Sally Bird

A cross Canada, anesthesia workforce shortages contribute to surgery cancellations alongside limitations in operating room capacity and other health human resources. Provincial data show persistent mismatches between anesthesia demand and physician supply, with anticipated retirements worsening the imbalance.1,2 The consequences are especially acute for rural and regional hospitals, where surgical lists are often suspended entirely owing to lack of anesthesia coverage.

Whilst Labour's election victory is certainly likely to keep employment lawyers gainfully employed for some time, as the self-proclaimed party for working people, it will come as no surprise that the focus will shift towards greater individual employment rights and enhanced Trade Union rights which some – particularly business owners and employers – will regard as burdensome.