National

Health complaints top B.C. advocate's list

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 18 Oct, 2022 01:35 PM

VICTORIA - Complaints about British Columbia's health-care system to the provincial ombudsperson have reached a 10-year high.

Jay Chalke's annual report for 2021-2022 says the office received almost 1,300 complaints or inquiries focused on programs and services provided by the Ministry of Health.

The figure is more than 15 per cent of all 8,215 complaints lodged with the office in that period.

Chalke says in a news release that health care was top of mind for those who reached out to his office, with complaints ranging from visitor restrictions for long-term care to surgery delays, and COVID-19 measures to quality of care.

It says the Ministry of Health, the Insurance Corporation of B.C. and the Ministry of Children and Family Development were the top three most complained about public bodies.

Among the problems Chalke's office says it solved was that of a lottery winner whose $150,000 cheque was withheld because the B.C. Lottery Corp. tried to insist on signed waivers from friends who were with the woman when she bought the ticket.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Amardip Singh Rai wanted on 17 charges including sexual assault

Amardip Singh Rai is described as a 42-year-old South Asian Male, 5’11, slim build, with brown eyes, black hair and often has facial hair. He has tattoos including roses on his hands, scroll with words on his neck, a cancer ribbon on his neck and a tiger on his chest.

Amardip Singh Rai wanted on 17 charges including sexual assault

Surrey RCMP make arrest for alleged personal robbery inside the ATM area of a Newton bank

On January 16, 2022, at 8:54 p.m., Surrey RCMP received the report of a personal robbery inside a bank in the 13600-block of 72 Avenue. The victim was depositing cash into the ATM when they were approached and allegedly robbed.

Surrey RCMP make arrest for alleged personal robbery inside the ATM area of a Newton bank

Freeland asked to scrap carbon capture tax credit

More than 400 Canadian climate scientists and other academics are pleading with Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland to scrap her plan to create a tax credit for companies that build carbon capture and storage facilities. Freeland floated the idea of the tax credit in last year's federal budget and consultations to design it ended just before Christmas.

Freeland asked to scrap carbon capture tax credit

Canada Post seeking clarification on mask policy

Canada Post says it is seeking "clarification" from the federal government about face masks after drawing criticism for refusing to let employees bring their own N95 masks to work. The Crown corporation earlier this week said employees had to use a Canada Post-issued cloth mask or disposable medical mask, or they would be sent home.

Canada Post seeking clarification on mask policy

Four people were hospitalized in three separate stabbings on the Downtown Eastside yesterday.

In a statement, Supt. Duncan Pound of B.C.'s anti-gang squad says its investigations into the shootings in Langley, Surrey and Coquitlam — in which one person was killed and the bystanders were hurt — indicate they appear to be connected to the drug trade.

Four people were hospitalized in three separate stabbings on the Downtown Eastside yesterday.

Russia cyber warning emerges amid Ukraine crisis

The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security, a branch of the Communications Security Establishment, said it was "aware of foreign cyber threat activities, including by Russian-backed actors, to target Canadian critical infrastructure network operators, their operational and information technology."