Emily Fagan

Experts, politicians are pushing for widespread free nasal naloxone. So why doesn’t B.C. have it? | CBC News While the province has explored wider distribution of the spray for free as a pilot program, Health Minister Josie Osborne says it has not completed an evaluation of the program initially set to be co...

Politicians and experts are calling for nasal naloxone to be free for everyone in B.C.—as it is in other provinces—as they say providing a more accessible option for the general public could make a difference in saving lives amid the toxic drug crisis.

Latest:

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My initial reaction to Minister Parmar's comments was raised eyebrows and rolled eyes

A few weeks later, standing on the edge of a freshly logged cutblock in the Walbran Valley, his words seemed even more jarring

In fact, "the clearcutting continues as we speak" #bcpoli

Provinces sign agreement to drop interprovincial trade barriers on goods except food, alcohol | CBC News An agreement, signed today, between all Canadian provinces, territories, and the federal government, will drop interprovincial trade barriers on many goods except food and alcohol. It's part of an eff...

A Canada-wide agreement signed today will drop interprovincial trade barriers on many goods, except food and alcohol, starting in December.

Latest:

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Columbia Journalism Review recently interviewed Betsy Reed, editor of the Guardian's U.S. edition. www.cjr.org/the-intervie...

She says: "If we regard it, for good reason, as being extreme and out of line with basic humane values, we won’t treat it as part of the normal discourse in America."

Illegal housing essential to keep Salt Spring Island businesses open, employers say | CBC News Many services on Salt Spring Island are experiencing a labour shortage, driven by a lack of housing workers can afford. It’s pushed businesses around the island to offer housing for workers in order t...

Many services on Salt Spring Island are experiencing a labor shortage, driven by a lack of housing workers can afford.

It's pushed businesses around the island to offer housing for workers in order to improve recruitment — including illegal trailers.

My latest:
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

B.C. Greens want to tie rent increases to units, not tenants – but face uphill battle | CBC News A B.C. Green MLA bill this week aims to create vacancy control – a policy that would limit rent increases by tying them to a unit, not an individual tenancy. It's generated support from poverty reduct...

B.C. Green Party MLA Rob Botterell says in a province where a third of residents are renters, it’s time to remove the ability for landlords to raise rent prices after evicting tenants.

He's pushing for vacancy control — but is facing an uphill battle.

Latest:
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Victoria police spent $22K on party for outgoing, incoming chiefs | CBC News The Victoria Police Department spent more than $22,000 in public funds on a celebration that honoured its outgoing and incoming police chiefs, according to a freedom of information request.

The Victoria Police Department spent more than $22,000 in public funds on a celebration for its outgoing and incoming police chiefs this summer, according to documents obtained through FOI by @stephenharrison.bsky.social

Latest:

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I'm really glad Stephen keeps such a close eye on the goings on related to our local police department

It's such essential, public service reporting that I don't see from other local outlets

Table showing VicPD’s proposed 2026 budget increase. VicPD has labeled $7.8 million as a “core increase” and $3.1 million as “optional resources,” totalling $10.8 million, a 13.73% increase, or $89,845,665. Next to text indicating VicPD is asking for 17 new officers as “optional resources,” red text is added that says “Doesn't mention they're actually asking for 25 new officers; they just decided to brand eight of them "non-optional." The entire budget is optional.” Red text added below the “Total budget” says “+ $925,425 still under appeal, rejected by Esquimalt last year $90,771,090 (if appeal succeeds).”

The #yyj police board is presenting its draft 2026 budget at 5:00 pm. They want $90 million+, including 25 new officers. It would be an $11 million increase, or 14% (a 52%, $31 million increase from 2021). Budget: vicpd.ca/wp-content/u... 🧵 with highlights before the meeting starts. #vicpdboard

B.C woman seeking IVF funding says she faces delays, uncertainty amid BCGEU strike | CBC News Fertility clinics say they're seeing delays in patients being approved for IVF funding due to the B.C. General Employees Union Strike. For patients who have rested their last hopes of conception on B....

A B.C woman seeking IVF funding says she faces delays, uncertainty amid the eight-week BCGEU strike.

My latest:
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

'A human cost to the inaction': BCGEU workers speak out on toll of weeks-long strike | CBC News For some B.C. General Employees' Union members taking part in job action, the weeks-long pickets and lost wages are making it hard to make ends meet.

Public service workers told me they've faced a high toll for being on strike these last six weeks — more than anything, they want to return to their jobs helping people.

But with negotiations at a standstill for weeks, it's unclear when a deal will be reached.

Latest:
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B.C. prisoners with complex mental illnesses aren’t getting necessary treatment, report says British Columbia Review Board chair Brenda Edwards says chronic underfunding has brought the forensic health care system to a breaking point

B.C. prisoners with complex mental illnesses aren’t getting the psychiatric treatment they need, and are being kept in jail longer than required, because the province has only one 190-bed hospital for them, @mikehager.bsky.social reports:
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/briti...

Freelancers based on Vancouver Island or the BC coast, please get in touch if you're available over the next few weeks!

Man sentenced for arson, shooting at B.C. home of Punjabi musician AP Dhillon | CBC News A 26-year-old man will serve 4½ years in jail after being found guilty of his involvement in an arson and shooting at the Vancouver Island home of Punjabi musician AP Dhillon. RCMP have an arrest warr...

A judge has sentenced a man who he says was involved in a shooting and arson at the B.C. home of musician AP Dhillon in 2024 on the direction of the Bishnoi crime group, which is now a terrorist entity in Canada.

My latest:
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UVic behind in implementing most of 18 recommendations from student's death by new term | CBC News In the wake of a student's fatal overdose on campus, UVic received 18 recommendations from an independent report. It committed to implementing most of them before the fall term, but only three have be...

UVic's president committed to implementing all 18 of an independent report's recommendations in the wake of a student's fatal overdose on campus — most before September.

While progress has been made, few recommendations were finished by the start of term.

My latest:

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

BC Is Failing on Its Plan to Shun US Businesses | The Tyee Five months after Eby called for action, the government can’t point to changes.

Five months after Premier David Eby directed the British Columbia government to cancel U.S. contracts wherever possible, the work has fallen short of what he had wanted, by Andrew MacLeod #bcpoli

thetyee.ca/News/2025/09...

Israel attack on Yemeni newspaper was second deadliest on journalists ever recorded Press freedom group says ‘brutal and unjustified attack’ is deadliest since 2009 Maguindanao massacre in Philippines

31 journalists and media staff killed by Israeli strikes on newspaper offices in Yemen in deadliest attack on journalists in the last 16 years.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...

A First Nations man's remains were misplaced in B.C. It's not the 1st time it's happened | CBC News Two years after the death of her father, Amanda Large received news that brought added grief and unanswered questions: her father’s brain, which had been removed during an autopsy, had never been retu...

A First Nations family is seeking justice after a man’s remains were misplaced by Island Health and the B.C. Coroner’s Office.

They’re not the first island First Nation to experience this – but are pushing for changes to prevent it from happening to others.

Latest:
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two scandals here: VPD fuelled panic over stranger attacks even as they fell dramatically in 2022, and then refused to release records about them for 14 months, which is against the law

Inside Richmond’s Precedent-Setting Cowichan Tribes v. Canada Case | The Tyee The BC Supreme Court decision affirms Aboriginal title on private lands. What’s next?

a really great and well-researched story from @zoeyunker.bsky.social about the context and implications of the Cowichan decision, including how the namesake of Port Moody, B.C., secretly bought a Cowichan village site that should have been a reserve: thetyee.ca/News/2025/08...

B.C.'s labour minister says 2nd mediator may be tasked to try to end Cowichan transit strike | CBC News The province may appoint another special mediator to end the nearly seven-month transit strike in the Cowichan Valley, according to B.C.’s labour minister, Jennifer Whiteside.

The longest transit strike in BC's history appears to be at a standstill. After weeks of calls for the province to step in, BC's minister of labor says they may appoint a second mediator to try and resolve the dispute.

My latest, with help from @katiederosa.bsky.social:
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Fantastic news for healthcare in Canada, at a time when more in-depth and consistent coverage into issues around health is so needed! Can't wait to see the impact @brishti.bsky.social is sure to make in this role.

Port Alberni RCMP investigating 3 suspicious deaths in city in 9 days | CBC News Three people have died in Port Alberni, B.C., within a nine-day period in early August, under circumstances RCMP are investigating as suspicious.

First, a fatal house fire. Then, a fiery car containing human remains. And most recently, a fatal assault.

Three people have died in Port Alberni, B.C., within a 9-day period in early August, each of them under circumstances RCMP are investigating as suspicious.

Latest:
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Congrats Paloma!!

'Fighting for our community': Vancouver Island evacuees, fire crews see groundswell of support | CBC News While evacuees from about 100 properties were able to return to their homes on Wednesday evening, the majority remain displaced. In the midst of it, a groundswell of community support is helping fire ...

While Vancouver Island wildfire evacuees from about 100 properties were able to return to their homes on Wednesday evening, the majority remain displaced as efforts continue to try to rein in the fire's continued growth.

My latest on what this looks like on the ground:

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

They receive a salary, but there's no food to buy. Their vehicles are useless without gas, so they walk or use donkey carts.

MP Johns introduces Bill C-211, cutting red tape for Canadians applying for disability benefits House of Commons, Private Members' Business June 17, 2025 MP Johns introduces Bill C-211, cutting red tape for Canadians applying for disability benefits

@thatemfagan.bsky.social Proud to introduce C-211 to make it easier for people with disabilities to obtain the benefits they are entitled to and to reduce the paperwork load on health care workers. Each Disability Tax Credit form takes up to 1 hr to complete.

Disability tax credits are critical for some Canadians. But applying for them can cost thousands | CBC News As Canada launches its new disability benefit payments in July, medical and disability experts are raising alarms over barriers to obtaining the main eligibility requirement, the disability tax credit...

#Disability tax credits are critical for some Canadians. But applying for them can cost thousands. Experts raise alarm that DTC companies are bilking applicants, by @thatemfagan.bsky.social www.cbc.ca/news/canada/... via @cbcnews.ca

Disability tax credits are critical for some Canadians. But applying for them can cost thousands | CBC News As Canada launches its new disability benefit payments in July, medical and disability experts are raising alarms over barriers to obtaining the main eligibility requirement, the disability tax credit...

The disability tax credit can be critical for people with disabilities—especially now that it's required to access the new Canada Disability Benefit.

But some people, including low-income families, are being charged thousands by companies for help applying.

My latest:
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Note to freelancers: I'm open to pitches for @nationalobserver.com! We pay pretty well, and we're flexible with timelines for assigned stories. I don't need a long pitch — think 2 paragraphs — but please give an idea of what your story is.

Some recently published freelance pieces: