Island Insider

A total of 17 coastal First Nations spearheaded a vision for a network of marine protected areas (MPAs) in partnership with the B.C. and federal governments to protect marine ecosystems and biodiversity hot spots stretching from northern Vancouver Island to Alaska.

The federal government is sending contradictory messages around its commitment to transitioning away from open net-pen salmon farms in B.C. by permitting production increases at three aquaculture sites in Clayoquot Sound, say salmon conservation groups.

The provincial NDP government doesn't make the grade on its most urgent and important commitments to protect at-risk ancient forests, a report card issued by environmental groups says.

Relying on the Quadra Island volunteer fire department to maintain ambulance service in the community threatens patient safety, risks burning out firefighters and limits the response to blazes during the height of wildfire season, the fire chief says.

The family doctor crisis will plague rural B.C. and beyond until the province makes investments in bricks-and-mortar infrastructure and redesigns primary care’s archaic framework, says UBC researcher Dr. Rita McCracken.

Small communities are at the epicentre of severe and protracted shortages of doctors and nurses, increasing emergency room closures, an ailing primary care system and an immobilized ambulance service, say mayors behind a new rural caucus that wants provincewide solutions.

Alert Bay, a ferry-dependent community of 1,200, is expected to have no doctors staffing its emergency department and medical clinic by early December, a document obtained by Canada's National Observer shows. 

Port Hardy Hospital is experiencing a critical doctor shortage that is endangering patient and physician safety, according to information provided to Canada’s National Observer from an Aug. 17 meeting between a number of the town’s physicians and Island Health. 

The surge in returns in the last decade to the waters off northeast Vancouver Island, where humpbacks were once eradicated by whaling, is an opportunity for redemption and continued conservation.

Critics contend the federal government's assessment of the cruise sector's compliance with new pollution guidelines isn't transparent, and the proposed rules don't address the biggest source of wastewater.

The increasing reliance on temporary contract nurses is contributing to the hollowing out of public health care, health policy experts suggest.

Pride events are important to help rural queer and trans youth rural accept themselves and feel welcome in their home communities, say organizers with the Discovery Islands Pride Celebration.

In her new book, Water Always Wins, author Erica Gies says stop resisting, just go with the flow. 

The problem of staffing shortages in ERs is playing out not only in Alert Bay but at hospitals across the North Island region and the province.

The former federal justice minister, renowned for holding government to account, is among 14 outstanding British Columbians who received the province’s highest honour this week.