Politics

‘Escape the politics’: B.C. clinics headhunt Alberta doctors

Published

4 years ago

October 24, 2020

The move led some doctors to publicly consider leaving Alberta, with the provincial government having identified more than 200 rural doctors reconsidering their practices in April. In some communities, doctors have followed through with the decision, with five Stettler physicians announcing in September their plans to leave Alberta.

Recently proposed rules by Alberta’s regulatory college for doctors would prevent doctors from quitting en masse, requiring physicians to stagger their departures.

Yearwood said the fractured relationship between doctors and the government presents a significant opportunity for other jurisdictions looking to bring in more physicians.

“These doctors are talking about leaving, and I’m in the business of supporting doctors, so if they’re going to leave I would like them to come to us,” Yearwood said. “With the news out of Alberta, with all the disenchanted doctors, I chose to take this approach to get right to the heart of the matter.”

The campaign hasn’t resulted in considerable uptake yet, Yearwood said, but traffic to his company’s website has surged. He said he expects to be in touch with more doctors in the upcoming weeks and months.

Calgary has been B.C.’s main competition in recruiting doctors over the past decade, said Yearwood. He called it the “destination of choice” for many, with factors like a better billing system, lower taxes and lower property costs central to the city’s success. But the tide now seems to be turning.

“We were behind the eight-ball financially for a long time but recent changes have more or less levelled the playing field,” he said.

Though part of the Denning Health Group campaign takes a political angle, Yearwood said the company is also looking to lure doctors with warmer weather and competitive compensation.

The Alberta government has said that despite a spotlight on doctors leaving the province, this year has seen a net gain in physicians in Alberta.

jherring@postmedia.com

Twitter: @jasonfherring

Source:- Calgary Herald

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Politics

New Brunswick election candidate profile: Green Party Leader David Coon

Published

4 hours ago

September 19, 2024

Anne Joseph

FREDERICTON – A look at David Coon, leader of the Green Party of New Brunswick:

Born: Oct. 28, 1956.

Early years: Born in Toronto and raised in Montreal, he spent about three decades as an environmental advocate.

Education: A trained biologist, he graduated with a bachelor of science from McGill University in Montreal in 1978.

Family: He and his wife Janice Harvey have two daughters, Caroline and Laura.

Before politics: Worked as an environmental educator, organizer, activist and manager for 33 years, mainly with the Conservation Council of New Brunswick.

Politics: Joined the Green Party of Canada in May 2006 and was elected leader of the New Brunswick Green Party in September 2012. Won a seat in the legislature in 2014 — a first for the province’s Greens.

Quote: “It was despicable. He’s clearly decided to take the low road in this campaign, to adopt some Trump-lite fearmongering.” — David Coon on Sept. 12, 2024, reacting to Blaine Higgs’s claim that the federal government had decided to send 4,600 asylum seekers to New Brunswick.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.

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Politics

New Brunswick election profile: Progressive Conservative Leader Blaine Higgs

Published

4 hours ago

September 19, 2024

Anne Joseph

FREDERICTON – A look at Blaine Higgs, leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick.

Born: March 1, 1954.

Early years: The son of a customs officer, he grew up in Forest City, N.B., near the Canada-U.S. border.

Education: Graduated from the University of New Brunswick with a degree in mechanical engineering in 1977.

Family: Married his high-school sweetheart, Marcia, and settled in Saint John, N.B., where they had four daughters: Lindsey, Laura, Sarah and Rachel.

Before politics: Hired by Irving Oil a week after he graduated from university and was eventually promoted to director of distribution. Worked for 33 years at the company.

Politics: Elected to the legislature in 2010 and later served as finance minister under former Progressive Conservative Premier David Alward. Elected Tory leader in 2016 and has been premier since 2018.

Quote: “I’ve always felt parents should play the main role in raising children. No one is denying gender diversity is real. But we need to figure out how to manage it.” — Blaine Higgs in a year-end interview in 2023, explaining changes to school policies about gender identity.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.

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Politics

Climate, food security, Arctic among Canada’s intelligence priorities, Ottawa says

Published

4 hours ago

September 19, 2024

Anne Joseph

OTTAWA – The pressing issues of climate change and food security join more familiar ones like violent extremism and espionage on a new list of Canada’s intelligence priorities.

The federal government says publishing the list of priorities for the first time is an important step toward greater transparency.

The government revises the priorities every two years, based on recommendations from the national security adviser and the intelligence community.

Once the priorities are reviewed and approved by the federal cabinet, key ministers issue directives to federal agencies that produce intelligence.

Among the priorities are the security of global health, food, water and biodiversity, as well as the issues of climate change and global sustainability.

The new list also includes foreign interference and malign influence, cyberthreats, infrastructure security, Arctic sovereignty, border integrity and transnational organized crime.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.

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