WEBVTT 1 00:00:04.200 --> 00:00:23.559 Thank you for listening to Depictions Media Radio. Welcome to 2 00:00:23.600 --> 00:00:57.119 Policy and Rights Show. Kay welcomer Policy, Human Joy and 3 00:00:57.159 --> 00:00:59.880 welcome back to Policy and Right here in Depictions Media Radio, 4 00:01:00.039 --> 00:01:08.599 I'm your host Michael Cloggs. So in British Columbia, David 5 00:01:08.640 --> 00:01:14.599 Eby and his team have managed to recruit more than 6 00:01:14.640 --> 00:01:22.959 four hundred US healthcare workers to British Columbia and they 7 00:01:23.040 --> 00:01:27.319 have claimed to still have thousands of other applicants along 8 00:01:27.400 --> 00:01:33.239 the way. And there's a bit of a breakdown of 9 00:01:33.280 --> 00:01:39.640 this for those who live in British Columbia that Fraser 10 00:01:39.760 --> 00:01:49.760 Health has collected one hundred and five healthcare professionals, while 11 00:01:49.840 --> 00:01:57.000 the Interior Health has collected eighty three healthcare workers. The 12 00:01:57.159 --> 00:02:03.000 Island Health in ninety seven and other areas have have 13 00:02:03.040 --> 00:02:12.120 collected up to seventy two more healthcare workers into into 14 00:02:12.199 --> 00:02:21.319 various areas, helping to improve response times, treatment times for 15 00:02:21.319 --> 00:02:29.120 for the British Columbia healthcare system. One of one of 16 00:02:29.159 --> 00:02:33.400 the things that is helping attract more people more healthcare 17 00:02:33.439 --> 00:02:40.199 workers to British Columbia is, in addition to evidence of 18 00:02:43.400 --> 00:02:49.199 to public health support and for reproductive rights and strong 19 00:02:49.280 --> 00:02:54.960 public healthcare, BC has a standard of living with free 20 00:02:55.000 --> 00:03:01.639 public health and K through twelve education, subsidized and licensed daycare, 21 00:03:02.280 --> 00:03:11.520 top ranking universities, and diverse safe communities. And this is 22 00:03:11.560 --> 00:03:18.159 some of the selling points that they've been attracting healthcare 23 00:03:18.199 --> 00:03:23.080 workers from the United States from starting from March of 24 00:03:23.199 --> 00:03:30.199 twenty twenty five last year, and the campaign has continued 25 00:03:31.680 --> 00:03:38.039 through January twenty twenty six, and British Columbia has said 26 00:03:38.080 --> 00:03:45.159 that they have more than twenty seven hundred job applications 27 00:03:45.199 --> 00:03:51.520 from US healthcare professionals that is varying from nurses to 28 00:03:51.719 --> 00:04:00.560 doctors and other types of healthcare professionals. So moving though, 29 00:04:00.599 --> 00:04:06.560 we want to get to an Alina uh Baerbach Uh. 30 00:04:06.719 --> 00:04:13.759 She's of course former prime minister for a foreign minister 31 00:04:13.960 --> 00:04:19.480 for for Germany. As she has moved along as we 32 00:04:19.600 --> 00:04:23.720 know to the President of the General You and General Assembly, 33 00:04:24.480 --> 00:04:31.079 she's making statements about how gender equality is being affected 34 00:04:31.120 --> 00:04:40.439 and threatened. Some of the things that that she is 35 00:04:40.480 --> 00:04:49.000 talking about precursors to aggression of repeatedly highlighted systematic UH 36 00:04:51.000 --> 00:05:00.279 repressions of women and the UH stifling of domestic stake 37 00:05:01.000 --> 00:05:09.240 dissidant as cruel, early warnings of signs of forthcoming authoritation 38 00:05:10.600 --> 00:05:23.199 sorry A in terrorism and international Belligerents. She points to 39 00:05:24.240 --> 00:05:32.560 acts of Russia as a potent, tragic example. The dismantling 40 00:05:32.680 --> 00:05:39.600 of civil society, including organizations dedicated to women and minority rights, 41 00:05:40.160 --> 00:05:49.519 she argues, paved the way to the ultimate invasion of Ukraine. 42 00:05:50.079 --> 00:05:56.759 She also talked about the threat to open societies. The 43 00:05:56.959 --> 00:06:08.079 digital assault is viewed as a direct essential threat to 44 00:06:08.920 --> 00:06:15.480 democratic and open societies by driving women out of public 45 00:06:16.120 --> 00:06:22.680 discourse and discouraging them from seeking leadership roles due to 46 00:06:22.759 --> 00:06:30.759 the overwhelming risk of character assassinations and violence. This digital 47 00:06:30.959 --> 00:06:42.560 toxic toxicity deliberately erodes the representative legitimacy of democratic institutions. 48 00:06:45.319 --> 00:06:54.319 Other things that she talked about the persuasive, pervasive justice gap. Fundamentally, 49 00:06:55.360 --> 00:07:13.240 she highlights the massive and un constable global justice gap 50 00:07:13.399 --> 00:07:19.240 of women worldwide still possess only approximately two thirds of 51 00:07:19.279 --> 00:07:24.079 the legal rights held by men in regions like Afghanistan 52 00:07:24.160 --> 00:07:31.319 and so then this is a regression, is not the 53 00:07:31.839 --> 00:07:37.160 This regression is not subtle. The rights are being actively 54 00:07:37.240 --> 00:07:44.959 and systematically script away from the through oppressive religious and 55 00:07:45.079 --> 00:08:02.319 political restrictions on women's bodies, the rights of resources. In 56 00:08:03.600 --> 00:08:14.600 this budgetary commitment is required the fundamental shift in development 57 00:08:14.720 --> 00:08:23.879 and humanitarian aid spending. Germany's FF piece set to challenge 58 00:08:23.920 --> 00:08:29.319 the benchmark and commitment dedicating eighty five percent of relevant 59 00:08:29.360 --> 00:08:43.360 funds to to demonstrably gender sensitive projects by twenty twenty five. 60 00:08:43.480 --> 00:08:47.120 Between twenty twenty five and twenty twenty six, the fiscal 61 00:08:48.639 --> 00:08:57.679 ensuring the aid active actively empowers women rather than passively 62 00:08:58.320 --> 00:09:07.480 perpetuating exists inequalities. She goes on about different types of 63 00:09:07.480 --> 00:09:10.159 of repression, which we're going to hear in a few 64 00:09:10.200 --> 00:09:21.519 minutes her her press conference at the United United Nations 65 00:09:21.879 --> 00:09:27.279 Press Center in New York City. Other things that are 66 00:09:27.960 --> 00:09:35.600 we're being talked about is the need to improve shelters 67 00:09:35.600 --> 00:09:45.879 in areas like Afghanistan for women in need that due 68 00:09:45.919 --> 00:09:54.039 to abuses and things and political policies in in Afghanistan, 69 00:09:54.480 --> 00:09:59.480 that there is an extreme need for shelters to help 70 00:10:01.399 --> 00:10:08.080 women who are being persecuted. So we're going to hear 71 00:10:08.200 --> 00:10:15.399 some about that, as well as other things and updates. 72 00:10:16.440 --> 00:10:22.840 We have an update about Iran, and interesting how we're 73 00:10:22.919 --> 00:10:28.919 talking about Iran, and there have been all over social 74 00:10:28.960 --> 00:10:35.200 media about how the United States public While okay, so 75 00:10:36.279 --> 00:10:44.559 President Trump did not ask for permission or put it 76 00:10:44.600 --> 00:10:52.759 to a congressional vote about invading or attacking Iran in general. 77 00:10:53.279 --> 00:10:58.320 He just marched forward with air strikes and continued air 78 00:10:58.360 --> 00:11:06.200 strikes even to the day after one making a promise that, hey, 79 00:11:06.759 --> 00:11:12.919 the United States would not be getting involved in foreign wars. 80 00:11:12.960 --> 00:11:21.879 He also the United States public is not not really 81 00:11:21.919 --> 00:11:35.639 willing to overtly back this aggression against Iran, and along 82 00:11:35.720 --> 00:11:41.799 with that, one of his one of the members of 83 00:11:42.120 --> 00:11:52.679 the Trump administration has resigned, is stating that the war 84 00:11:52.759 --> 00:11:56.559 itself was not a necessity and could have been avoided 85 00:11:56.600 --> 00:12:01.879 to begin with. So there is still quite a struggle 86 00:12:01.919 --> 00:12:10.320 going on with with the United States Israel as they 87 00:12:10.519 --> 00:12:20.279 are charging into Iran and claiming that they have killed 88 00:12:20.639 --> 00:12:29.679 or or maimed the top Iranian leadership in current airstrikes. 89 00:12:29.799 --> 00:12:34.120 So something to keep up with about what is going 90 00:12:34.159 --> 00:12:42.000 on in Iran and why the United States and Israel 91 00:12:42.080 --> 00:12:48.000 find it necessary to attack Iran in general. So why 92 00:12:48.000 --> 00:12:51.480 don't we push forward with all the confusion that is 93 00:12:51.600 --> 00:12:56.840 happening and listen to one David eb as he talks 94 00:12:56.879 --> 00:13:00.639 about some of the successes that he's having in recruiting 95 00:13:02.679 --> 00:13:11.559 US healthcare workers into British Columbia and listen to the 96 00:13:11.679 --> 00:13:17.480 United Nations as they talk about how shelters are needed 97 00:13:17.519 --> 00:13:25.679 in Afghanistan. And also listen to Angela ann Alina Baherbach 98 00:13:26.000 --> 00:13:31.720 as she talks about how ginger equality is under threat 99 00:13:33.679 --> 00:13:39.879 and still women are at risk and don't have uh 100 00:13:40.000 --> 00:13:48.399 the equality that and fall far behind men and having 101 00:13:48.679 --> 00:13:52.440 rights both publicly and politically. 102 00:13:59.039 --> 00:14:01.399 I have some very good news to share with British 103 00:14:01.399 --> 00:14:04.679 Columbians today. It was about. 104 00:14:06.080 --> 00:14:10.200 Just over a year short of a year ago. We 105 00:14:10.600 --> 00:14:13.960 looked around at what was happening in the world and 106 00:14:15.919 --> 00:14:19.279 thought that there was an advantage potentially to be had 107 00:14:19.840 --> 00:14:25.720 by reaching out to American healthcare professionals and letting them 108 00:14:25.759 --> 00:14:29.360 know what the opportunities were for them in British Columbia. 109 00:14:29.519 --> 00:14:32.399 British Columbians will know one of our big challenges in 110 00:14:32.440 --> 00:14:37.200 the healthcare system has been recruiting the number of healthcare 111 00:14:37.240 --> 00:14:42.440 professionals we need, whether doctors or nurses or science professionals 112 00:14:42.879 --> 00:14:45.159 to be able to deliver the level of service that 113 00:14:45.200 --> 00:14:48.600 British Columbians deserve. So we thought to ourselves that we'll 114 00:14:48.639 --> 00:14:52.320 reach out and we'll underline our advantages. Obviously, British Columbia 115 00:14:52.360 --> 00:14:54.480 is a great place to live, one of the best 116 00:14:54.480 --> 00:14:57.000 places to live in the world, a very high standard 117 00:14:57.000 --> 00:14:59.200 of living, a great place to grow your career as 118 00:14:59.200 --> 00:15:03.159 a medical profession, a place where we respect reproductive rights, 119 00:15:03.480 --> 00:15:07.399 where we respect science. It informs our policy, and we 120 00:15:07.480 --> 00:15:10.399 have a universal healthcare system where you don't have to 121 00:15:10.399 --> 00:15:13.399 pull out your credit card to access care or put 122 00:15:13.399 --> 00:15:15.919 your family into debt for the rest of their lives 123 00:15:16.080 --> 00:15:17.879 to ensure that you get the care that you need. 124 00:15:18.960 --> 00:15:21.559 So we brought that message south of the border. Now 125 00:15:21.600 --> 00:15:23.519 you'll remember at the time, the Conservatives were very opposed 126 00:15:23.559 --> 00:15:25.120 to this. They thought it was a waste of money, 127 00:15:25.480 --> 00:15:27.720 They thought it wouldn't be successful. They were very critical 128 00:15:27.759 --> 00:15:29.759 of the program. Well, I'm happy to share with you 129 00:15:30.759 --> 00:15:34.039 that our hunch was right. We have been able to 130 00:15:34.080 --> 00:15:37.519 recruit a significant number of American healthcare professionals, and I'm 131 00:15:37.519 --> 00:15:40.960 here to provide you with an update on that. In 132 00:15:41.000 --> 00:15:44.559 the ten months between March of last year and January 133 00:15:44.600 --> 00:15:48.679 twenty twenty six, more than four hundred healthcare professionals have 134 00:15:48.759 --> 00:15:53.039 accepted job offers within BC's public health care system. That 135 00:15:53.080 --> 00:16:00.399 includes eighty nine doctors, two hundred and sixty nurses, nurse 136 00:16:00.440 --> 00:16:06.519 practitioners in twenty three allied health professionals. Some are here already, 137 00:16:06.559 --> 00:16:09.840 like doctor West will be speaking briefly, working in communities 138 00:16:09.879 --> 00:16:12.480 throughout the province, and more are on their way. 139 00:16:13.000 --> 00:16:14.360 It's great news for British Columbians. 140 00:16:14.360 --> 00:16:16.919 It means more doctors, nurses and health science professionals to 141 00:16:16.919 --> 00:16:19.600 support you and your family getting the carry need. These 142 00:16:19.639 --> 00:16:23.279 health professionals are distributed across the province, across health authorities. 143 00:16:23.679 --> 00:16:27.120 It means hundreds of additional highly skilled health professionals that 144 00:16:27.159 --> 00:16:28.919 we would not have otherwise had access to. 145 00:16:29.360 --> 00:16:31.320 Now. I know missus Osborne will be giving. 146 00:16:31.120 --> 00:16:34.480 You more details about this announcement, but I just want 147 00:16:34.519 --> 00:16:37.559 to say to any American healthcare professionals that are out there, 148 00:16:38.120 --> 00:16:41.919 British Columbia is ready to welcome you with open arms. 149 00:16:42.320 --> 00:16:46.159 We have a public healthcare system, we respect science, we 150 00:16:46.200 --> 00:16:50.399 respect reproductive rights, we have highly inclusive and welcoming workplaces 151 00:16:50.399 --> 00:16:53.159 and communities, and we can't wait to welcome you to 152 00:16:53.200 --> 00:16:55.320 British Columbia. Come join your friends. 153 00:16:55.519 --> 00:17:06.119 Thanks very much, Thank you so much, Premier. Making the 154 00:17:06.240 --> 00:17:09.400 decision to move to a new community is never easy, 155 00:17:09.559 --> 00:17:11.920 but it is even a bigger step when it's to 156 00:17:12.000 --> 00:17:17.079 a new country. The doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners and allied 157 00:17:17.119 --> 00:17:21.839 healthcare professionals who are choosing to come to British Columbia. 158 00:17:21.920 --> 00:17:26.160 They're not just changing jobs, they are moving families, they're 159 00:17:26.200 --> 00:17:30.519 starting new chapters, they're building new lives. And we knew 160 00:17:30.559 --> 00:17:33.799 that we had to make that as smooth as possible, 161 00:17:34.119 --> 00:17:37.519 so we brought together what we're calling a TEMBC approach, 162 00:17:37.799 --> 00:17:42.079 working closely with regulatory colleges, with Health Match BC and 163 00:17:42.119 --> 00:17:46.839 health authorities to streamline credential recognition and to help US 164 00:17:46.920 --> 00:17:51.799 healthcare professionals find and apply the jobs that they're seeking quickly. 165 00:17:52.799 --> 00:17:55.799 We are already seeing the results as the premier is outlined, 166 00:17:55.920 --> 00:17:59.200 and last year we received more than twenty seven and 167 00:17:59.240 --> 00:18:04.519 fifty jobs applications from US trained doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners 168 00:18:04.519 --> 00:18:07.039 and allied health professionals who want to work here in 169 00:18:07.079 --> 00:18:12.440 British Columbia. We've already registered more than thirteen hundred to 170 00:18:12.480 --> 00:18:15.039 be able to work here in British Columbia, and that 171 00:18:15.079 --> 00:18:19.480 includes over nine hundred and thirty nurses, over two hundred 172 00:18:19.559 --> 00:18:23.599 nurse practitioners, more than two hundred physicians, and that in 173 00:18:23.640 --> 00:18:26.400 itself includes more than seventy family doctors. And these are 174 00:18:26.480 --> 00:18:32.839 professionals who are moving from the US from places like Washington, Oregon, California, Texas, 175 00:18:33.160 --> 00:18:39.160 New York, Colorado, Alaska. They're choosing communities all over British Columbia, 176 00:18:39.160 --> 00:18:46.000 including Vancouver, Victoria, Nanaimo, port Alberni, Colonna, Terrace, Necup. A 177 00:18:46.039 --> 00:18:48.759 few months ago, I had a chance to meet three 178 00:18:48.960 --> 00:18:53.000 emergency room nurses who have moved to Nanaimo, and hearing 179 00:18:53.039 --> 00:18:56.039 their stories and about why they chose to come to 180 00:18:56.079 --> 00:18:59.839 British Columbia, how excited they are to start their careers 181 00:19:00.359 --> 00:19:04.279 build their lives here really brings home what this recruitment 182 00:19:04.319 --> 00:19:07.000 effort is all about. These are healthcare professionals who are 183 00:19:07.000 --> 00:19:12.240 making BC their home. They're strengthening healthcare teams here. They're 184 00:19:12.279 --> 00:19:17.200 helping communities across our province access the care that people need. 185 00:19:17.720 --> 00:19:20.960 And it is just the beginning. We continue to see 186 00:19:20.960 --> 00:19:25.880 strong interest from US doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, allied health professionals, 187 00:19:25.880 --> 00:19:28.039 people who want to come here to British Columbia. And 188 00:19:28.079 --> 00:19:33.079 when people ask why, the answer is very clear. British 189 00:19:33.119 --> 00:19:37.279 Columbia is a place where professionals can practice evidence based 190 00:19:37.440 --> 00:19:42.400 medicine in a strong public healthcare system. It's a province 191 00:19:42.440 --> 00:19:46.240 where we protect access to reproductive healthcare. It's a province 192 00:19:46.240 --> 00:19:49.240 where people receive care based on their needs and not 193 00:19:49.519 --> 00:19:52.759 on their ability to pay. But it's also about the 194 00:19:52.880 --> 00:19:53.799 quality of life. 195 00:19:53.799 --> 00:19:54.079 Here. 196 00:19:54.599 --> 00:19:59.279 BC offers universal health care, free public education from kindergarten 197 00:19:59.279 --> 00:20:05.039 to grade twelve, subsidized childcare, world class universities, and safe, 198 00:20:05.279 --> 00:20:10.400 diverse communities. For many health professionals and for their families, 199 00:20:10.559 --> 00:20:14.079 these are very powerful reasons to choose British Columbia. And 200 00:20:14.119 --> 00:20:17.720 as Premieerybe said, some of these professionals are already here 201 00:20:17.880 --> 00:20:21.319 strengthening our healthcare system today, and many more are on 202 00:20:21.359 --> 00:20:24.720 their way, and we're really proud to welcome them because 203 00:20:24.759 --> 00:20:29.680 every single doctor, nurse, practitioner and allied health professional who 204 00:20:29.759 --> 00:20:33.119 chooses to move to British Columbia is making our healthcare 205 00:20:33.160 --> 00:20:37.240 system stronger for British Columbians. So I'd like now to 206 00:20:37.519 --> 00:20:40.279 invite doctor Yanto West to come up and make a 207 00:20:40.279 --> 00:20:40.960 few remarks. 208 00:20:41.119 --> 00:20:41.440 Thank you. 209 00:20:46.359 --> 00:20:51.319 Thanks everyone. So I started graduate school in Seattle in 210 00:20:51.440 --> 00:20:54.319 twenty fourteen, and a couple of years in I had 211 00:20:54.359 --> 00:20:56.960 the idea that I might want to move to Canada, 212 00:20:57.400 --> 00:21:00.599 so I booked my credentials with something called the National Register. 213 00:21:01.400 --> 00:21:04.759 That meant that when November twenty twenty four came around 214 00:21:04.799 --> 00:21:07.039 and our family made the decision to move to Canada, 215 00:21:07.359 --> 00:21:08.960 the process went a little bit smoother. 216 00:21:10.039 --> 00:21:11.799 We were able to move pretty fast. 217 00:21:12.240 --> 00:21:14.519 It was still a lot of things to do, but 218 00:21:14.599 --> 00:21:16.960 it reduced a paperwork burden and I was able to 219 00:21:16.960 --> 00:21:20.079 make things happen pretty quickly. We took it just one 220 00:21:20.160 --> 00:21:23.519 step at a time. A former colleague from Vancouver actually 221 00:21:23.559 --> 00:21:26.640 gave me a zoom tour over Google Maps of Vancouver 222 00:21:26.680 --> 00:21:29.720 and that helped me feel like, Okay, we can do this. 223 00:21:30.759 --> 00:21:34.200 Things like Healthmatch BC and Todd Maffins videos gave me 224 00:21:34.279 --> 00:21:37.160 hope to keep going. I was able to get registered 225 00:21:37.160 --> 00:21:40.519 as a psychologist in BC and about six months then 226 00:21:40.519 --> 00:21:42.759 I had a job offer in about a month, and 227 00:21:42.839 --> 00:21:44.720 about a month after that we were moving. 228 00:21:46.039 --> 00:21:47.079 We had to leave a lot. 229 00:21:46.960 --> 00:21:51.279 Behind in order to move so quickly. Our car paid off, 230 00:21:51.799 --> 00:21:53.920 but it couldn't covert to kilometers, so the car had 231 00:21:53.920 --> 00:21:57.160 to stay. But that said, I'm really loving my bike commute, 232 00:21:57.400 --> 00:21:59.279 as my coworkers will attest to I talk about it 233 00:21:59.319 --> 00:22:03.880 every day. The neighborhood has been so welcoming. I've never 234 00:22:03.920 --> 00:22:06.119 had such a neighborly daily life before. We were just 235 00:22:06.160 --> 00:22:08.920 talking about I have a cup of sugar. Friends where 236 00:22:08.920 --> 00:22:10.920 I can walk down the street, borrow cup of sugar, 237 00:22:11.359 --> 00:22:14.079 pick each other's kids up from the pool, like I've 238 00:22:14.119 --> 00:22:17.160 never had that kind of neighborhood before. And I had 239 00:22:17.160 --> 00:22:20.039 annoyed you about the ice rinks. There are so many. 240 00:22:20.839 --> 00:22:23.039 I'm working at BC Children's and I'm loving it that 241 00:22:23.160 --> 00:22:26.640 people here are amazing. I level the diverse disciplines and 242 00:22:26.640 --> 00:22:27.720 the way research. 243 00:22:27.440 --> 00:22:29.880 Is valued here. I'm very grateful to be here. 244 00:22:33.200 --> 00:22:36.559 Thank you so much, Doctor west On behalf of everybody. 245 00:22:36.640 --> 00:22:38.759 I want to say thank you for following your heart 246 00:22:38.920 --> 00:22:43.160 to British Columbia, helping to take care of our children 247 00:22:43.319 --> 00:22:46.880 and youth here at BC Children's Hospital. We really appreciate 248 00:22:46.960 --> 00:22:50.480 all the passion and the expertise that doctor west is 249 00:22:50.480 --> 00:22:55.119 bringing and hoping that they'll reach back out into their 250 00:22:55.160 --> 00:22:59.519 communities back home and invite even more American professionals to 251 00:22:59.559 --> 00:23:04.559 move British Columbia. So with that, we will conclude this 252 00:23:04.640 --> 00:23:08.160 part of today's event, and I would like to invite 253 00:23:08.200 --> 00:23:09.039 Premiere you be back. 254 00:23:09.000 --> 00:23:09.680 Up for questions. 255 00:23:09.799 --> 00:23:13.960 Thank you, Thank you, minister, Thank you everyone for joining 256 00:23:14.000 --> 00:23:15.480 us here today at BC Children's Hospital. 257 00:23:15.519 --> 00:23:17.119 We're gonna take questions from the media now. 258 00:23:18.279 --> 00:23:21.400 Before we get into questions, I just wanted to briefly 259 00:23:21.440 --> 00:23:28.960 address concerns that people feel about the atmospheric river events 260 00:23:29.000 --> 00:23:33.440 that are taking place along the northern Northwest coast, central Coast, 261 00:23:33.720 --> 00:23:36.720 and potentially the west coast of Vancouver Island. 262 00:23:37.119 --> 00:23:37.680 We'll have an. 263 00:23:37.640 --> 00:23:42.000 Update later today about those weather events. The River Monitoring 264 00:23:42.039 --> 00:23:45.279 Center is keeping track of river levels across the province 265 00:23:45.400 --> 00:23:47.839 and we will keep British Columbians updated as we move 266 00:23:47.880 --> 00:23:50.839 forward and get more information about any flood risks in 267 00:23:50.880 --> 00:23:51.559 those regions. 268 00:23:51.680 --> 00:23:53.519 Thanks very much, Thank you. 269 00:23:54.359 --> 00:23:55.720 We're gonna take questions from the press now. 270 00:23:55.759 --> 00:23:57.960 All reporters will have one question and one follow up 271 00:23:58.079 --> 00:24:00.000 for a media on the line. Please remember the press 272 00:24:00.079 --> 00:24:02.119 are one tender the queue and to want to meet 273 00:24:02.160 --> 00:24:02.960 yourself and called upon. 274 00:24:03.000 --> 00:24:04.680 We're going to start here in person with Ben Milcher 275 00:24:04.720 --> 00:24:05.240 from TTV. 276 00:24:05.960 --> 00:24:06.599 Thanks very much. 277 00:24:06.680 --> 00:24:09.039 My first question is from my colleagues on Vancouver Island 278 00:24:09.039 --> 00:24:13.160 and it's for Minister Osborne regarding the announcement. 279 00:24:12.680 --> 00:24:14.079 To be okay good. 280 00:24:14.359 --> 00:24:16.640 I just want to give you time to a gesture, hoding. 281 00:24:16.519 --> 00:24:18.039 Okay, yeah, we'll get it done. 282 00:24:18.599 --> 00:24:20.960 Appreciate that Nanaimo who has received a lot of coverage 283 00:24:20.960 --> 00:24:23.240 for being a lot of wat for US healthcare workers. 284 00:24:23.279 --> 00:24:25.759 Can you talk about the impact on the island and 285 00:24:25.839 --> 00:24:28.240 are you able to break down the numbers at all 286 00:24:28.319 --> 00:24:31.920 for how many US healthcare professionals have chosen to settle. 287 00:24:31.640 --> 00:24:37.960 On Sure, give it to do it. 288 00:24:43.640 --> 00:24:46.240 Thank you so much for the question. We're really excited 289 00:24:46.279 --> 00:24:49.519 to see US trained professionals making the move to all 290 00:24:49.720 --> 00:24:52.640 different communities, different sized communities in British Columbia. We have 291 00:24:52.759 --> 00:24:56.440 had some really strong interest on Vancouver Island, and in fact, 292 00:24:57.079 --> 00:25:00.440 out of the four hundred and fourteen healthcare professon that 293 00:25:00.480 --> 00:25:04.400 have accepted job offers in the last ten months, eighty 294 00:25:04.400 --> 00:25:06.599 three of them have our story of pardon me. Ninety 295 00:25:06.640 --> 00:25:09.759 seven of them have come to the island health area 296 00:25:10.359 --> 00:25:14.480 and some Nanaimo, but also port Alberni, to Fino, Victoria, 297 00:25:14.559 --> 00:25:18.519 other communities on Vancouver Island. They are settling well, and 298 00:25:18.599 --> 00:25:21.200 as I said in my remarks, just listening to some 299 00:25:21.240 --> 00:25:23.839 of the stories, for example of er nurses that have 300 00:25:23.880 --> 00:25:27.480 made them move to Nanaimo, and they are feeling safe welcomed, 301 00:25:27.960 --> 00:25:31.400 really enjoying a workplace setting with their colleagues and mostly 302 00:25:31.519 --> 00:25:34.839 speak about a real values match with our public universal 303 00:25:34.839 --> 00:25:37.640 healthcare system here in British Columbia, and being able to 304 00:25:37.680 --> 00:25:40.559 practice medicine, deliver healthcare in the way that they were 305 00:25:40.559 --> 00:25:43.279 trained to that they were called to as professionals, and 306 00:25:43.279 --> 00:25:45.799 being able to do that safely here in British Columbia. 307 00:25:46.599 --> 00:25:47.920 Follow up, Ben Bass. 308 00:25:48.400 --> 00:25:50.119 My follow up is for Premierbee. 309 00:25:50.119 --> 00:25:51.039 It's off topic. 310 00:25:52.319 --> 00:25:54.559 World events have caused the price at the pump to 311 00:25:54.680 --> 00:25:59.799 spike dramatically in recent weeks, adding to the cost of 312 00:26:00.079 --> 00:26:02.759 im burdened that many British Columbia families are dealing with. 313 00:26:03.000 --> 00:26:06.200 Does your government have any plans, whether that be through 314 00:26:06.519 --> 00:26:10.559 a targeted rebate or perhaps an easing of some of 315 00:26:10.599 --> 00:26:13.519 the gas taxes to make things easier for BC families. 316 00:26:14.519 --> 00:26:14.759 Thanks. 317 00:26:14.759 --> 00:26:16.279 I know what was a point of concern for many 318 00:26:16.279 --> 00:26:21.440 British Columbians, myself included when the price at the pump 319 00:26:22.039 --> 00:26:26.240 skyrocketed in relation to events in the Middle East. Knowing 320 00:26:26.279 --> 00:26:30.319 that our crud stock is coming from Alberta. Refineries in 321 00:26:30.400 --> 00:26:34.880 Alberta and in the United States, and the refinery in 322 00:26:34.960 --> 00:26:37.160 the Lower Mainland as well as a smaller one up north. 323 00:26:38.279 --> 00:26:41.519 Trying to find that connection between events in the Middle 324 00:26:41.559 --> 00:26:44.319 East and the price of the pump for British Columbians 325 00:26:44.720 --> 00:26:48.839 has been a concern. The Utilities Commission has been given 326 00:26:48.839 --> 00:26:52.200 the authorities that they require to be able to ensure 327 00:26:52.240 --> 00:26:55.160 that British Columbians are not being gouged at the pump 328 00:26:55.640 --> 00:26:58.680 for events that are taking place internationally but have very 329 00:26:58.720 --> 00:27:02.480 little impact on domestic feedstock for the pumps, and we 330 00:27:02.480 --> 00:27:04.880 will be looking to the Utilities Commission to fulfill that 331 00:27:04.960 --> 00:27:09.079 responsibility for British Columbians. We will always be looking for 332 00:27:09.160 --> 00:27:12.559 ways to ensure affordability for British Columbians. This is a 333 00:27:12.640 --> 00:27:19.799 very challenging issue given global events and our continued advocacy 334 00:27:19.880 --> 00:27:23.799 for consideration around additional refinery capacity for Canada so that 335 00:27:23.839 --> 00:27:28.000 we're able to withstand and ensure that we have a 336 00:27:28.039 --> 00:27:31.839 safe and secure supply of gasoline, jet fuel and other 337 00:27:31.960 --> 00:27:37.279 essentials for our economy going forward. Given the instability globally, 338 00:27:38.039 --> 00:27:40.880 is a suggestion that we hope the federal government takes seriously. 339 00:27:42.799 --> 00:27:45.200 Next one head to Katie Rosa from CBC. 340 00:27:51.039 --> 00:27:55.160 Put a report into the rebuilding of the community of 341 00:27:55.200 --> 00:27:58.799 ligtid and it's found it at the time of the fire, 342 00:27:59.279 --> 00:28:03.279 the province not have a comprehensive legal spremework to guide 343 00:28:03.400 --> 00:28:08.759 disaster recovery, and also that the province didn't anticipate that 344 00:28:09.319 --> 00:28:12.519 they expected the village to build to do its own recovery, 345 00:28:12.599 --> 00:28:15.519 and many residents did not have fire insurance. So I 346 00:28:15.519 --> 00:28:18.680 guess what did the province learn from this report and 347 00:28:18.920 --> 00:28:21.759 what will be done to improve going forward. 348 00:28:24.000 --> 00:28:26.799 Thanks The report will be out later this afternoon and 349 00:28:26.839 --> 00:28:30.240 the Minister will be responding to the report on behalf 350 00:28:30.319 --> 00:28:36.559 of government. The situation in British Columbia has changed since 351 00:28:36.599 --> 00:28:39.160 the fire and Letton. We've passed a new law that 352 00:28:39.240 --> 00:28:44.000 requires the conversations between communities and first nations to happen 353 00:28:44.200 --> 00:28:48.039 in advance of an emergency, rather than in the middle 354 00:28:48.079 --> 00:28:52.359 of an emergency or immediately following an emergency. This hopefully 355 00:28:52.599 --> 00:28:55.599 will be just one of the many improvements that have 356 00:28:55.680 --> 00:29:00.200 come about hard lessons learned through the events and the 357 00:29:01.240 --> 00:29:05.319 terrible loss of property that took place in following that 358 00:29:05.400 --> 00:29:06.279 devastating fire. 359 00:29:07.640 --> 00:29:08.359 We look forward to. 360 00:29:09.880 --> 00:29:11.960 Responding to the Outor of General's report when it's released 361 00:29:11.960 --> 00:29:12.559 this afternoon. 362 00:29:14.480 --> 00:29:19.480 Followed Katie Yeah This is from a colleague in the 363 00:29:19.519 --> 00:29:24.519 Seashells area. The federal government says that temporary foreign workers 364 00:29:24.880 --> 00:29:29.319 can get an extension, but it requires a positive request 365 00:29:29.759 --> 00:29:33.000 from the province. So will you be writing this letter 366 00:29:33.119 --> 00:29:34.640 for workers on the Sunshink code. 367 00:29:35.160 --> 00:29:37.119 Yeah, thanks Katie, and thanks for asking me about this. 368 00:29:37.200 --> 00:29:41.119 You know, I am first of all, we have many 369 00:29:41.160 --> 00:29:45.440 communities that have labor shortages in different areas and including 370 00:29:46.640 --> 00:29:50.400 in the area of today's announcement healthcare. I am not 371 00:29:50.519 --> 00:29:54.359 a fan of the temporary foreign worker program. It ties 372 00:29:54.480 --> 00:29:58.559 workers to a single employer, raising the possibility of abuse 373 00:29:58.640 --> 00:30:03.319 and exploitation. It does not provide a pathway to citizenship. 374 00:30:03.559 --> 00:30:06.680 So workers who have built a life in a community, 375 00:30:06.759 --> 00:30:09.640 are contributing, are paying taxes, or filling a vital role, 376 00:30:10.559 --> 00:30:14.680 are facing deportation back to home countries, including in critical 377 00:30:14.720 --> 00:30:20.480 areas like healthcare, childcare, and in the private sector as well. 378 00:30:21.880 --> 00:30:24.759 The idea that the solution to the challenges we face 379 00:30:24.880 --> 00:30:28.759 is an expansion of this program is frankly a bit frustrating. 380 00:30:29.559 --> 00:30:31.440 We have advocated to the federal. 381 00:30:31.160 --> 00:30:35.279 Government on multiple occasions that the provincial government of British 382 00:30:35.279 --> 00:30:39.160 Columbia deserves the same opportunity as the provincial government of 383 00:30:39.200 --> 00:30:47.799 Quebec to direct permanent, long term citizenship path labor opportunities 384 00:30:48.079 --> 00:30:50.759 that we can recruit those workers that we need for 385 00:30:50.799 --> 00:30:53.960 our province and offer them a path to citizenship so 386 00:30:54.000 --> 00:30:56.720 that they can stay here and work here and build 387 00:30:56.720 --> 00:31:00.720 our province as people have for generations. I don't understand 388 00:31:00.759 --> 00:31:03.599 why that call hasn't been heard. In fact, our numbers 389 00:31:03.880 --> 00:31:06.480 of permanent places that we can offer people a path 390 00:31:06.519 --> 00:31:09.880 the citizenship through the provincial nominee program has been cut 391 00:31:09.960 --> 00:31:14.119 dramatically instead of expanded. This is a point of agreement 392 00:31:14.720 --> 00:31:19.000 across the province or across the country provincial leaders nationally 393 00:31:19.319 --> 00:31:23.000 that this change needs to happen. Today's announcement about the 394 00:31:23.240 --> 00:31:28.160 overwhelming interest of healthcare professionals to come to British Columbia 395 00:31:28.200 --> 00:31:32.559 from the United States is just one sector. Similar overwhelming 396 00:31:32.559 --> 00:31:37.720 interest exists in academia in the private sector, leading researchers, 397 00:31:38.359 --> 00:31:41.359 business operators, others who would love to come to British 398 00:31:41.400 --> 00:31:45.279 Columbia people to fill vital roles in rural and northern communities. 399 00:31:45.799 --> 00:31:48.559 For businesses to be able to operate everything from restaurants 400 00:31:48.920 --> 00:31:55.279 to educational facilities, to childcare facilities to highly skilled trades. 401 00:31:55.839 --> 00:31:58.799