Latest news with #HeatherSmith
CBC
17-06-2025
- Health
- CBC
Health-care unions call for Alberta to reverse plan to limit free COVID-19 vaccines
Social Sharing Two of Alberta's health-care workers' unions are calling on Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's government to reverse its policy forcing many — including front-line medical staff — to pay for a COVID-19 vaccination. Smith has said the aim of the new policy, announced last week, is to prevent wastage after some $135 million was spent on unused doses. Smith said her government is focused on protecting those who need it the most by giving them the COVID-19 shot for free. That includes those with compromised immune systems, those on social programs and seniors in a congregate setting. However, most Albertans, including health-care workers who don't fall into a high-risk category, and seniors who live independently, will have to pay out of pocket. "We believe in vaccine choice, but we don't pay for everything," the premier said last week. United Nurses of Alberta president Heather Smith called it a dangerous and outrageous decision, and warned it will drive even more health-care workers from the province. "The government's claim that this is being done to save money and recover costs makes no sense from a moral or logical perspective," Smith said in a statement. She added it will put thousands of Albertans seeking health care at risk when they are most vulnerable, along with endangering thousands of their caregivers. "It is absolutely irresponsible to force health-care workers in both public and private workplaces to place orders in August and pay to receive a vaccine that is an essential component of workplace health and safety," said Smith, whose union represents more than 35,000 nurses and allied workers. The province's policy shift comes after the federal government put provinces in charge of buying COVID-19 shots this year. The nurses union was joined by the Health Sciences Association of Alberta, representing 30,000 health-care workers, in calling on the government to continue providing free COVID-19 vaccines this fall. "That is how we protect patients, reduce hospitalizations, and keep our health system strong," said union vice-president Leanne Alfaro. Alfaro said COVID-19 continues to put vulnerable Albertans at risk and vaccines remain the most effective tool for protecting individuals and the broader health-care system, including staff. "They should not be expected to put themselves in harm's way without basic protection," she said in a statement. Smith's United Conservative Party government has said it hasn't been determined how much Albertans would pay, but it has estimated the cost to procure each shot is $110. Routine influenza vaccines will continue to be publicly covered. WATCH | The next COVID-19 vaccine could cost you $110: The next COVID-19 vaccine could cost you $110 in Alberta 1 day ago Duration 2:26 The Alberta government is changing the COVID-19 vaccine program, including asking most people to pay for the latest shot this fall. Health-care professionals warn vaccination rates could drop further, which could impact the whole system. Local pharmacies will no longer be given a supply of COVID-19 shots, which will only be available through public health clinics through a phased delivery in the fall. The government has said the new approach will make sure it's better able to determine what it needs to order in coming years. It has ordered just under 500,000 of the vaccines for the fall, or about one-third of what was ordered last season, at an estimated cost of $49 million. Just under 14 per cent of Alberta's 4.8 million residents were vaccinated for the virus last season. Public health-care experts say the province's new COVID-19 policy will create more barriers to getting vaccinated and also lead to higher costs as more people develop severe complications. Canada's National Advisory Committee on Immunization recommends that all adults 65 years of age or older and health-care workers get the shot. Opposition NDP health critic Sarah Hoffman said Monday that Primary and Preventative Health Minister Adriana Lagrange is responsible for weakening the province's public vaccine campaign in the first place, and her government's goal is to appease anti-vaccination fringe groups. "This reduced uptake and wastage was a direct result of undermining [LaGrange's] own department's efforts to promote vaccines," said Hoffman. She said Smith is saddling Albertans with extra fees and inching the province closer to American-style health care. Dr. Luanne Metz said she and other NDP MLAs are hearing from Albertans who are concerned it will force seniors on limited incomes to pay more, which will result in some skipping their medications. "They're really putting up more and more barriers for people and for health-care workers to be able to get the vaccines, which means that we will have more disease, more sick people, [and)] more people dying," Metz said. Also Monday, the Canadian Public Health Association echoed the call for Alberta to reverse course. It noted the exclusion of pharmacies will limit access for rural residents, shift workers and others who rely on community-based care.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ohio near the top in April unemployment
Stock photo from Getty Images. Ohio had the sixth-highest unemployment of any state in April. The news comes after years of state officials spending billions on economic growth programs tilted heavily toward the wealthy. It might seem ironic, but Ohio's economy added jobs in April even as unemployment continued to grow. That's because job growth isn't keeping up with the numbers joining the workforce. And there are reasons to believe that things will get worse, according to the think tank Policy Matters Ohio. Data released last week by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services estimated that the state added 22,200 jobs in April. But statewide unemployment rose for the fifth consecutive month, to 4.9%. That's the sixth-highest of any state, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Heather Smith, a researcher at Policy Matters Ohio, said the new state data raise some questions. 'The civilian labor force has increased at about the same rate as the number of unemployed workers, suggesting that while more Ohioans are entering the job market, they are not all securing employment,' she said in a written statement. 'This raises questions around the reported increases in jobs across service-providing industries – why aren't Ohioans getting hired?' The Department of Job and Family Services conducts a monthly survey, releases its estimate of the number of new jobs, and then often revises it downward. For example, it initially estimated that 7,500 jobs were created in March, and then cut that number to 5,200. Of the jobs thought to be created in April, the great majority were in the service sector, 18,800. More than 6,500 of those were in hospitality as those businesses staff up for summer. Construction and manufacturing added 1,200 and 1,100 jobs, respectively, while the number of government jobs increased by 1,300. A separate household survey indicated that 15,000 joined the Ohio job market in April. But only 6,000 found jobs while the rest were unemployed. 'Legislators ought to pay attention to the growing unemployment rate, given its steady increase over the last five months,' Smith said. 'The last time we saw the unemployment rate in Ohio decrease was between September and October – prior to the November election.' Ohio's economy has lagged for more than a decade after the creation of billion-dollar programs mostly benefitting the well off on the promise that they would create jobs for average Ohioans. Created in 2013 under the auspices of then-Gov. John Kasich, the LLC tax loophole costs about $1 billion a year. It was sold as a way to boost small business. But an analysis showed that hiring in that sector has fallen relative to other states, while the wealthiest 7% are claiming nearly 40% of the benefit. Started around the same time, JobsOhio is funded through a state liquor franchise that used to flow into state coffers. Its well-paid staff has grown rapidly as it has doled out more than $1 billion in incentives to businesses. But it hasn't proven that those incentives have created any jobs. Controversial 'private corporation' JobsOhio gets billions more without paying more to state Even so, the Ohio Controlling Board in February extended JobsOhio's control of the state liquor franchise to 2053. The 'private' corporation paid the state $1.41 billion for its initial lease of the franchise. But the state didn't require an additional penny to extend it another 15 years. Meanwhile, Smith of Policy Matters Ohio warned that several developments at the federal level could further drag down the Ohio job market. 'A recent survey of Fourth District businesses by the Federal Reserve of Cleveland found that 22% of respondents anticipated the tariffs would force them to decrease their staff,' she wrote. 'This is already underway: Several large employers across the state have submitted mass layoff notices, including 744 manufacturing jobs in Fremont. A Chillicothe paper plant, which was set to layoff 826 union workers by the end of June, agreed to remain open until December. While this buys impacted Ohioans a bit more time, the plant closing will be a devastating hit to workers in the area.' In addition to potential harm from tariffs, the Trump administration is trying to cut hundreds of thousands of federal jobs and to slash services as it tries to fund further tax cuts. 'Ohio policymakers need to hold their federal counterparts accountable for the impact of funding cuts on the state and stop preemptively cutting critical public services with trigger language in the state budget,' Smith said. 'If federal budget hawks get their way and force the state to pick up a greater share of the Medicaid budget, proposed trigger language could cut off the health insurance of 770,000 Ohioans.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
The Sun
25-05-2025
- The Sun
Brit woman, 21, rotting in hellhole Dubai jail after being arrested on drug charge ‘had fallen in with wrong people'
A BRIT woman rotting inside Dubai's hellhole prison on alleged drug charges fell in with "wrong people at the wrong time", her family has said. Isabella Daggett, 21, was arrested just five weeks after she relocated to Dubai from Yorkshire after landing a new job. 7 7 The Briton was working for a businessman doing internet recruiting for construction sites in the UK, who offered to send her to the Middle East for a similar role. But she was sent to a Dubai prison soon after she set foot in the desert city. It is understood that Ms Daggett was arrested alongside another man, with whom she was living at the time. Her family claims that she has done nothing wrong, has never used narcotics and was rather lured to move to Dubai. Grandmother Heather Smith told the DailyMail: "Bella has been locked up because she was in the wrong company. Wrong place, wrong time. Wrong boyfriend. "She is innocent because they have done all the tests and there was nothing in her system." The grandma said her family had warned Ms Daggett about the potential dangers of the Middle Eastern city with tough prison laws. She added: "She was arrested with a lad, who was not her boyfriend, with whom she was staying because things had fallen through with another house. "She didn't really like him that much. He may be guilty of something, but she isn't." "We told Bella before she went to Dubai, 'you know the rules in Dubai, play by the rules, don't flaunt this, don't do that'." She added said she was going to move back to Leeds just before being arrested. Dubai authorities have not yet revealed under what charges Ms Daggett was arrested. Ms Daggett has not taken a shower or even changed her clothes in months after being banged up in a prison in March, her family claims. The gran described how the Brit woman was being treated harshly inside the prison. She added: "She hasn't had a shower for a month, she hasn't had a change of clothes for three months. She has had nothing. "Women get treated far worse than male prisoners, who get to go outside, they get sports, a PlayStation and a television - Bella has nothing. "She can speak to me and her mum every day though, which is good. But we have been in bits." Ms Daggett's mum Lucinda Smith, with whom she ran a Leeds-based modelling agency, posted a GoFundMe page to help her daughter. The fundraiser read: "My daughter Isabella has been wrongfully detained in Dubai, and we are doing everything we can to prove her innocence and bring her back home. "We have proof she was not involved in these charges and are determined to fight for her freedom. The hideous conditions she is living in are enough to break any mother's heart. "The legal and travel expenses are overwhelming, and we need your support. Any contribution, no matter how small, will help us cover the costs of legal fees, travel, and other necessary expenses." 7 7 In the last couple of weeks, two other Brit women were arrested abroad for alleged drug smuggling. Glam tourist Bella Culley allegedly tried to smuggle a suitcase of weed into Georgia and was locked away in a brutal ex-Soviet prison despite claiming to be pregnant. The 18-year-old was sent to the brutal Women's Penitentiary No. 5 in the town of Rustavi - a slammer notorious for its hellish conditions just outside Tbilisi. She had originally jetted to the Philippines to meet an old friend, but reportedly changed her plans last minute to go to Thailand with a gang of British lads unknown to her. A sentence ranging from 20 years to life could be a possibility for teen Bella from County Durham, according to prosecutors. Meanwhile, former air stewardess Charlotte May Lee was then caught allegedly trying to smuggle drugs worth £1.2million into Sri Lanka. Her two suitcases were said to have been stuffed with 46kg of a synthetic cannabis strain known as kush — which is 25 times more potent than opioid fentanyl. If found guilty, South Londoner Charlotte could face a 25-year sentence. Experts told The Sun how wannabe Brit Insta stars are being lured by cruel gangs into carting drugs across the world. 7
The Sun
24-05-2025
- The Sun
Brit woman, 21, rotting in Dubai hellhole jail without a shower for a month after being arrested on drugs charges
A BRIT woman has been rotting inside a Dubai hellhole prison without a shower for a month after being arrested on alleged drug charges. Cops arrested Isabella Daggett, 21, just five weeks after she relocated to Dubai from Yorkshire after landing a new job. 7 7 7 And she has not taken a shower or even changed her clothes in months after being banged up in a prison in March, her family claims. It all happened when Ms Daggett was offered to work in Dubai earlier this year. The Britton was working for a businessman doing internet recruiting for construction sites in the UK, who offered to send her to the Middle East for a similar role. But she was arrested by Dubai police - along with another man - soon after she set foot in the desert city. Ms Daggett's family claims that she has done nothing wrong, has never used narcotics and was rather lured to move to Dubai. Her grandmother Heather Smith told the DailyMail: "Bella has been locked up because she was in the wrong company. Wrong place, wrong time. Wrong boyfriend. "The bloke she was working for said for her to come to Dubai, you'll love it there, the lifestyle is wonderful. Now she is locked up. "But she is innocent because they have done all the tests and there was nothing in her system." Mrs Smith described how the woman was being treated harshly inside the prison. She added: "She hasn't had a shower for a month, she hasn't had a change of clothes for three months. She has had nothing. Charlotte May Lee fears being locked away for 20yrs over £1.2m Sri Lanka drugs bust – & is 'aware' of Bella Culley case "Women get treated far worse than male prisoners, who get to go outside, they get sports, a PlayStation and a television - Bella has nothing. "She can speak to me and her mum every day though, which is good. But we have been in bits." It is understood that Ms Dagget was arrested alongside another man, with whom she was living at the time. The grandma said her family had warned Ms Dagget about the potential dangers of the Middle Eastern city with tough prison laws. She added: "She was arrested with a lad, who was not her boyfriend, with whom she was staying because things had fallen through with another house. "She didn't really like him that much.'He may be guilty of something, but she isn't." "We told Bella before she went to Dubai, 'you know the rules in Dubai, play by the rules, don't flaunt this, don't do that'." She added said she was going to move back to Leeds just before being arrested. It is not clear under what charges Ms Dagget was arrested. Ms Daggett's mum Lucinda Smith, with whom she ran a Leeds-based modelling agency, posted a GoFundMe page to help her daughter. The fundraiser read: "My daughter Isabella has been wrongfully detained in Dubai, and we are doing everything we can to prove her innocence and bring her back home. "We have proof she was not involved in these charges and are determined to fight for her freedom. The hideous conditions she is living in are enough to break any mother's heart. "The legal and travel expenses are overwhelming, and we need your support. Any contribution, no matter how small, will help us cover the costs of legal fees, travel, and other necessary expenses." 7 7 In the last couple of weeks, two other Brit women were arrested abroad for alleged drug smuggling. Glam tourist Bella Culley allegedly tried to smuggle a suitcase of weed into Georgia and was locked away in a brutal ex-Soviet prison despite claiming to be pregnant. The 18-year-old was sent to the brutal Women's Penitentiary No. 5 in the town of Rustavi - a slammer notorious for its hellish conditions just outside Tbilisi. She had originally jetted to the Philippines to meet an old friend, but reportedly changed her plans last minute to go to Thailand with a gang of British lads unknown to her. A sentence ranging from 20 years to life could be a possibility for teen Bella from County Durham, according to prosecutors. Meanwhile, former air stewardess Charlotte May Lee was then caught allegedly trying to smuggle drugs worth £1.2million into Sri Lanka. Her two suitcases were said to have been stuffed with 46kg of a synthetic cannabis strain known as kush — which is 25 times more potent than opioid fentanyl. If found guilty, South Londoner Charlotte could face a 25-year sentence. There are also fears that both the "smuggling cases" could be linked. Experts told The Sun how wannabe Brit Insta stars are being lured by cruel gangs into carting drugs across the world. 7
Daily Mail
24-05-2025
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Brit woman, 21, rotting in Dubai hell hole jail without 'a shower for a month' after being arrested for drugs charges just weeks after arriving for new job
A recruitment consultant from Leeds has been locked up in a hell hole prison in Dubai for three months on drugs charges, MailOnline can reveal. Isabella Daggett, 21, was arrested just weeks after relocating from Yorkshire to the puritanical desert city state after landing a new job. But her desperate family insist she was seized by cops simply for being 'in the wrong place at the wrong time' and has never used narcotics. Ms Daggett, who also jointly ran a small family-owned modelling agency, had been offered the chance to work in Dubai in early spring but was caught up in a drugs raid soon after arrival. Her grandmother Heather Smith said: 'Bella has been locked up because she was in the wrong company. Wrong place, wrong time. Wrong boyfriend. 'She has been in prison since March but we have finally got a court date for next month. 'She was arrested with a lad, that was not her boyfriend, who she was staying with because things had fallen through with another house.' Exactly what charges Ms Daggett faces have not been made public. Ms Daggett, who also jointly ran a small family-owned modelling agency, had been offered the chance to work in Dubai (pictured) in early spring but was caught up in a drugs raid soon after arrival Mrs Smith continued: 'All I know is that she rang me a week before all this happened and said that she wasn't happy and she knew something wasn't right. 'She was going to move out and come home to Leeds. And then this happened. 'I don't know the whole thing. I'm not sure what charges she has been arrested for, only possession of something - probably drugs, but I don't know for certain. 'But she is innocent because they have done all the tests and there was nothing in her system.' Mrs Smith said her granddaughter had been working for a businessman doing internet recruiting for construction sites in the UK, before her boss offered her the chance to work in Dubai in a similar role. 'The bloke she was working for said for her to come to Dubai, you'll love it there, the lifestyle is wonderful…blah, blah, blah,' said Mrs Smith. 'Now she is locked up. 'And women get treated far worse than male prisoners, who get to go outside, they get sports, a PlayStation and a television - Bella has nothing. 'She hasn't had a shower for a month, she hasn't had a change of clothes for three months. She has had nothing. 'She can speak to me and her mum every day though, which is good. But we have been in bits.' Mrs Smith said the family had given the young women a stern warning about the pitfalls of life behind Dubai's glamorous façade. 'We told Bella before she went to Dubai 'you know the rules in Dubai, play by the rules, don't flaunt this, don't do that' 'But there was a whole sequence of events that led up to her, inadvertently, being in this bloke's house, where she didn't want to be. She didn't really like him that much. 'He may be guilty of something, but she isn't.' Isabella and her mother, Lucinda Smith, 44, are co-directors of Leeds-based firm the Global Model Agency Ltd and Lucinda posted a GoFundMe page for her daughter this week, under the headline 'Help Get Bella Home' with a £5,500 target. She wrote: 'To our dear friends and family. I am reaching out to you in a time of great need. 'My daughter Isabella has been wrongfully detained in Dubai, and we are doing everything we can to prove her innocence and bring her back home. 'We have proof she was not involved in these charges and are determined to fight for her freedom. The hideous conditions she is living in is enough to break any mother's heart. 'The legal and travel expenses are overwhelming, and we need your support. Any contribution, no matter how small, will help us cover the costs of legal fees, travel, and other necessary expenses.'
