VANCOUVER — A report commissioned by the Vancouver Police Department says $5 billion a year is being spent on the city’s “social safety net,” but is being criticized by a city councillor over its methodology and for “stigmatizing” the Downtown Eastside.  The $142,000 report by Alberta-based HelpSeeker Technologies says the spending on Vancouver’s social safety […]

VANCOUVER — Provincial and territorial health ministers have presented a united front as they seek more federal funding, and today expect to hear more details on cash promised by their federal counterpart. British Columbia Health Minister Adrian Dix is hosting the country’s health ministers for a second day of talks in Vancouver that are set […]

VICTORIA — Nearly six people a day are dying of overdoses in British Columbia, a toll the corner says puts the province on track to surpass 2,000 drug deaths for another year.   The service says 171 people died of toxic drugs in September, bringing the total for the year to 1,644, the largest number […]

VICTORIA — The B.C. government says it’s giving long-term care residents and their families a more direct line of communication with decision-makers on issues that affect them, after many expressed frustration during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Mable Elmore, parliamentary secretary for senior services, says changes to the residential care regulation will strengthen the voices of resident […]