April 16 - LifeLabs supporters to picket today

Good morning !

Up in Campbell River, there’s an outdoor art installation of 50K flags in the ground. The 35K blue ones represent the men and boys who have died in the opioid crisis that just hit the nine-year mark. A further 14K purple flags represent the women and girls whose lives were taken by drugs.

Check out the CHEK story and photo of the national toll of the opioid scourge. But come back to read our Robyn Bell’s story on how things have played out here in BC.

— Mark

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: ☀️14 / 7 

Tomorrow: ☀️14 / 7 

Friday: 🌤️15 / 8

7-day forecast

NEWS

LifeLabs workers and patients to march to the legislature today

If you’ve had bloodwork done, you’re likely familiar with LifeLabs, which conducts the majority of BC’s outpatient lab work.

Last year, American Fortune 500 company Quest Diagnostics bought the health-care provider for $1.35B—and workers say they feel the company has been bleeding them dry ever since.

As contract negotiations continue, so do rotating strikes, which started Feb. 16. The BC General Employees' Union (BCGEU) represents 1,200 workers who say they are concerned about staff shortages and lack of benefits. 

They want pay parity with the public system and say there’s a 4-16% gap with public workers providing the same work.

The BCGEU and BC Health Coalition intend to march to the BC Legislature today. Their message: “Why is an American company sucking millions of public health dollars out of BC?”

"There is no economic justification to allow a US corporation to provide outpatient diagnostic services in the province," said BCGEU president Paul Finch, who’s calling on the BC government to bring the company into the public system.

Last week, Premier David Eby sent out an edict to all ministries, health authorities, and core Crown corporations to review all contracts with US companies to decrease BC’s dependence on American goods and services.

"We should not be handing over $300M a year to a US corporation that refers to patients as customers,” said BC Health Coalition spokesperson Ayendri Riddell. 

“We need the BC government to bring lab testing fully into the public system to save money and decrease wait times.”

Results of a poll commissioned by the BCGEU suggest 77% of British Columbians support the provincial government intervening to take medical lab services out of American hands.

"This dispute is about the erosion of patient care and working conditions while a for-profit company increases its profit margins,” Finch said.

“Workers and the public are already noticing a decline in services since Quest took over last year,” he said.

LifeLabs is the country’s largest diagnostic and medical testing provider, and it’s an essential service, so most of its offices will remain open, with some locations across the province temporarily closed to allow workers to participate in the rolling strike. The reduced capacity will make for longer wait times. 

The demonstration is scheduled from 10am to 12pm today on the legislature lawn.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Federal election advance voting on April 18-21, in person, or by mail before April 22. 

Election listening session with 4 major parties tonight. [Chamber of Commerce]

All-candidates meeting: Victoria riding, tomorrow, at 7pm at Cook Street Village Activity Centre.

New poetry prize from the Victoria Book Prize Society

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

Support local journalism by supporting Capital Daily. Become a Capital Daily Insider member today and help bring local stories to life. 

NEWS

Looking back on nearly a decade of BC’s toxic drug crisis

Nine years have passed since BC Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced that the toxic drug crisis had become a public health emergency. Since then, more than 16K people in BC have died from poisonous drugs—2,784 of these deaths were on the Island—and the yearly toll is more than double what was recorded in 2016. 

While death rates have risen significantly since the emergency began, last year the province recorded a 13% decrease in drug deaths, and that trend appears to be continuing in 2025. Still, it appears an end to the crisis is a long way off.

From a lack of services tailored to the needs of those who use drugs to continued policy swings that prevent long-term research on decriminalization, the province is still struggling to manage the crisis and reduce the number of deaths.

We take a look back on the progress made by the province over the years—and the many fumbles along the way.

SPONSORED BY THE RUNDOWN AI

Learn AI in 5 minutes a day

This is the easiest way for a busy person wanting to learn AI in as little time as possible:

1. Sign up for The Rundown AI newsletter

2. They send you 5-minute email updates on the latest AI news and how to use it

3. You learn how to become 2x more productive by leveraging AI

Sign up to start learning.

⭐️ Capital Picks

🌊 Sidney is named top retirement destination by Forbes magazine. 

🏒 Victoria Royals host Spokane Chiefs tonight in Game 3 of their WHL Western Conference semifinal (tied 1-1).

☮️ Bystander intervention workshop. [From Good Night Out]

🏞️ Island’s best waterfalls: Check out the natural wonders from north to south. [Facebook photos]

🗞️ In Other News

Big Blanshard residential project gets first city council green light
The proposal would see nine buildings, including a 20-storey tower, replace 23 buildings of lower-cost housing on Blanshard. On Mon., Victoria’s city council voted unanimously to allow the rezoning of a two-block stretch near Hillside, although the mayor called the project “modest” and said she hopes BC Housing will want more affordable units built on the eight-acre (3.2ha) tract. Right now, the proposal is for 341 units at below-market rates. [Times Colonist]

HMCS Esquimalt, last Canadian warship sunk in Second World War, to be honoured
The Esquimalt was patrolling Halifax Harbour when it was hit by German U-boat-launched torpedoes and sunk 80 years ago today, just three weeks before the war would end. “The survivors endured six hours in the frigid water before rescue arrived; only 27 of the minesweeper’s 71 crew survived,” historian Robert C. Fisher writes on the Naval Military Museum website. A ceremony will be held today at 2pm at Esquimalt Memorial Park. [CHEK]

2 charged with first-degree murder in spring 2024 stabbing
Officers arrived at the scene at Douglas near Dunedin around midnight on April 10 last year, and found a man with stab wounds. Despite paramedical attention, the man died of his wounds. Some 370 days later, VicPD arrested Tighson Laughren and Brody Laughren-Smith and charged both with first-degree murder. They’ll remain in custody pending a future court date. [VicPD]

🗓️ Things to do

👠 Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella: Canadian College of Performing Arts students perform in the award-winning musical at McPherson Playhouse. Opens Friday. 7:30pm. [Info] 

🌍💗 Jazzy Junk from Granny's Trunk: A 25-household garage sale. The Victoria Grandmothers for Africa are raising money to go toward the Stephen Lewis Foundation to support grandmothers in Africa. St. Peter’s Anglican Church parking lot. Sat. April 26. 9am-1pm. [Info]

🌐 Esquimalt Earth Day: Activities include invasive species removal, planting, trail building, environmental stewardship, and nature walks and exhibits. Highrock Park, Today. 10am-2pm. [Info]

🎶 Music, Poetry, and Art for Holy Week: This Lent Noon Hour Concert will have local performers contribute their gift of music at St. Mary’s Church. Admission is by donation. Today. 12-1pm. [Info]

📿 Knit, Bead, and Craft Circle: You’re welcome to come and work on your projects, use the elders’ supplies to ‘make one-take one’, or one of the planned projects. Today. Victoria Native Friendship Centre. 12:30-3pm. [Info]

🤣 Phillips Comedy Night at the Mint: See the best comics in the city together for a fresh, fun night of laughs in the heart of downtown Victoria. The Mint. Tonight. 7pm doors. 8pm show. [Info]

👝 Vintage Fashion Showcase: A colourful look back at Canadian history as reflected through the events of the Canadian Club of Victoria, featuring 44 authentic and reproduction outfits from the 1860s to the 1980s. Uplands Golf Club. Tonight. 7:15pm. [Info] 

🎞️ Open Air Film Night: Under the Johnson Street Bridge. The evening opens with Lekwungen: Place to Smoke Herring by Eli Hirtle and Brianna Bear, followed by the award-winning feature-length documentary Singing Back the Buffalo. Free hot beverages provided; bring your reusable mug. JS Bridge. 8-10pm. [City of Victoria]  

👀 In Case You Missed It

Tuesday’s headlines: Tam Kung Temple tries for funding; Ships are starting to cruise into Ogden Point; Saanich Police officers cleared. [April 15] 

Correction: A story that appeared yesterday contained an outdated phrase that should have read died by suicide. We regret the error and pass along this guide on safe language.

Temple vying for heritage prize: Volunteers at Tam Kung Temple in Victoria have big plans for the future and hope a National Trust contest will help fund them. [Vote]

Mouse infestation at Gorge Road Health Centre. [Times Colonist]

Are the Greens still gold in Saanich-Gulf Islands? [CHEK]

Summer camp registration opens today. [City of Victoria]

Outdoor movie by the Johnson Street Bridge. [Tonight]

Mattick’s Farm’s mini railway back in the day. [Facebook photos]

That’s it!

If you found something useful, consider forwarding this newsletter to a fellow Victorian.

And before you go, let us know: