Thoughts on BC Politics and More

The province’s decision to impose fines on B.C. Ferries for missed sailings due to crew shortages has some academics and other ferry watchers scratching their heads. “I almost see the fine as a punishment in terms of, ‘You’re being bad. Fix your behaviour.’ And I’m sure B.C. Ferries is not cancelling ferries on purpose,” said Kimberley Speers, assistant teaching professor in UVic’s School of Public Administration, who called fines “a strange way” to address staffing shortages — a common problem for many organizations ... CLICK HERE for the full story  

Saanich Peninsula Hospital’s emergency department will remain closed overnight until further notice after physicians warned health leaders in ­eleventh-hour negotiations Monday that to re-open as scheduled this week would risk patient safety because of a staffing shortage.   Overnight emergency department closings at Saanich Peninsula Hospital, which began in early July, were slated to end today but groups of ER and family physicians wrote to Island Health last week asking for an extension, saying the staffing shortage had worsened over the summer ... CLICK HERE for the full story