsAirborne #N95sSaveLives

“109 doctors, 315 nurses, 51 nurse practitioners and 29 other health professionals trained in the U.S. had moved to the province as of April 1.

The ministry said it received 2,900 job applications from U.S. workers between March 2025 and February 2026.”

https://vancouversun.com/news/meet-some-american-health-care-workers-moved-bc

#BCHealthcare

‼️ Breaking news ‼️ Novavax is back in Canada…but it’s up to the Province whether British Columbians will be able to access it.

Since 2024, BC has declined to order the Health Canada-approved Novavax Nuvaxovid COVID-19 vaccine – the only protein-based COVID vaccine option for people in Canada. Yet for some British Columbians, a protein-based COVID vaccine like Novavax is the only vaccine option they can tolerate – meaning without it, they haven’t been able to get vaccinated.

Please join us in urging BC policy-makers to prioritize vaccine access and choice, by making Novavax available for the fall and winter 2026/27 season. This is a matter of safety and health equity for some of the most vulnerable amongst us, including some people who already have #LongCovid or other complex medical conditions.

Use our click-to-send email tool to take action: https://donoharmbc.ca/bc-demands-novavax/

#NovavaxNow #BCHealthCare #PublicHealth #CovidIsNotOver #Covid19BC

RE: https://socialbc.ca/@nanaimonews/116374373591723772

Once again, Canadian media uncritically reposts a propaganda hit-piece by right-wing, dark money funded ‘think tank’ to drive public outrage by misrepresenting the facts.

BC’s marketing campaign has successfully recruited hundreds of US healthcare workers at a time when our healthcare system is in crisis. Maybe it’s not just about the price of coffee? 🤔

“B.C. hires more than 400 U.S. health-care workers in 1-year recruitment blitz”

#BCPoli #BCHealthcare

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/how-many-u-s-health-care-workers-are-in-b-c-9.7129903

‘Suffering’: B.C. family desperate to get gene therapy for son with rare condition

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://globalnews.ca/news/11770263/bc-family-gene-therapy-son-rare-condition/

This seems a bit alarmist, given that the ‘leaked memo’ is simply a letter written to the Health Minister, on behalf of a particular group; in itself it doesn’t signal an acceptance of their proposal by the government—I’m also wary of it because of the date of publication (Apr 1), although it doesn’t seem like the kind of thing that makes for a good prank.

However, we do need to remain vigilant of attempts by faith-based healthcare providers insinuating themselves into our public healthcare as this is already happening in Alberta.

Allowing faith-based healthcare providers into our public system opens the door to the denial of certain services or procedures on ‘moral’ grounds. This is unacceptable and contrary to the central premise of ‘universal’ healthcare.

#BCHealthcare #SecularHealthcare #ChristoFascism #BCHumanistAssociation
https://www.bchumanist.ca/apr_1_2026

Nurse practitioners struggling to find employment in B.C., despite high demand

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://globalnews.ca/news/11745915/nurse-practitioners-struggling-employment-bc/

Advocacy opportunity 📣 Pre-register to present directly to BC gov about YOUR priorities for the next provincial budget!

The registration deadline is Friday, April 10 at 2pm: https://consultation-portal.leg.bc.ca/consultations/195 Presenting can be done virtually; they’ll follow up in May about whether you’ve been selected. Additional written input options will open in June.

This is a great chance to speak directly to policy-makers if you want things like:

💨 #CleanAir
🩺 #LongCovid care
💩 wastewater monitoring
😷 N95s for healthcare workers
🧪 free rapid tests past 2026
💉 ongoing vaccine access including #Novavax

Let’s tell BC gov to put their money where their mouth is, when it comes to protecting the health of British Columbians!

#BCBudget #BCBudget2027 #BCpoli #BCHealthcare #Covid19BC #PublicHealth #CovidIsNotOver #CovidIsAirborne #NovavaxNow