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cape-bc.bsky.social
CAPE BC - Canadian Ass'n of Physicians for the Environment BC
@cape-bc.bsky.social
1.3K followers 680 following 130 posts
British Columbia Regional Committee of @cape-acme.bsky.social, the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment. A physician-directed non-profit working to secure human health by protecting the planet. 🌎🩺
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cape-bc.bsky.social
We just submitted an open letter to Vancouver Council signed by 250+ residents, including >100 physicians & other health professionals, urging them to withdraw the proposed 2026 budget. The budget puts climate action, public health, & community safety at risk. @womentcities.bsky.social
CAPE, CANE + WTC Letter to City of Vancouver on 2026 Budget.pdf
drive.google.com
November 24, 2025 at 9:46 PM
cape-bc.bsky.social
Last chance to sign!
November 24, 2025 at 4:34 PM
cape-bc.bsky.social
Vancouver Council votes this week on a budget that could slash programs supporting public health & climate action. We're submitting this open letter tomorrow. We have >200 signatures so far, including almost 100 health professionals. Help us reach 300 by morning! docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
November 24, 2025 Dear Mayor Sim and Vancouver City Council, We write to express deep concern about the proposed 2026 budget cuts that significantly reduce funding to departments responsible for public health, climate resilience, safety, and equity. The draft budget proposes a 14% cut to Planning, Urban Design, and Sustainability; a 12% cut to Arts, Culture, and Community Services; a 13% cut to Real Estate, Environment, and Facilities Management; and a cut to Engineering. These departments deliver core services that protect people during extreme heat, reduce pollution, improve road safety, and support communities facing the greatest health risks. Cuts of this scale deepen existing inequities and place lives at risk. The 2021 heat dome caused 619 deaths in British Columbia, overwhelmingly among seniors, people living alone and without indoor cooling, low-income renters, those with mental illness, and residents of neighbourhoods with limited tree cover. We know heat emergencies will become more frequent and more severe in the coming years. The departments facing cuts are home to programs – including building retrofits, tree canopy expansion, green infrastructure, cooling centres, and neighbourhood-level resilience planning – that are among the most effective public health tools we have. Reducing funding for these departments could delay life-saving interventions and increase climate-related health harms for those already most exposed. Traffic violence remains one of the most persistent and preventable threats to public health and safety in Vancouver. Pedestrian injuries and deaths disproportionately affect lower-income neighbourhoods, and children, seniors, and people walking, cycling or using mobility aids bear the greatest burden. Cuts to planning, urban design, and engineering could delay or cancel projects such as safer crosswalks, signal upgrades, traffic-calming measures, and safe routes to schools. These interventions reduce serious injuries, save lives, a… all contribute to mental health, social connection, and crisis resilience. ACCS also coordinates critical work to support the health and safety of sex workers. Reducing this department’s capacity will directly harm communities that rely most on stable, accessible social support. At the same time, the Park Board has been directed to absorb approximately $11 million in cuts, which threatens childcare facilities, recreational programming, and community centres that serve as lifelines during extreme heat and cold. Libraries, which require an additional $1.65 million to provide universal seven-day operations, are also essential cooling and warming centres, public washrooms, internet and communication hubs, and trusted spaces for seniors, youth, low-income families, and people without stable housing. Cuts to these frontline services would reduce Vancouver’s ability to protect residents during emergencies and deepen existing inequities in access to safe, healthy public spaces. We are also concerned by information from city staff indicating the possible elimination of baby-changing tables and menstrual product dispensers in civic facilities. These are basic health supports, relied on most by women, caregivers, and families without discretionary income. Removing them would further widen health inequities. If revenue shortfalls are offset through higher user fees, the burden will again fall disproportionately on those least able to pay: low-income families, newcomers, seniors, people with disabilities, and youth who rely on public programming and facilities the most. Equitable, climate-resilient cities cannot be built on regressive cost-shifting. Finally, decisions of this magnitude, with major implications for health, equity, and climate justice require full transparency about which programs, staff, and services are affected before the November 25 vote. We respectfully ask council to: Release a clear and complete breakdown of all proposed cuts before the final vote Prot…
November 24, 2025 at 12:50 AM
Reposted by CAPE BC - Canadian Ass'n of Physicians for the Environment BC
mzjacobson.bsky.social
Why carbon capture increases CO2, air pollution, fossil mining, fossil infrastructure, energy costs, and social costs.

CC is neither needed or helpful.

The Myth of Carbon Capture and Storage
Podcast with @jennyyeremiy.bsky.social

www.youtube.com/watch?v=6X5M...
The Myth of Carbon Capture and Storage: Justifying New Fossil Fuel Development
YouTube video by The Gravity Well with Jenny Yeremiy
www.youtube.com
November 22, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Reposted by CAPE BC - Canadian Ass'n of Physicians for the Environment BC
stand.earth
When it comes to climate change, methane is a notorious super-polluter.

And LNG, which stands for liquefied "natural gas", is primarily made up of...you guessed it...methane. 😷
Can methane cuts pull us back from the brink of climate breakdown?
With temperatures breaching the Paris limit, experts say tackling the powerful gas could buy crucial time as the clean-energy shift stalls
www.theguardian.com
November 22, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Reposted by CAPE BC - Canadian Ass'n of Physicians for the Environment BC
stand.earth
We’re just going to say it: this Vancouver community is AMAZING.

When we found out about Mayor Sim’s austerity budget and sneaky plan to pass it, we weren’t sure we could respond effectively in time.

Turns out, we didn’t need to worry. 🧵
November 21, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Reposted by CAPE BC - Canadian Ass'n of Physicians for the Environment BC
canadahealthwatch.ca
The B.C. CDC wants to hear from residents with climate-related health concerns https://vancouversun.com/news/bc-cdc-residents-climate-related-health-concerns

𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗹𝘆 𝘂𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 ⇢ CanadaHealthwatch.ca/newsletter
File
November 20, 2025 at 9:18 PM
cape-bc.bsky.social
Over 600 Vancouver residents signed up to speak about the city’s 2026 draft austerity budget, but we still need your voice! Sign our open letter urging council to protect public health, climate resilience, and essential services. Deadline: Sunday EOD.
Letter to Vancouver Council on Budget 2026
Please sign this open letter from healthcare professionals and community advocates to Vancouver’s Mayor and Council regarding the proposed 2026 budget cuts. The letter highlights the serious health, e...
docs.google.com
November 20, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Reposted by CAPE BC - Canadian Ass'n of Physicians for the Environment BC
margiesanderson.bsky.social
Do you also think the draft Vancouver budget stinks? Join us next Tuesday, November 25th at 9am for a diaper change-in at city hall. This city should be for everyone, babies included.

cc @womentcities.bsky.social @claraprager.bsky.social @stand.earth @cape-bc.bsky.social @michellecyca.com
Images in black and white of babies, diapers, and diaper pins adorn a purple and yellow graphic that says "This budget stinks! We demand a change. Join the WTC & Friends' Diaper Change-in at City Hall. November 25th, 9-10:30am, 453 W. 12th Ave. Enter on West 12th and meet in lobby. The centre of the graphic includes a news headline from CTV news "Removing fixtures from some public washrooms pitched as part of cutting Vancouver's budget"
November 19, 2025 at 5:29 AM
cape-bc.bsky.social
Over 600 people signed up to speak to Vancouver council on the proposed 2026 budget, demanding transparency & protections for health, climate safety, & community wellbeing. Sign your name to the open letter from CAPE BC & our friends at @cane-bc.bsky.social & @womentcities.bsky.social !
Letter to Vancouver Council Urging Rework of Budget 2026
Please sign this open letter from healthcare professionals and community advocates to Vancouver’s Mayor and Council regarding the proposed 2026 budget cuts. The letter highlights the serious health, e...
docs.google.com
November 18, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Reposted by CAPE BC - Canadian Ass'n of Physicians for the Environment BC
snarkysteff.bsky.social
So annoyed about this LNG project.

We’re destroying nature for something that has the shelf life of 10 years in a clean-energy world.
cape-bc.bsky.social CAPE BC - Canadian Ass'n of Physicians for the Environment BC @cape-bc.bsky.social · 12d
Canada is pouring billions into LNG megaprojects while the rest of the world moves on. This CleanTechnica piece shows how public money is propping up fossil exports instead of building the clean, resilient economy we actually need.
Nation-Building or Asset Stranding: What Canada’s Latest Megaprojects Tell Us - CleanTechnica
Canada’s new megaprojects focus on LNG expansion over clean infrastructure. A national HVDC spine offers a stronger path for growth and climate alignment.
cleantechnica.com
November 17, 2025 at 4:48 PM
cape-bc.bsky.social
Canada is pouring billions into LNG megaprojects while the rest of the world moves on. This CleanTechnica piece shows how public money is propping up fossil exports instead of building the clean, resilient economy we actually need.
Nation-Building or Asset Stranding: What Canada’s Latest Megaprojects Tell Us - CleanTechnica
Canada’s new megaprojects focus on LNG expansion over clean infrastructure. A national HVDC spine offers a stronger path for growth and climate alignment.
cleantechnica.com
November 17, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Reposted by CAPE BC - Canadian Ass'n of Physicians for the Environment BC
cape-ab.bsky.social
A new op-ed from CAPE AB Co-Chair Dr. Julia Sawatzky cuts through the hype: gas-powered AI data centres mean more air pollution, more toxic chemicals, and more pressure on rural & Indigenous communities. Alberta deserves a cleaner vision.
Opinion: Alberta's AI boom poses hidden health, environmental risks
Today, I'm concerned about a growing threat to health: the rush to build gas-powered AI data centres across Alberta.
edmontonjournal.com
November 14, 2025 at 8:16 PM
cape-bc.bsky.social
One more hour to sign up to speak!
cape-bc.bsky.social CAPE BC - Canadian Ass'n of Physicians for the Environment BC @cape-bc.bsky.social · 18d
The only opportunity for the public to comment on this budget is at a special council meeting this Wednesday, November 12, at 9:30 am. And the deadline to register is Tuesday at 5pm! Sign up to speak here: 2/
Request to speak at a Council meeting
Request to speak at a Council meeting
vancouver.ca
November 12, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Reposted by CAPE BC - Canadian Ass'n of Physicians for the Environment BC
rhifaux.bsky.social
Tomorrow is the only opportunity for the public to speak out on this tragedy of a budget. Over 300 people have signed up so far. If enough people speak out, the hope is that the vote will be delayed. Please sign up! You can speak over the phone; it’s easy. Deadline to sign up is today at 5pm.
November 11, 2025 at 7:27 PM
cape-bc.bsky.social
We’ve just learned that Mayor Ken Sim plans to eliminate Vancouver’s entire Climate and Sustainability Office under his “Zero Means Zero” budget. This would gut the city’s climate team and undo decades of work that protect residents’ health and safety. www.nationalobserver.com/2025/11/11/n...
November 11, 2025 at 4:57 AM
cape-bc.bsky.social
Vancouver City Council is set to vote on an austerity budget that would cut $120M from services protecting health, climate, and equity. Vulnerable residents, clean energy programs, and more of the services we value are at risk. 1/
November 11, 2025 at 2:10 AM
Reposted by CAPE BC - Canadian Ass'n of Physicians for the Environment BC
stand.earth
If ever there was a red alert moment about the future of Vancouver, this is it.

The city is on the brink of undoing decades of progress that made the city safer, healthier, and more livable.

Vancouver residents please head to Stand.earth/VanBudgetCuts to email Council and make your voice heard.
November 9, 2025 at 1:53 AM
Reposted by CAPE BC - Canadian Ass'n of Physicians for the Environment BC
stand.earth
🗺️ 🏭 🧟 🥊 Tankers, flare stacks, and fossil fuels—oh my!

Check out this new map tool to get an overview of polluting LNG projects across North America. stand.earth/lng-false-cl...
November 3, 2025 at 2:50 PM
cape-bc.bsky.social
The Burnaby incinerator is one of B.C.’s top polluters, releasing dioxins, mercury, and other toxins linked to cancer, respiratory illness, and hormone disruption.

Metro Vancouver is deciding its new waste plan now. Tell them it’s time to shut it down and protect community health.
Shut down the Metro Vancouver Incinerator
The Burnaby incinerator, located in an urban environment and near neighbourhoods and farms, is a major source of pollution. Touted as waste to energy, it wastes more energy than it recovers.  Bur...
you.leadnow.ca
October 30, 2025 at 12:27 AM
cape-bc.bsky.social
Dr. Bethany Ricker, a CAPE physician in Nanaimo, spoke with Redeye Radio, warning that fracking and LNG are making people sick. Health professionals & First Nations leaders demand an independent health assessment before any new projects are approved.
redeyeradio.bsky.social Redeye @redeyeradio.bsky.social · Oct 23
POD DROP! Health workers and First Nations challenge BC and Canadian governments to prove LNG is safe (it's not), before approving any more projects. Dr. Bethany Ricker joins us. @cape-bc.bsky.social @ubcic.bsky.social @cape-acme.bsky.social #bcpoli #canpoli
tiny.cc/975u001
Health professionals, First Nations call for health impact study of LNG
Podcast Episode · Redeye · 2025-10-22 · 12m
tiny.cc
October 24, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Reposted by CAPE BC - Canadian Ass'n of Physicians for the Environment BC
redeyeradio.bsky.social
Saturday | 10:25 PT Health workers and First Nations challenge BC and Canadian governments to prove LNG is safe (it's not), before approving any more projects. Dr. Bethany Ricker joins us. @cape-bc.bsky.social @ubcic.bsky.social @cape-acme.bsky.social #bcpoli
Large red banner on the window of REACH Urgent & Primary Care Centre:with pictures of 2 First Nations leaders, and 2 medical workers in white lab coats. TEXT: We're worried about the costs of BC LNG. Are you?
October 17, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Reposted by CAPE BC - Canadian Ass'n of Physicians for the Environment BC
jvipondmd.bsky.social
Are you a health care worker who cares about the polycrisis of environmental degredation and climate?
Check out this amazing conference (that I happen to be speaking at).
with @drmelissalem.bsky.social @sethdklein.bsky.social @avilewis.ca and more!
October 25th. virtual.
ubccpd.ca/learn/learni...
October 16, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Reposted by CAPE BC - Canadian Ass'n of Physicians for the Environment BC
stand.earth
We all have blind spots, which is why it is important to check them regularly especially while driving an economic engine forward.
Comment: LNG start-up flaring is a public-health blind spot — and B.C. is ignoring it
LNG terminals burn nearly three times more gas during their first two years of operation than afterward.
www.timescolonist.com
October 14, 2025 at 3:30 PM
cape-bc.bsky.social
The planetary health emergency is already here, but so are the opportunities for action.

Join CAPE’s Planetary Health Emergency: The Health Benefits of Climate Action conference on Oct 25. Hear from leading experts & explore how health professionals can drive climate solutions. tinyurl.com/CAPEconf
Image showing a line drawing of the planet earth with a blue sun, on a yellow background. Text reads: "Conference - virtual. Planetary Health Emergency: The Health Benefits of Climate Action. Saturday, October 25, 8am-4pm PT"
October 10, 2025 at 12:45 AM