Tessie Sanci

Tessie Sanci

Medical organizations sound alarm on sterilization bill’s potential impact on access to reproductive care

A bill that names sterilization without valid consent as a specific offence under the Criminal Code is raising concerns from multiple medical organizations, including the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada and the Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Quebec, about the potential of unintended impacts for physicians who may hesitate to perform these procedures due to fear of...

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ISED cuts $20-million from Strategic Science Fund nearly two years after signing agreements with recipients

Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada informed organizations receiving money through the Strategic Science Fund late last month that it will cut $20-million from the $800-million fund as a part of the government’s plan to reduce spending. The decision affects 17 of the 19 organizations that will be funded until 2028-29 and have had contribution agreements in place since May...

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LeBlanc, Michel meet with pharma sector as U.S. buckles down on cutting drug prices

United States President Donald Trump’s efforts to reset how pharmaceutical firms negotiate drug prices with his government—and the consequences for countries including Canada—were recently discussed at an in-person meeting between pharmaceutical representatives, Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc, Health Minister Marjorie Michel, and Janice Charette, the newly appointed chief trade negotiator to the U.S.

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Lack of flexibility, questions about long-term funding have been stumbling blocks in signing pharmacare deals, say some premiers

Provinces including New Brunswick, Saskatchewan, and Nova Scotia say they’re interested in a pharmacare deal, but want to see more consideration for their provinces’ unique needs, and details on whether they can depend on long-term funding. New Brunswick is “not seeing a lot of flexibility with the government right now. It feels like a bit of a take-it-or-leave it deal...

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Little appetite for return to two-party Upper Chamber among former and current Senate leaders

first appointments to fill Upper Chamber vacancies, a number of past, current, and incoming group leaders are clearly stating they want to see the continuation of the independent model that began under the previous Liberal government. “It’s certainly possible that we could see another political party in the Senate, maybe the return of a Liberal caucus. But I think many...

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Losing measles elimination status makes Canada a ‘pariah,’ says Liberal MP

One week after Canada lost its measles elimination status, some MPs say the development is an unfortunate “milestone,” and has turned this country into a “pariah.” “It makes us a pariah. It’s what we see in a lot of developing countries. This is ridiculous. I mean, measles was eliminated around the world even in developing countries,” said Hedy Fry (Vancouver...

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Saskatchewan, Newfoundland, Nunavut, and Northwest Territories all open to pharmacare talks, but say they’re not taking place

Both Saskatchewan and Nunavut are open to conversations about a national pharmacare program, but say they are not in active talks with the federal government. Newfoundland and Labrador says it has reached out to Health Canada to “re-engage” in conversations, but did not say whether the federal department has responded. These are some of the answers to questions sent by...

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Health Canada plan forecasts a $1-billion spending drop by 2027-28

The department could also see a staff reduction of nearly 2,000 bureaucrats by 2028. Expiring funding for programs that include the National Strategy for Drugs for Rare Diseases and the Emergency Treatment Fund could lead to a drop of $1-billion in spending between the 2025-26 and 2027-28 fiscal years, according to Health Canada’s most recent departmental plan. “For expiring budgetary...

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Health minister wants more time for pharmacare deals, but NDP health critic says they can be signed in the ‘next few days’

The fate of Canada’s pharmacare plan—for which not a single province has signed on—is unclear as Parliament remains prorogued with the possibility of a spring election to follow. Part of the plan requires provinces and territories to sign bilateral agreements in order to receive their share of the $1.5-billion that has been set aside to help the jurisdictions cover a...

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‘One-off funding announcements’ not the way to fix homelessness and substance use, says Burlington mayor

A new campaign from a group of mayors representing Ontario’s largest cities is demanding the provincial government develop an action plan for homelessness, mental health, and substance use, while also telling the feds they should be at the table as this is a national crisis. “There needs to be a comprehensive nationwide strategy,” said Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward in...

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Pharmacare bill and Liberal messaging at odds, confusing stakeholders on vision for ‘single-payer’ system

The Liberal government’s highly anticipated pharmacare bill promises a single-payer program, but what that means exactly is unclear as Health Minister Mark Holland continues to say publicly that people on private insurance plans can keep using those plans.