Ghost Issue? Health Care and the Aged (in Opinion)

A rapidly aging population is just one of many health system challenges facing BC’s next government. We have been surprised, to say the least, at the lack of public discourse around health care during this election period. As a top-of-mind issue for British Columbians, you’d think it would be as central as the always large and looming economy Continue reading

Islands Trust Council approves 1.3-per-cent property tax increase

At a recent meeting on Thetis Island, the Islands Trust Council approved a 2013-2014 budget of $6.9 million. The budget represents a $101,269 increase in expenditures and will result in a 1.3-per-cent increase in Islands Trust property taxes in 2013. A typical property assessed at $450,000 is expected to see a tax increase of approximately $4 Continue reading

Fraser Institute: Aging Population and Changing Demographics Mean Canada's Health Care System Facing a Funding Gap of …

CALGARY, ALBERTA–(Marketwire – Dec 10, 2012) – The Canadian health care system was facing a $537.7 billion shortfall at the end of 2010, an amount equal to more than $32,000 for each Canadian taxpayer, calculates a new report from the Fraser Institute, Canada”s leading public policy think-tank. “The reality of this large and growing unfunded liability is that young Canadians will likely be hit with a significantly larger tax bill in the future to pay for health care,” said Nadeem Esmail, Fraser Institute senior fellow and co-author of the report, The Unfunded Liability of Canada”s Health Care System. “In the absence of reform, governments will be forced to choose between further eroding non-health care government services, further reducing available medical services, dramatically increasing taxes, or some combination.” An unfunded liability occurs when a program has a shortfall between the expected future stream of funding and its future obligations. Continue reading

Hainan set to rival Singapore, Malaysia and Italy by 2021

19 September 2012 According to a report, ‘Hainan: Travel & Tourism Development Potential 2011 2021′ released today by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), by 2021 tourism expenditure in Hainan will be roughly equivalent to that of Singapore today, and the industry will support as many jobs as in Malaysia and Italy today. In December 2009, China’s State Council issued a decree that Hainan in the South China Sea the largest Special Economic Zone in China was to be elevated into a world-class international tourist resort destination by 2020 and the Provincial Government is now well on the way to reaching these goals, according to the WTTC report Continue reading

Drumheller News, Drumheller Weather, Drumheller Sports

Details Published on Saturday, 18 August 2012 10:39 Written by DrumhellerMail.com On Tuesday, August 14, Banff-Cochrane MLA Ron Casey hosted a public conversation about health care for the Drumheller and area community at the Badlands Community Facility. Continue reading

Medicine Hat police must hide tattoos, piercings

A new policy banning visible tattoos and piercings for police officers is creating a stir in Medicine Hat, Alta. Chief Andy McGrogan says he’s pleased with the changes, which prohibit his officers from revealing any tattoos, piercings or wearing unnaturally coloured hair. The changes are well researched thanks to a 2011 community survey that showed residents favoured appearance standards for police, McGrogan said Continue reading