Experiments contracting care out to private operators weaken the oversight and accountability that keeps health care safe. The result? Failed promises of efficiency & cost-savings Check out our series on how advocates in every province are fighting back: bchealthcoalition.ca/advocat…

Firefighters put their health on the line every day. It’s time our systems caught up. Bill M214, the Firefighters’ Health Act, has received broad, all-party support in British Columbia. The bill would introduce a comprehensive, province-wide health screening program for firefighters, including regular cancer screening, mental health supports, and ongoing monitoring of workplace exposures. This progress reflects the ongoing advocacy and work of BCGEU members who have been pushing for stronger protections and recognition of the risks they face on the job. It also clearly includes wildland firefighters and calls for a review of how job-related illnesses, including cancers, are covered and who qualifies. If implemented, this would be the first program of its kind in Canada and potentially one of the first in North America. It represents a major step forward in recognizing the real, long-term risks firefighters face on the job. This kind of progress matters. Not just for firefighters, but for all workers in high-risk occupations. It sets a new standard and opens the door for stronger protections across the board. Protecting workers means taking action. This is what that looks like.