Money talks, but collaboration drives innovation
Fifteen years ago, the Senate Social Affairs, Science, and Technology Committee summarized the public’s expectations of the federal role in health in what’s known as the Kirby Report: “Canadians want and expect the federal government to continue to be a major player in Canada’s publicly funded health care system.” Being a major player, to most, […]
Fight obesity in kids, tax sugary drinks
Canadian children are bombarded with advertisements for food and drink everywhere. They see three to four on television every hour. Ninety per cent of the 25 million ads they watch online annually promote foods that are too fat, too sweet or too salty. Much to the chagrin of parents, these foods attract them; this marketing […]
Pharmacare not really the answer to lowering drug prices, say industry associations
As the House Health Committee studies a national pharmacare program, industry associations representing pharmaceutical companies and private health insurers say although they are not opposed to the plan, they believe the country’s high drug costs are the result of skewed data and that pharmacare savings won’t be drastic. Pharmacare is public prescription drug insurance. A […]
Declaring opioid crisis a public emergency legally questionable under current law, experts say
If the federal government declares the opioid crisis a public health emergency through the Emergencies Act, it would be on shaky legal footing and outside the scope of what the law is intended for, legal and public health experts say. The federal NDP and British Columbia government have called on Ottawa to declare the rise […]
Health minister determined to tackle opioid crisis
The opioid crisis will, sadly, claim the lives of thousands of Canadians this year. This public health crisis will touch every part of the country. I want to address the steps our government is taking to address this issue. In my mandate letter, the prime minister was very clear. As minister of health, I am […]
Lack of mental-health accountability frameworks concerning: NDP critic
There’s a concerning lack of news regarding the accountability frameworks for mental health funding as outlined in last year’s new Health Accord, said an opposition critic and academic, and without adequate oversight and transparency, money could disappear into the provincial health-care funding pot. This means money earmarked to improve wait times for child and youth […]
Pop bad, pot good? Liberals are confused on health
These are confusing times on the health file, with the Liberal government sending mixed messages to Canadians. Its official objective is supposedly to help Canadians live healthier lives. So the first priority for the health minister was to legalize recreational smoking of marijuana, which the Canadian Medial Association says causes a significant increase in schizophrenia […]
Pharmacare for all: we can’t afford to wait
Canadians are justly proud of our public health-care system. It is an accomplishment that helps define us as a nation. However, it is not perfect, and it is not comprehensive. Many important health services remain uncovered, including dental, mental health, rehabilitation, and home care. For these, patients are at the mercy of their ability to pay. One of the most […]
Health
Speaking truth to power serves the greater good
The Abominable “No” Man. That is what a journalist friend called me when I worked as press secretary to the solicitor general in the 1980s, mainly because I was reluctant to provide easy access to journalists when things went wrong; and with responsibility for prisons, the RCMP, and the parole board, a lot could go […]
