REPEAL OF LAWS NEEDED TO OPEN NEW SUPERVISED-INJECTION SITES: MEDICAL HEALTH OFFICER
A growing number of fentanyl overdoses in Vancouver has prompted Vancouver Coastal Health to look at expanding its supervised-injection services.
The agency aims to get federal approval to provide such services in community health centres that already help people with addictions.
Provincial health officer Dr. Perry Kendall said offering supervised injection in health centres would be more cost effective than building another stand-alone facility such as Insite, in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside.
He's hoping the federal Liberals will repeal legislation introduced by the former Conservative government that made it extremely difficult to open new supervised-injection sites. (The Canadian Press)
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MINISTER SAYS CHANGES MEAN CONSUMER PROTECTION FOR VEHICLE BUYERS
B.C.'s public safety minister says amendments to the province's Motor Dealer Act will ensure vehicle wholesalers and broker agents are licensed and regulated.
Mike Morris said the changes cover consumers' concerns about buying damaged or dangerous vehicles because unlicensed groups don't have to disclose a vehicle's history and accident records.
Morris said policing of vehicle sales can now be improved.
The amendments don't cover those who sell their vehicles privately. (The Canadian Press)
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RESEARCHER SAYS DISCOVERY GOOD NEWS FOR DETECTING EARLY-STAGE DISEASE IN BREAST-CANCER SURVIVORS
Researchers at U-B-C’s Okanagan campus say they have identified a new method of detecting cardiovascular disease in women recovering from breast cancer.
Associate professor Neil Eves said the breakthrough is particularly relevant for detecting early-stage disease in women at risk of developing heart complications due to the side effects of specific chemotherapy.
Eves said the researchers were able to detect earlier heart damage resulting from chemotherapy by assessing combined heart and blood vessel function of cancer survivors while they exercised.
This heart abnormality was not evident when the patients were resting. (The Canadian Press)
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TWO B.C. BEACHES AMONG TOP 50 ON EARTH: GUARDIAN
English Bay in Vancouver and Chesterman Beach on Vancouver Island have been ranked among the world's top 50 beaches on a list published by the British newspaper The Guardian.
It places English Bay in the 47th spot, noting the spectacular sunsets at the beach that's also heralded as a great place for families and volleyball players.
Chesterman Beach near Tofino has been named as the planet's best "wild and remote beach" and is noted as a kid-friendly surfing hangout that is also home to orcas.
First place on the list for the "wow factor" goes to an idyllic stretch of sand in the Seychelles.
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The Canadian Press
