DriverCheck Inc. is proud to be celebrating its 20th anniversary this summer. To commemorate this achievement, we are running a four-part series that features the DriverCheck family as they each reflect on the past twenty years of business. In the second part of this series, we recently sat down with Maggie Dunnett, General Manager of DriverCheck, and daughter to Dr. Chris Page and Dr. Mary-Jean Page, the founders and owners of DriverCheck since 1996.

Substance misuse among medical professionals was back in the forefront recently after a Kitchener woman was charged with impaired driving and criminal negligence causing bodily harm for allegedly using drugs she stole from a patient while working as a home care nurse (see article Home-Care Nurse Charged After Allegedly Taking Drugs From Patient). While facing charges, the court ordered her to not act in a care capacity for anyone or for employment purposes.

DriverCheck Inc. is proud to be celebrating its 20th anniversary this summer. To commemorate this achievement, we will be running a four-part series that features the DriverCheck family as they each reflect on the past twenty years of business. In the first part of this series, we recently sat down with Dr. Chris Page and his wife, Dr. Mary-Jean Page, the founders and owners of DriverCheck since 1996.

In my almost 30 years of being in business I have learned so much about the sales cycle and promoting and marketing what you sell. I have seen all types of sales people and I am not going to get into styles and what is the best way to sell. As a matter of fact, in my mind one of the best ways to sell is to not sell, or don’t worry about the sale, at least not upfront.

Fentanyl usage is exploding across the country and is now considered an epidemic.

This is a concerning trend that is spiralling out of control, especially in Alberta, British Columbia, Quebec and Ontario. Overdoses. Fatalities. Gang involvement. Black market demand.  In Alberta and British Columbia, fatal overdoses linked to fentanyl soared from 42 in 2012 to 418 in 2015. The widespread use of prescription opioids is engulfing Canadians everywhere.

A key legal decision that came down recently could have safety implications for workplaces if the federal government doesn’t make changes to medical marijuana legislation in less than six months.

On February 24, BC Federal Court ruled that the existing Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulations (MMPR) violate Section 7 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms by not allowing patients to grow their own medical marijuana.

Impaired driving penalties across Canada are stiff and many drivers don’t make the same mistake twice. Those who drive after drinking face licence suspensions, fines, vehicle impoundment and possibly even jail time under both federal and provincial laws.

The use of medical marijuana is expected to grow by leaps and bounds in the near future. With this reality looming, it is up to Canadian companies to proactively pursue implementing procedures that guide how they will address medicinal marijuana in the workplace.

Health Canada estimates 450,000 authorized patients by 2024, up from 40,000 patients in 2014.

The use of medical marijuana is expected to increase dramatically in the near future. It is up to Canadian companies to educate themselves and prepare for the impact of cannabis in the workplace.

Dr. Barry Kurtzer, a physician with more than thirty years of experience providing occupational health programs to employers, is recognized as one of Canada’s leading medical experts on the impact of substance use on workplace safety. Dr. Kurtzer helps to educate employers and address the increasingly complex workplace problems created by Canada’s evolving medical marijuana industry.

As the Zika virus continues to remain a hot topic in the media, DriverCheck clients have expressed concerns for their employees who have, or who will be, travelling for work or on vacation to impacted areas. In this post, we offer advice on how to handle the risks and provide tips on how to prevent infection.

Though the World Health Organization declared the Zika virus a public health emergency last month, there have been very few cases reported in Canada to date. The Public Health Agency of Canada recently confirmed travel-related cases of Zika virus from Central and South America, and from the Caribbean.