NSP premims reduced and eliminated and NEW PAYROLL TAX of 1,95%

http://bcbudget.gov.bc.ca/2018/backgrounders/2018_Backgrounder_2_MSP.pdf
===========

Highlights of British Columbia's 2018-19 budget presented Tuesday:

Effective Wednesday, a tax on foreign homebuyers increases by $5,000 to $20,000 and expands from Metro Vancouver to include homes in the Victoria-area, the Fraser Valley, the central Okanagan district in the province's Interior, and the Nanaimo Regional District.
A new speculation tax will be introduced in the fall aimed at foreign and domestic homeowners who don't pay taxes in B.C., affecting properties in Metro Vancouver, the Victoria area, Fraser Valley, Nanaimo Regional District, Kelowna and West Kelowna.
The property transfer tax on homes with a fair market value of more than $3 million increases to five per cent from three per cent.
More than $6 billion will be spent over the next 10 years to create 114,000 housing units for families, seniors, students and women and children escaping domestic violence.
Medical service plan premiums will be eliminated on Jan. 1, 2020, saving an individual up to $900 a year and families up to $1,800 annually.
Starting Jan. 1, 2019, employers with payrolls of more than $500,000 will pay a new employer health tax, which is forecast to raise $1.9 billion in revenue in 2019-20.
Beginning April 1, funding will be provided to licensed care providers to provide a $350 a month cut in the cost of a child care space.
A new affordable child care benefit will start in September providing up to $1,250 a month per child.
An additional $1 billion will be spent over the next three years to expand access to licensed child care, which the province says is part of its plan to create more than 22,000 new spaces.
Fares will be frozen on BC Ferries' three major routes and fares will be cut by 15 per cent on small routes.
A forecast surplus of $219 million, with projections for surpluses to continue through the 2020-21 fiscal year.
The government estimates it will spend $53.6 billion in the next fiscal year, up from an updated forecast of $51.8 billion for 2017-18.
Economic growth for 2018 is forecast at 2.3 per cent, down from 3.4 per cent in 2017.

High Overdose Case Load In Vernon

Vernon, BC, Canada / 1075 Beach Radio Vernon Pete McIntyre January 10, 2018 07:00 am
Vernon Jubilee Hospital had to deal with the second most opioid overdoses in the Interior Health region last year. The agency says 316 were reported to medical officials, trailing only Kelowna General with 371. I-H notes that only includes the reported cases, and doesn’t reflect the overall number in the community. There was 17 fatal overdoses in Vernon last year, to the end of October.

ASHLEY WADHWAN IDec. 20, 2017 10:00 a.m. Morning Star 
The B.C. government is making overdose-reversing naloxone kits more readily available for residents across the province, free of charge. About 1,900 kits have been distributed to 220 pharmacies for the first time this month, addictions minister Judy Darcy announced Wednesday. “Our most urgent priority is to keep people alive, so we’re dramatically expanding easy access to naloxone,” she said. The expansion program will allow pharmacists to also train those interested on how to use the kit, as well as detect an overdose. BC Coroners stats show that 1,400 lives are expected to be lost to opioid-related fatalities by the end of 2017.

The no-cost kits are now available at pharmacies located within London Drugs and Save-on-Foods, as well as others, for people who use opioids or are likely to witness and respond to an overdose. To ensure privacy, identifying information about the person receiving the kit is not tracked.Access to harm-reduction tools is one of the key pillars in the province’s response to combating the overdose crisis – and pharmacies can play a big role in ridding the barrier to accessing the life-saving kits, said Geraldine Vance, BC Pharmacy Association chief executive officer.“Pharmacists are trained, experienced and knowledgeable, not only in medication but in providing an essential health-care service to our patients and to our community,” Vance said.

Addictions recovery centre in Vernon not just for men anymore

By Charlotte Helston Info.News.ca
VERNON - A longtime gap in services for women struggling with addictions in Vernon is about to be filled.Next month, Bill’s Place, an addictions recovery home for men, will start accepting women for the first time since it was established in 2013.Previously, women seeking help with their addictions faced costly fees for private recovery facilities and often had to travel as far as the Lower Mainland to get help.“It’s always been a challenge with such limited resources for women in Vernon. We are very excited to provide this greatly needed service,” co-executive director of the John Howard Society of the North Okanagan Kelly Fehr says.The average price for a privately run facility, according to Fehr, is roughly $10,000 to $15,000 a month. The fee is much lower at Bill’s Place — about $1,800 a month for those who can pay it— and the non-profit ensures no one is turned away due to finances. Those on income assistance are eligible to have their recovery costs paid for by the provincial government.“Our goal has always been to provide services for people who are marginalized or on fixed incomes,” Fehr says.The shortfall of women’s services has often been bemoaned by outreach workers in Vernon and Fehr says the society has been working since 2010 to develop more resources for women. Before now, the only other facility operated by the John Howard Society that took women was the Gateway Shelter.With funding now secured, Bill’s Place will start accepting women who are ready to tackle their addictions beginning Oct. 1.

Addictions Services Manager Brad Houghton says men and women will have separate living quarters at Bill’s Place, but will do much of the program together. “It will add a whole new element and depth to the conversation,” Houghton says of having women in the room.Bill’s Place has space for 19 people at any given time and is forced to tell people on a monthly basis that there is no room for them at the moment. In the past two days, for example, Houghton has received inquiries from about eight people. There is only room for one.“We need to expand,” Fehr says. “We are bursting at the seams.” Bill’s Place is based on the 12 Step recovery model, but incorporates many other approaches as well.“We’re not going to pass around a liver in a jar and say this is what will happen to you. Fear is a terrible motivator,” Houghton says. “We look at the symptoms, just like any other illness, and we focus on those.”

Donations to Bill’s Place are graciously accepted and can be made online. If you are interested in attending Bill’s Place, or would like to inquire for a friend or family member, call 250-542-3555 or email bradley.houghton@jhsnok.ca.

Manitoba mulls new health care tax -- Heath care premium could make up for Ottawa changing rate of health care increases

By Austin Grabish, CBC News Posted: Sep 13, 2017 12:22 PM CTThe Manitoba government is considering introducing a health care tax that residents would be forced to pay based on income.Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister made the announcement at a press conference Wednesday morning. The government said health care premiums could help Manitoba maintain its level of care in the wake of Ottawa reducing the amount federal health transfers will go up by over the next several years.The province signed an agreement with the federal government last month ending a standoff over funding. The deal will see Manitoba get three per cent annual increases to the Canada Health Transfer and $399.6 million over 10 years for mental health and home care services. Pallister says, compared to the old model, the cash Ottawa is offering leaves Manitoba short $2 billion over 10 years, and asking Manitobans to pay premiums on health care could make up for it. "It's most certainly a tax increase there's no doubt of that and I don't think we should couch it in any way different from that," Pallister said. The new tax would be based on income and pay directly for health care costs, Pallister added. The province is asking Manitobans to weigh in on the plan for premiums through a new online survey. Also in the survey are questions about the upcoming legalization of pot. (more)
-----------------
Don Quixote Note: Contrast this to the new proposal in B.C. that will cut the premium in 1/2 on Jan 1, 2018 and eliminate it completely within 4 years.

1. MSP premiums cut by 50 per cent

Starting on Jan. 1, 2018, the provincial government will cut Medical Service Plan premiums in half for everyone. Unlike the promise from the previous government, there will be no need to apply for the rebate. The government is also announcing plans to establish an MSP Task Force to eliminate premiums and replace the revenues by 2021.

There are a few reasons behind the Vernon family doctors' shortage, and they're nothing new

By Charlotte Helston INFONEWS.CA January 17, 2017 - 2:30 PM
VERNON - One of the founding members of a closing Vernon walk-in clinic says physicians have been bracing for a shortage of family doctors for years. Rob Sawatzky, former Vernon mayor and a retired family doctor, was one of the physicians who started up the community’s first walk-in clinic in 1991. The Gartree Medical Clinic remained open for 25 years — continuing on after Sawatzky retired and became mayor — but the clinic’s current partners announced last week they are closing down because there is only one doctor left. Before starting Gartree, Sawatzky ran his own family practice but he, along with his colleagues, saw the need for a walk-in clinic. With more households having two people working full time instead of one, Sawatzky says there was demand for after hours and weekend access to a doctor. “Walk-in clinics fit the modern lifestyle with people working and everyone on the go,” Sawatzky says. While the number of doctors at the clinic went up and down over the years, there were usually three full time physicians and four part time, Sawatzky says. “We were busy,” Sawatzky says. “You’d better be ready to work when you were there.”

After Gartree, two other walk-in clinics eventually opened up; the Vernon Family Doctors Clinic at the Fruit Union Plaza and the North Okanagan Medical Clinic at the Real Canadian Superstore. Last year, the Vernon Family Doctors Clinic closed permanently, and the new Sterling Centre opened up from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. weekends. Packed waiting rooms are standard at Vernon's walk-ins, and it’s not uncommon to be out of luck by noon if the clinic has already stopped accepting patients for the day. Sawatzky says there are a few different factors that contributed to the current situation. “Those of us who’ve been around as long as I have could see these changes coming down the pipe years ago,” Sawatzky says. They are changes and challenges not just in Vernon, but around the province. One reason, according to Sawatzky, has to do with curriculum changes at medical school. “It used to be that everyone had to do a rotating internship, which exposed them to family medicine, and a certain percentage would like it and stay in it,” he says. Now, students have to commit to a specialty before ever trying out the different areas, and family practice is often not the first choice. “There is a bias that treats family practice as second class,” Sawatzky says. “You do that, and look what happens.” Another factor is what Sawatzky calls the ‘chicken coop effect.’ “Med schools are typically in large urban centres. Students will stay there for years, do their speciality training there, and… a percentage will not go to places that are even as attractive as Vernon because they are, quote, ‘too rural.’” Another trend affecting things is the number of baby boomers hitting their senior years and putting big demands on health care. “It’s the ‘silver tsunami,’” Sawatzky says. “We are aging, and aging people need more medical care, so you need more doctors.” From talking to people, Sawatzky says Vernon has a reputation for being a difficult place to get a family doctor. “I hear people say I am moving here and people told me I’d have a hard time finding a doctor,” he says. “That is certainly the impression I get from people.” In terms of attracting new residents to the city, Sawatzky says access to doctors definitely comes into the equation. “We are a very attractive community. We are close to post-secondary education, close to an airport, close to four seasons of recreation and outdoors,” he says. “I think having services like education and health really matter. It’s part of the package you hope you can offer people.”

Having once sat in the mayor’s chair, Sawatzky says there’s not much municipal governments can do to get more doctors, aside from making the community an attractive place to live and hoping physicians give it a chance. “The broad trends are what senior levels of government need to look at,” he says. “Are you training enough doctors? Are you training enough of the right type?” The Gartree Medical Clinic closes at the end of March, leaving Vernon with only two walk-in clinics.

Walk-In Clinic Closing

Posted on 1/12/2017 11:24 AM by Pete McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM
One of Vernon's walk in clinics will be closing it's doors. The Gartree Clinic in the Vernon Square Mall will shut down as of March 24th, as we confirmed with office manager Nancy Spiers. "That will be the last patient day, and then for our lease, we have to be out of here on the 31st," Spiers told Kiss FM. Spiers says the clinic is down to one doctor, William Fehr, and he can't do it all by himself. The facility has been open at that site since the mall opened in 1991, and went to reduced hours a year ago when they went down to two doctors. It will leave Vernon with two walk in clinics: one in the Superstore and the other in the Sterling Centre.A walk-in clinic in the Fruit Union Plaza shut down last March, which operators said was due to a lack of doctors.
------------
Vernon medical clinic closes doors
by Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Vernon posted Jan 12, 2017 at 10:00 AM— updated Jan 12, 2017 at 11:48 AM

Vernon's original walk-in clinic is closing down. March 24 will be the last day for patients at the Gartree Medical Clinic in the Vernon Square mall. "We have only one doctor at this time and other doctors are not available," said Nancy Spiers, office manager. Gartree opened its doors in the early 1990s, but has experienced some challenges in recent years, including reducing hours in January 2016 because only two physicians were available for shifts. Patients are being advised of the pending closure as they arrive at the clinic and advertisements will be run in the newspaper. Patients will have the opporunity to get a copy of their medical files, while Med Records will provide storage of medical files once the office closes. Three employees will lose their jobs at Gartree. Gartree's closure will leave only two walk-in clinics in Vernon — North Okanagan Medical Clinic at Real Canadian Superstore and the Sterling Centre Clinic on 25th Avenue.
============
One less walk-in clinic in Vernon as Gartree announces closure
By Charlotte Helston INFONEWS January 12, 2017 - 11:14 AM
VERNON - Another walk-in clinic is closing its doors in Vernon. The Gartree Medical Clinic at the Vernon Square Mall will take its last patients on March 24. It is almost one year to the day that the Vernon Family Doctors Walk-In Clinic closed in March 2016. Gartree’s office manager Nancy Spiers says they are down to just one physician, who simply cannot run the clinic on his own. “There was really no choice,” Spiers says. The clinic requires three doctors to run the clinic full time. Last January, the clinic was forced to shorten to half days as a result of only having two physicians. Now, one of them is away for personal reasons, leaving just one doctor. “He can’t do it on his own,” Spiers says. The clinic has operated in its current location since 1991, and before that it was located in the Fruit Union Plaza. Spiers says the decision to close was “very, very difficult.” “It’s tough, the community needs it,” she says. “There are lineups here every day.” Patients can get a copy of their medical records for a fee, and Med Records will store the files after the office closes. You can contact the clinic directly at 250-545-9112 for more information. There are two other medical clinics in Vernon: the North Okanagan Medical Clinic at the Real Canadian Superstore, and the Sterling Centre Clinic, which opened after the Vernon Family Doctors Clinic announced it was closing.

Five ODs in a day

By Kate Bouey - CASTANET Aug 31, 2016 / 3:34 pm
At least five people were taken to Vernon Jubilee Hospital suffering from illicit drug overdoses Tuesday and there is concern they are linked to the same drug used in recent overdoses in Kamloops – where an overdose alert has been issued following a fatality. “There were five cases of overdoses in one day,” confirmed Dr. Silvina Mema, of Interior Health. “That is a lot compared to what we usually get from Vernon which is five per week.” All were treated with naloxone, an antidote which counters the effects of an overdose, before being released, said the medical health officer. “A surveillance system was put in place on June 1 so overdoses are reported to the medical health officer. The system is beginning to show its usefulness," said Mema. Mema said the shocking number of overdoses in a day raises concern there may be a drug circulating in the Vernon area that has effects not usually seen in a user. “It is not what the user thinks it is,” she said, adding that medical staff did not know if the drug users thought they were taking fentanyl, morphine or heroin. More than half of the drug overdose deaths in B.C. are linked to fentanyl, with other drugs often laced with the powerful opioid. The Kamloops area also reported five overdoses within the last 48 hours, with one fatality, said Mema. In those cases, the users were together and described using a “sparkly, white powder,” she said.
An IH press release stated the powder may be being sold as cocaine on the street. Mema said there is some concern the Vernon cases could be linked to the same drug, due to the timing of the ODs. Mema urges illicit drug users to have a naloxone kit nearby when using, to recognize the signs of an overdose and to call 911. Users can obtain naloxone kits from the Vernon Health Unit at 1440 14th Avenue or Vernon Downtown Primary Care at 3306a 32nd St., she said.

Gastrointestinal outbreak not contained to Lumby luncheon

By Charlotte Helston INFONEWS.CA June 17, 2016 - 4:30 PM
LUMBY - Reports of people getting sick with a gastrointestinal bug keep climbing in Lumby with health officials now calling the situation widespread in the community. Following a Lumby Days luncheon event June 11, Interior Health received reports of at least two dozen people falling ill, including Vernon’s mayor, the North Okanagan Regional District board chair, and members of the Lumby Fire Department. Now, Interior Health’s Medical Health Office says the number of people who got sick has risen to roughly 50. The health authority is also confirming that not all the individuals attended the luncheon or had contact with people who went to it. “Based on this we suspect that there is widespread viral gastrointestinal activity in the community,” states the health authority. Medical officials believe the outbreak is viral and suspect norovirus, but that is not yet confirmed. Interior Health investigators have spoken with the caterer and say that person has been fully cooperative. There is currently no evidence suggesting the caterer is at fault. Anyone who experiences symtoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or fever is advised to stay home and wash their hands frequently to avoid spreading the virus.

Politicians Among 24 Sick After Lunch

Posted on 6/14/2016 4:14 PM by Pete McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM
Health officials are looking into the cause of at least two dozen cases of gastrointestinal illness by people who attended a dignitaries lunch during Lumby Days. Vernon mayor Akbal Mund, RDNO chair Rick Fairbairn and MLA Eric Foster are among those who have gotten sick since the luncheon Saturday. Interior Health Medical Health Officer Dr. Silvina Mema says they are investigating a possible cause from the food product that was served. "It was a luncheon attended by about 75 to 80 people, and of those, we know at least 24 are sick. The symptoms are vomiting, diarrhea, and fever that developed some hours after," Mema tells Kiss FM. Dr. Mema says they in the process of interviewing people who got sick, and talking with people that catered the lunch. "We are going to do an inspection of the facility that catered to the luncheon to determined if there was any potential source of infection at that site." Mema says they are still not sure what the source was. "From the symptoms we are hearing, we think this could be Norovirus or the stomach flu."

Check wait times for Vernon walk-in clinics online

June 01, 2016 - 10:30 AM Charlotte Helston Info News.CA  
VERNON - Three local walk-in clinics are posting their wait times online thanks to a new B.C.-based website. The website, medimap.ca, allows clinics to post estimated wait times online and is being used in a number of communities across the province, including in Kelowna. Three Vernon walk-ins are listed on the site, including the Sterling Centre Clinic, the North Okanagan Medical Clinic and the Gartree Medical Clinic. Along with the estimated wait times, medimap.ca also provides clinic hours, location and general contact information. The site was created by a pair of Vancouver men who wanted to reduce hassle for both patients and clinic staff. “We understand how frustrating it can be to travel to a walk-in clinic only to find that they are no longer accepting patients for the day. Calling various clinics in the area is a waste of time for both you and the clinic staff,” states a write-up on the website. Wait times are updated frequently, but patients are warned they are estimates only and can change quickly. It is free for clinics to register on the site.
--------------
Update screen shot as at 11:40 AM Today:

Parking Concern

Posted on 4/27/2016 6:40 AM by Pete McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM
A proposed seniors assisted housing complex in Vernon, will be able to have fewer parking spaces than normally required. City council has granted a variance for the 119 unit project with commercial space on 24th Street,to have 44 parking spots. Councillor Brian Quiring says council's support is contingent on a traffic impact analysis by the owner. "It's kind of an interesting project with some micro-suites and some very small units. I do believe those type of units don't have the same type of parking requirements that our bylaw specifies." Mayor Akbal Mund says with all the shopping close by, many residents will be able to walk to most places, and won't need vehicles.
"That's important for people who do live in apartments that they can walk and get everything they need, rather than drive all over. I think it would be a good project to have in that area." The manager of the Village Green Hotel is concerned there won't be enough parking spaces, and residents and staff will end up parking in the hotel's spots, but Mayor Akbal Mund says the 119 unit development will be good for merchants. "In terms of business purposes for all the businesses located in that area including the Village Green Hotel, I do believe their business will be up with this type of complex so close."
------------
https://www.vernon.ca/sites/default/files/docs/meetings/agendas/160425_regular.pdf  (p.27-47 for details)
=============
Assisted Living and Care Facility Regulations: and requirements
http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/accessing-health-care/assisted-living-registrar

http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/accessing-health-care/finding-assisted-living-or-residential-care/residential-care-facilities

Doctors set up walk-in

by Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star posted Jan 13, 2016 at 1:00 AM
With access to physicians increasingly challenging, there is some good news. A new walk-in medical clinic will open in March at the Sterling Centre Clinic on 25th Avenue. “This is an initiative from a group of family physicians in Vernon,” said Dr. Chris Cunningham, one of the doctors involved. “They either have their practices in town or work at other clinics or facilities.” Word of the new clinic comes at the same time that the walk-in clinic in the Fruit Union Plaza is closing in March and the clinic in the Vernon Square mall has reduced its hours. While recruiting physicians has been an issue locally, Cunningham is confident the new walk-in can proceed. “We looked at this challenge but we think we can structure this and address the needs,” he said. “There is a need in the patients within the community.” Details on the opening date and hours of operation have not been announced yet, but it will be open evenings and weekends. “It will be a modern new facility with electronic medical records set up,” said Cunningham.

Walk-in clinic closing doors early

by Jennifer Smith - Vernon Morning Star posted Jan 10, 2016 at 1:00 AM— updated Jan 10, 2016 at 6:53 AM

Access to Vernon walk-in clinics is getting even slimmer. Just as the community received news that the Vernon Family Doctors Walk In Clinic is closing its doors in March, another one has been forced to slash its hours. The Gartree Medical Clinic, in the Vernon Square mall, has reduced its weekday hours from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. to closing its doors early at 1 p.m. It remains open Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. “One of our doctors left so we’re down to just two doctors now,” said Dr. Tim Bintley, who operates the clinic with Dr. William Fair. The two have split up the work schedule and have also let go one of the administrative staff members due to the schedule changes. With one doctor working each day, they stay until they’ve reached the 50-patient mark, which is what they get paid for, according to Bintley. “Our hours vary,” he said, after working until 3:30 p.m. one day and finishing earlier on another. The Gartree Clinic has been recruiting, and has sent notices to the doctors at the clinic which is closing in March. Bintley isn’t sure why Gartree hasn’t been able to attract anyone, as he claims that there is not a doctor shortage. Instead, he says there is a lack of doctors who are willing to work at walk-ins.

Downtown Vernon seniors care facility on track

by Roger Knox - Vernon Morning Star posted Nov 13, 2015 at 1:00 AM
A proposed large seniors care facility in downtown is an exciting opportunity, according to Minda Chittenden. A gerontologist and kinesiologist with Vernon-based Meridian Rehabilitation Consulting Inc., Chittenden spoke in favour of a plan to build a downtown seniors care facility on 29th Avenue in the Bennett parking lot, located a block over from Meridian Rehabilitation. “I do private rehab for people that are in care homes in the community, injured in car accidents, have dementia or other aging issues,” said Chittenden to Vernon council on Monday. “It’s exciting to hear of some willingness to put in a facility downtown. So many of our clients and so many people as they age have no opportunity anymore to get to shopping on their own. “I really do feel sorry for family members and individuals that can no longer get to anything downtown.” Council was reviewing a development variance permit application submitted by Kamloops-based Tri-City Canada Inc. to develop the lot, and construct a large seniors care facility. Phase 1 of the proposed project on the half-a-city-block space is comprised of 90 residential care beds, 52 assisted living units and 3,500 square feet of commercial space. Phase 2 would see 72 senior’s apartments/condos and Phase 3 would see another 36 assisted living units constructed along with 4,800 square feet of commercial space. “This project started in response to a request for proposals from Interior Health earlier this year,” said Craig Broderick, economic development planner with the city. “There was quite a bit of interest from the development community to provide 85 care beds within the City of Vernon, though it didn’t stipulate downtown or rural.” Broderick said several proposals were submitted to IHA, and reviewed over the summer, with Interior Health deciding to work with Tri-City on the Bennett lot proposal. “We submitted on this RFP two locations in Vernon and two in Kelowna,” said Casey VanDongen, owner/president of Tri City Canada Inc. “Interior Health came back and said they really wanted us to do the downtown project.” The other Vernon location Tri City submitted was on a five-acre rural parcel on Deleenheen Road behind Walmart. The downtown location was preferred because of its access to the City of Vernon bus exchange. Because of that factor, less parking is required on the 29th Avenue site. Vernon council unanimously supported the variance application dealing with zoning bylaw regulations related to required parking, upper floor setbacks, shadow regulations, private open space requirements, road right of way setbacks and road work requirements.

Cost of new residential care beds for Kelowna revealed

by Alistair Waters - Kelowna Capital News posted Sep 22, 2015 at 2:00 PM
Interior Health's latest plan to add 100 residential care beds in Kelowna will cost the health authority $5.8 million per year. Earlier this month, IH announced it had awarded a contract to Baltic Properties Ltd. to design, build and operate a new care facility in Glenmore that will house the new beds. However, at the time, the health authority refused to say how much the addition of the new facility and ongoing operation of the new beds would cost, citing confidentiality clauses in the contract. But, following a Freedom of Information request by the Capital News, the contract figure has been revealed. The $5.8 million figure is described as the base amount to be paid to Baltic Properties (Glenmore) Ltd. on annual basis. Baltic beat out 11 other proponents that submitted proposals for the new care facility. The company has build care homes for IH in the past, including facilities in Kamloops, Lake Country, Osoyoos and West Kelowna. The new Glenmore facility will be built at 325 Drysdale Boulevard. Construction is expected to begin this fall, with completion projected for early 2017. In addition to the 100 new care beds, the new facility will also include 18 private-pay residential care beds. The new Kelowna beds are part of a larger allotment,185 new residential care beds, announced by IH for the central and north Okanagan in February. The remaining 85 beds are slated for Vernon and an announcement about a successful proponent there is expected this fall. Residential care services provide around-the-clock professional supervision and care in a secure, home-like environment for individuals with complex care needs that cannot be met at home or in an assisted-living residence.

Cannabis oil, fresh marijuana now available in wake of top court decision

The Canadian Press  Published Wednesday, July 8, 2015 12:38PM EDT 
OTTAWA -- Medical marijuana users can legally consume other forms of the drug beyond the traditional dried version under new Health Canada rules that follow a recent ruling by the Supreme Court of Canada. The department says licensed medicinal marijuana producers can now produce and sell cannabis oil and fresh marijuana buds and leaves as well as the dried form.But they'll have to comply with the same terms and conditions on dried marijuana including making sure the product is shipped in child-resistant packaging as well limiting the amount of the active ingredient in the drug. Health Canada says while the courts require reasonable access to a legal source of medical marijuana, the government's position is that it must be done in a controlled fashion to protect public health and safety. The directive expanding access is the government's response to the top court ruling in June ruling that expanded access to the drug.Federal regulations said that authorized users of physician-prescribed cannabis could only consume dried marijuana. But the court said limiting medical consumption to dried pot infringed the liberty protections of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Drinking Water and Health - presentation by Interior Health

http://www.rdno.ca/docs/IHA_Drinking_Water_Health_PPT.pdf

This 10 page slide show presentation 'Released from In Camera at the June 17, 2015 BoD Meeting'
can be viewed at link above.

Of particular Note is the slide on Page 5 of this presentation.  It shows the statistical effect results of both a turbidity option as well as a filtration option on the weekly incidents of reported cases for Intestinal Infectious Diseases in Kamloops in the 1997(Jan) -2007  (July)  Period. There are no such studies for our local area or GVW water system and this one serves as an illustration on the possible reductions of cases for filtration. It appears that in this case of an added Filtration system the # of cases per 10,000 would be reduced from 5.09 to 4.60 (a 10% decline).  These stats may or may not be representative of what added filtration at Duteau PLant or MIssion Hill Plant could accomplish.

CLICK SLIDE TO ENLARGE

From page 10 of Slide show 

Rules tighten for doctors who prescribe medical marijuana

by Jeff Nagel - BC Local News posted May 7, 2015 at 4:00 PM
Doctors who prescribe medical marijuana to their patients are being directed by their regulatory body to follow a new professional standard that may reduce legal access to the drug. The standard approved May 1st by the B.C. College of Physicians and Surgeons sets out detailed requirements doctors should follow if they authorize a patient to receive pot from a federally licensed commercial producer. Except in rare cases, it says, patients under age 25 shouldn't get pot at all, nor should those with psychosis or substance abuse disorders, cardiovascular or respiratory illnesses, or those who are pregnant or breastfeeding. And medical marijuana should only be prescribed with the consent of a doctor who has an ongoing "treating relationship" with the patient. Doctors of B.C. president Dr. Bill Cavers said he hopes that condition weeds out speedy pot authorizations from physicians who specialize in them, sometimes online via Skype."I don't think it's appropriate for a person to walk into a clinic for the first time ever and then walk out with a doctor's signature with no follow-up or ongoing therapeutic relationship," he said. "Any physician providing a signature or access to marijuana for medical usage should know their patients."Cavers acknowledged approval will be "more difficult" for would-be medical pot users who don't have a family doctor, but he said some walk-in clinics do offer ongoing care for patients. He said he supports the new standard. "There need to be guidelines otherwise it's a free-for-all with a substance that we know has had some deleterious effects in some people." Cavers said the federal government has put added responsibility on doctors by requiring an authorization that amounts to a prescription for pot instead of the old system of merely confirming a patient had an eligible condition. He said most B.C. doctors don't want to prescribe pot without much more evidence of its benefits and how it can be safely and effectively used – as with any other pharmaceutical. "It is the responsibility of Health Canada, I think, to come in and actually clarify this," Cavers said. "Physicians are crying out for more investigation to find out whether marijuana is an effective substance and, if so, for what conditions, at what dosage and for what duration. We need all those answers to do a good job for our patients." Pot-prescribing doctors who violate the new rules could be investigated by the college if a complaint is lodged and potentially face discipline. Doctors are supposed to document that conventional medicine hasn't worked, that they discussed the risks of pot with a patient and assessed them for potential addiction. A doctor who can't demonstrate they complied with the professional standard might also be denied insurance if a patient they prescribe pot gets ill and sues. It's unclear what the changes may mean for the rapidly sprouting pot dispensaries that have varying rules on who they will sell cannabis. "Some dispensaries will sell to anybody who walks in with no paperwork at all," said pro-cannabis crusader Dana Larsen. Others – including the one he operates – are stricter and require some form of physician approval, he said. Municipal regulations planned by Vancouver and potentially other cities may tighten those practices, he said. Larsen said the college's standard may spur willing doctors to refuse to issue a formal authorization for cannabis from a licensed producer – which copies the paperwork to Health Canada – but instead provide a note to take to a dispensary. "When a doctor signs our paperwork nobody sees that but us and the doctor and the patient," Larsen said. "If anything this could push some doctors to be more likely to prescribe for dispensaries and less likely to prescribe for licensed producers." The college's new standard also bars doctors from charging for patients for a cannabis authorization, or for any other associated services.

Workers mourned

by Staff Writer - Vernon Morning Star posted Apr 24, 2015 at 1:00 AM

Vernon residents can take part in the National Day of Mourning Tuesday. The half-hour ceremony will take place at 10:30 a.m. at city hall, where the flags will be lowered to half-mast and a moment of silence observed to remember workers who have been injured or lost their lives in the workplace. “In B.C., an average of three workers die each week, 3,200 work injuries are reported every week and 19 workers are permanently disabled every working day,” said Tanya Laing Gahr, the city’s communications co-ordinator. Mayor Akbal Mund and representatives from the joint occupational health and safety committee, CUPE and the Vernon Fire Department will speak at the event. More than 20 years ago, the Canadian Labour Congress declared April 28 a National Day of Mourning for workers who have been killed, or who suffer disease or injury as a result of work.