B.C. federal candidates prepare for election
With the federal election now called, some candidates from Canada's major parties hit the ground running in the Lower Mainland this weekend. Michelle Gomez reports on what's top of mind for many British Columbians.
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Global News
a day ago
- Global News
BC Conservatives question $1M contract for B.C. drug and mental illness adviser
The BC Conservative opposition is raising concerns about the contract the NDP government has awarded to its top adviser on mental health and the drug crisis. It has been one year since the B.C. government appointed Dr. Daniel Vigo as its chief scientific adviser for psychiatry, toxic drugs and concurrent disorders. Vigo has been responsible for developing solutions for people suffering from mental health, addictions and brain injuries due to toxic drugs. According to his contract, Vigo is eligible to receive $250,000 each quarter he works, up to $1 million for the year. In addition, he is eligible to receive 12 per cent of his salary as administrative fees or expenses. 2:07 B.C. government opens more involuntary care beds 'It was very clear during the election that involuntary care was one of the pieces that was needed in this system. I think the government was already aware of that, and I think that because they knew they were facing some pushback from some of their more ideological supporters, they decided to spend a million dollars hiring a doctor as a consultant to tell us what we already knew so that they could fall back on, 'Well, this is the science behind it,'' said Claire Rattée, BC Conservative MLA for Skeena. Story continues below advertisement 'At the end of the day, it's a million dollars that could have been spent on treatment.' Rattée added she was concerned about a 'lack of deliverables' in the contract. Get weekly health news Receive the latest medical news and health information delivered to you every Sunday. Sign up for weekly health newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy She said that according to the document, Vigo should have already submitted three quarterly reports, none of which have been made public. 'We're talking about a government that has spent well over $1 billion on addictions and the overdose emergency that we have here, but where are the measurable outcomes? What are the outcomes of any of the things that they have done?' added BC Conservative public safety critic Elenore Sturko. 'We have seen some announcements, we've seen some piecemeal work, even the stuff that's been announced by Dr. Vigo over the last couple of months here — It looks like something is happening, but what's the outcome and where have we gone and what should British Columbians expect from this huge expenditure?' B.C.'s health minister says the BC Conservatives aren't telling the whole story. The $1 million is earmarked for Vigo to build out a team of four people and to cover the cost of data collection and legal advice, Health Minister Josie Osborne told Global News. 1:52 New involuntary care beds are opening in Maple Ridge She said Vigo was retained because the toxic drug crisis and the intersection of addicitons medicine and psychiatry are evolving quickly, and the province wants to be on the cutting edge. Story continues below advertisement 'This is a fresh, innovative look using the professional experience that they have to help us identify the people who need help the most to help us identify the solutions,' Osborne said. 'It is a very challenging situation to see people that are suffering, to see and know that people need treatment and care and that we need the very best clinical expertise, the very medical advice that we can and the appropriate settings and care and therapies for these people — we don't have experts in that inside the ministry.' In his year on the job, Vigo has provided significant advice to the province, including a determination that the B.C. Mental Health Act does not need to be amended to allow for involuntary treatment. He led the development of new guidance to B.C. doctors, laying out the scenarios under which someone can be treated involuntarily under the Mental Health Act, all of them involving mental impairment. 1:54 Success of forced addictions treatment lacks evidence, minister says And he has been involved in the rollout of B.C.'s first two involuntary treatment facilities, one in the South Fraser Pretrial Centre and one in the Alouette Homes in Maple Ridge for people who aren't in contact with the justice system. Story continues below advertisement He has also been made available to media to answer questions about the province's involuntary treatment policy. Rattée said the progress for the price tag simply isn't good value. 'So far, they've only moved on. You know, 18 beds at Alouette, I believe it is, and 10 at Surrey pre-trial, and nothing to do with voluntary treatment services,' she said. 'This is a drop in the bucket when it comes to actually addressing the issue that we are facing right now.' Last month, the province terminated the contract of another adviser halfway through the planned six-month term. Michael Bryant had been hired on a $150,000 contract to consult on the province's policies and service delivery in the Downtown Eastside.
Cision Canada
a day ago
- Cision Canada
Government of Canada invests in British Columbia's hydrogen and fuel cell sector
B.C. companies are unlocking new opportunities in global clean tech markets VANCOUVER, BC, June 5, 2025 /CNW/ - British Columbia is home to Canada's largest hydrogen and fuel cell cluster, powering low-emission energy solutions. With over half of all hydrogen companies in the country and 1,350 full-time workers, B.C. has what it takes to meet global demand in this rapidly growing market. Today, the Honourable Gregor Robertson, Minister of Housing and Infrastructure and Minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada (PacifiCan), announced an investment of $466,956 in the Canadian Hydrogen Association to expand B.C. hydrogen and fuel cell companies into markets around the world. With this investment, the Canadian Hydrogen Association will help B.C. companies attract investment, seize export opportunities and grow here at home. The association will also showcase B.C. companies on international platforms – including today's hy-fcell International Expo and Conference in Vancouver, where global hydrogen experts come together. This investment was provided through PacifiCan's Regional Innovation Ecosystem program. It will support 40 small- and medium-sized businesses, contributing to jobs and growth here in B.C. and a strong economy for all Canadians. In May 2024, PacifiCan also announced an investment of more than $9.4 million to launch the Clean Hydrogen Hub at Simon Fraser University. The Hub works with partners, including the Canadian Hydrogen Association, to advance hydrogen production and technologies both at home and abroad. Quotes "With clean energy innovation, British Columbians are leading Canada into the hydrogen economy. This investment supports good jobs, lower emissions, and a stronger Canadian economy—built for today and the future." -The Honourable Gregor Robertson, Minister of Housing and Infrastructure and Minister responsible for PacifiCan "British Columbia is well-positioned to become a leading exporter of hydrogen, hydrogen technologies and related services by capitalizing on its world-leading industry and research expertise, proximity to key markets and abundant natural resources. Our sector is grateful to PacifiCan for its support as we accelerate our efforts to expand export of, and investment interest in, BC hydrogen capabilities and products." , Interim President and CEO, Canadian Hydrogen Association PacifiCan is the federal economic development agency dedicated to British Columbians. PacifiCan works with partners who are building innovative businesses, creating good jobs, and supporting inclusive growth throughout our province. PacifiCan's Regional Innovation Ecosystems program invests across British Columbia, building economic strength that includes underrepresented groups and boosts companies to innovating locally and competing globally. The Canadian Hydrogen Association works to advance the role of hydrogen and hydrogen technology solutions in Canada and abroad, representing over 200 organizations. Associated Links PacifiCan Regional Innovation Ecosystems program Canadian Hydrogen Association hy-fcell Canada 2025 Stay connected Follow PacifiCan on X and LinkedIn Toll-Free Number: 1-888-338-9378 TTY (telecommunications device for the hearing impaired): 1-877-303-3388 SOURCE Pacific Economic Development Canada
National Observer
2 days ago
- National Observer
A new poll says Canadians are divided on whether the US is an 'ally' or 'enemy' country
Faced with a trade war they didn't start, Canadians are divided on whether they see the United States as an "enemy" or an "ally," a new poll suggests. The Leger poll, which was conducted online and can't be assigned a margin of error, surveyed more than 1,500 people between May 30 and June 1. Almost a third of respondents said they view the US as a "neutral country," while 27 per cent said they consider it an "ally" and 26 per cent see it as an "enemy country." Just over a third of men said they consider the US an ally, compared with one in five women. Almost 30 per cent of women said they view the US as an enemy, compared with 22 per cent of men. Older Canadians, those at least 55 years of age, were more likely to consider the US an enemy than younger Canadians. Regionally Albertans were most likely to consider the US an ally while Ontarians and British Columbians were most likely to see it as an enemy. The difference is starkest between political party supporters, with 44 per cent of Conservative supporters saying they view the US as an ally, compared with 17 per cent of Liberal supporters and 12 per cent of NDP supporters said the same. Comparatively 16 per cent of Conservative supporters said they view the US as an enemy country, while 36 per cent of Liberal supporters and 41 per cent of NDP supporters said the same. US President Donald Trump signed an executive order Tuesday to double his levies on steel and aluminum to 50 per cent. He claimed the measure will protect the country's national security and domestic industries. Prime Minister Mark Carney has said his government will need to take "some time" to craft a response to the increased US tariffs. The number of Canadians that report seeing the US as an enemy country has dropped by six points since mid-March. At that time, 32 per cent of survey respondents told Leger they viewed the country as an enemy. The number of Canadians that view the US as an ally also decreased by two percentage points since March, from 29 to 27 per cent, while the number that view it as a neutral country increased by six percentage points, from 24 to 30 per cent. Andrew Enns, Leger's executive vice-president for Central Canada, said that, broadly speaking, the patterns haven't changed much since the organization asked the question in February — when 27 per cent of respondents said they viewed the US as an enemy and 30 per cent said they viewed it as an ally. Enns said the decline in the number of people saying the US is an enemy likely reflects the overall sentiment on tariffs. "It's still obviously there and, you know, clearly now we're dealing with higher steel tariffs, but the commentary coming from the White House and the Trump administration seems to have dissipated a bit and that's probably helping just tone things down," he said. Enns said Canada also has a new prime minister with a mandate that might "take the edge off things." "I think that just keeps things more at a moderate level, and I think that reflects in people maybe feeling a little less threatened by the US," Enns said. Enns said political and business leaders have also sent a consistent message that the US remains an important trading partner. He said that may encourage Canadians to believe there's a way to "work things out." The polling industry's professional body, the Canadian Research Insights Council, says online surveys cannot be assigned a margin of error because they do not randomly sample the population.
