Monday, March 18, 2024

Victoria Viewpoints: Saturday-Monday, March 16-18,2 024




Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Provincial scene for  Saturday-Monday, March 16-18, 2024



Globe and Mail 




CBC





Vancouver Sun 





Victoria Times-Colonist                              




Victoria News



       
Global          




        






                                                
CHEK TV     

Ottawa Observations: Saturday-Monday, March 16-18, 2024


Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Federal scene for Saturday-Monday, March 16-18, 2024





Hamas/Israel/Gaza 








CBC



Toronto/Vancouver Star








Global 








Miscellaneous            





Repeat and Rinse in Prince Rupert ... Northern Health issues another Emergency Room closure advisory for midnight tonight



Spring break seems to be creating havoc for Northern Health's Prince Rupert hospital physician staffing; with the third consecutive night for Emergency Room Closures set to take place later tonight for the Prince Rupert Regional Hospital.

The Northern Heath advisory was issued just after 6 PM through their Social Media stream noting of a closure as of midnight until 8AM Tuesday morning

As it has been in the past incidents of such closures,  challenges with physician coverage is the reason stated.


As it was this past weekend, the guiding advice for those facing serious health concerns is as follows:

If you have an emergency: People in Prince Rupert and area who need life-threatening emergency care (i.e. chest pains, difficulty breathing, or severe bleeding) should call 9-1-1 for transport to the nearest available and appropriate facility.

That nearest facility is Mills Memorial Hospital in Terrace.

You can review the background to the four closures this month from our archive page.

Third Prince Rupert Hospital ER Closure in less than ten days, will raise concerns of a new normal for residents of the North Coast


Three Emergency Room closures since March 9th, two of them in less than 24 hours this past Saturday and Sunday continue to make for some shockwaves for residents concerned for the state of Health Care in Prince Rupert.

As we've noted over the course of those ten days,  last night, on Saturday and a week ago, the closure of the Emergency Room at PRRH was required as a result of an inability to secure physician services.

March 17 -- Sunday interruption added to weekend Closure issued for Emergency Room Service in  Rupert

March 16 --  Another Emergency Room Closure for Prince Rupert, as lack of physician coverage issue rises again  

March 9 -- Prince Rupert Regional Hospital Emergency Department unavailable to residents Overnight to 8AM Saturday

Patients with health concerns were being directed to either virtual health options or to call 911 for serious health issues and a possible transit to Terrace two hours to the east of the city.

Northern Health used it's social media stream to share word of the closures, with two of three of the ER closures also shared by the City of Prince Rupert.

Prior to the twin closures of this weekend, Northern Health appeared to be preparing the community for more of those situations, with a social media relay of information focused on what Service Interruptions are about.


With the increased frequency of the closures for the Prince Rupert Emergency Room, still to be heard from is comment from the BC Ambulance service, providing some background on how the potential increase of transits to the Terrace facility may impact on local service in the community.

It wasn't that long ago that the local Ambulance station was facing short staffing and other issues that had raised concerns of City Council.   

What measures may be in place to bolster Ambulance service with this additional burden now in place,  should be one of a number areas of note that Northern Health should include as part of a review for the public. With the Heath Authority also advising as to what steps they are taking to address what is a very concerning situation when it comes to Health care for the community.

As Prince Rupert residents were weighing their options as to whether their health issues of the weekend required a late night trip to Mills Memorial Hospital in Terrace. 

In perhaps the worst timing possible for a release of a promotional video for the new Terrace hospital ... Stikine MLA Nathan Cullen, North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice and Terrace Mayor Sean Bujtas posted a Video to X-Twitter on Saturday.  

The trio having just taken a tour of the new facility earlier in the day; clearly quite impressed at the state of the art medical care set to come  to the Terrace area by year's end.

For Ms. Rice, the first focus was on the modern facility that will be opened to the public in Terrace.

"It's incredible, it's so modern, I don't think a lot of us in the Northwest are used to this calibre of modernization.

Ms. Rice also had some notes to direct to Prince Rupert residents towards the new status of the Terrace facility as a Trauma centre.

"But I think it's really important just for the folks back home in Prince Rupert that are feeling a bit jealous.

 But I think it's really important to know that this is going to be a trauma centre, so when your loved one gets shipped out, you're only two hours away or an hour and half away.

So instead of them going to Vancouver like we've been doing for years and years out of Prince Rupert, you'll be able to drive here or find a ride here and be there to comfort your loved one.

So this is a really important hospital for the entire Northwest"

All valid points for regional health care, but at the moment, that's likely not the number one discussion point that Ms. Rice's constituents might have for their MLA, who is also the Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Health.

You can review their thoughts on the new Terrace facility here.

More background related to Health Care in the Northwest can be explored here.

Cross posted from the North Coast Review.

With 167,000 dollars in support, Province of BC takes a few seats at the Lester Centre


The Lester Centre of the Arts has an additional 167,000 dollars to put to use this week, that following last Friday's announcement that the Province of BC is taking a seat, more than a few actually, at the city's Arts and Culture Centre.

As part of the BC Arts Council's, 'Arts infrastructure Program' the funding will be used towards the acquisition of new theatre seats through the Lester Centre's "Please Be Seated' Project.

Crystal Lorette, President of the Prince Rupert Performing Arts Centre Society expressed her appreciation for the funding as part of the Friday announcement.

“We’re over-joyed with this funding from the provincial government, which will help us with this important renovation project. We’re grateful that the province has recognized the importance of arts and culture organizations to the communities they serve.”

The importance of the Lester Centre to the region was the focus for North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice how noted of the benefit it brings the community.

“The Lester Centre’s successful outreach to the ‘Arts Infrastructure Program’ is contributing a great benefit to Prince Rupert.The theatre is an incredible asset, and this support means continuing maintenance to make sure we have a beautiful place to gather, attract entertaining shows, and make memories. I look forward to settling into a new seat and appreciating a show with my family once the project is complete.”

The provincial funding from Friday, is in addition to federal government funding of $85,000 last year for the project through its Canada Cultural Spaces Fund. 

Locally, residents and supporters of the Lester Centre have made donations of over $35,000 as part of the Please Be Seated campaign.


The volume of support for the initiative was hailed by Lester Centre General Manager Chris Armstrong.

“This tremendous support brings our project one step closer to reality,. The Province, like the federal government and local donors, has shown that they understand how facilities like ours provide a sense of connectedness for the community through live entertainment. And with this funding, we will ensure that happens for many more years into the future.”


More background on the Please Be Seated program can be explored here.

A wider overview of Arts in the Northwest is available from our archive page.

 

Premier, Northwest NDP MLA's gathered in Terrace Friday for NWBCRBA celebration

Premier David Eby and a large volume of invited guests
at the official announcement for funding for the NWBCRBA
on Friday in Terrace


Friday was full of speechmaking, statement publishing, photos and social media messaging, with Premier David Eby taking part in what was the official presentation on the funding to come for the Northwest British Columbia Resource Benefits Association.

The event hosted at Coast Mountain College in Terrace, provided some additional talking points towards the Budget Announcement of February 22nd of the 250 million dollars to be distributed to 21 Northwest local governments over the next five years.

“By working together, we are ensuring people in northwest B.C. have the services and infrastructure they count on like roads, hospitals, water and housing. We are also making sure these communities can benefit from resource development in their region, and the pressures it brings. Everyone in B.C. deserves stability in their jobs and their communities today, tomorrow and for years to come.” --  Premier David Eby

The Friday statement noted of the path that led to the Budget announcement and the focus for the initiative.

The new one-time funding builds on a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed in September 2022 between the Province and the Northwest BC Resource Benefits Alliance to help strengthen their partnership. The MOU commits to supporting local governments throughout northwestern B.C. It outlines common goals, sets out principles for future engagement and builds shared knowledge of the unique challenges faced in the region.

Among the list of many with statements coming out of the Friday gathering were MLA Jennifer Rice and Prince Rupert Mayor Herb Pond.

“This announcement is the result of so much intergovernmental co-operation and persistence, with passionate advocates on all levels. This funding will equip local governments in the northwest with additional resources to promote sustainable economic growth and will help build essential infrastructure required to sustain small communities and facilitate major projects in the area.” -- North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice

“This agreement just makes sense. We are an alliance of small remote communities servicing some of the largest industrial projects in the province. Investing back into our communities a portion of the revenues generated in the region goes a long way to aligning interests around projects that benefit every British Columbian.” -- Prince Rupert Mayor Herb Pond

Once the official work was out of the way in Terrace, the news was quickly relayed through a number of social media profiles from the participants on the day.


Of the local officials from the Northwest, Terrace Mayor Sean Bujtas provided for the most background on the day's theme.


While the day was another opportunity to celebrate the work that went into the successful conclusion to the negotiations, there was no real new information shared on Friday.

Still be announced is how the 21 members will divide up the provincial money and when the first allotment of funding will make its way into the hands of the Finance offices for the communities.

Absent from the festivities of the full on NDP Government event for the day was the MLA who represents the Skeena riding,  BC United MLA Ellis Ross.


Some past notes on the NWBCRBA can be reviewed here.


Saturday, March 16, 2024

Another Emergency Room Closure for Prince Rupert, as lack of physician coverage issue arises again


For the second weekend in a row, residents of Prince Rupert have been put on notice about a  closure for the Prince Rupert Regional Hospital Emergency Department, this latest one, effective at midnight Saturday to 8 AM Sunday.


The advisory was relayed late Saturday afternoon through the Northern Health social media stream.

As it was one week ago, an inability to arrange for physician coverage is the reason for the eight hour closure.

Much as the situation of last Friday, the most important piece of advice for residents is that of the alternative options for the closure period, for those who may be facing life threatening situations.

"If you have an emergency: People in Prince Rupert and area who need life-threatening emergency care (i.e. chest pains, difficulty breathing, or severe bleeding) should call 9-1-1 for transport to the nearest available and appropriate facility. 

Any time services are interrupted, our partners in patient transfer and local health services are notified and signage will be in place at the hospital informing patients to call 9-1-1 for transport."


More notes related to Health Care in the Northwest can be reviewed from our archive page.