MPs stand in the House to honour late supporters
Two Liberal MPs used their time in the House last week to pay tribute to supporters who recently passed away. On Nov. 17, Wayne Easter (Malpeque, P.E.I.) rose to commemorate his long-time staffer Michael O’Neill, who passed away from cancer last month. According to Mr. Easter, Mr. O’Neill’s career in politics began in 1981, when he […]
Healthy Eating Strategy gives much-needed teeth to regulate industry
The most important element of the new federal Healthy Eating Strategy, announced on Oct. 24 by Health Minister Dr. Jane Philpott, was something that was not explicitly mentioned. It is that the federal government will not rely on voluntary actions by the food and beverage industry to limit the negative impact of its unhealthy products […]
Exercise must be key to any strategy aimed at making Canadians healthier
The Oct. 24 announcement by the health minister of her new Vision for a Healthy Canada was an important one for all Canadians and, in particular, for the health and wellness community, including ParticipACTION. Under the vision’s three pillars—healthy eating, healthy living, and healthy minds—the government is focused on executing a comprehensive and meaningful strategy […]
Natural health products need unique approaches
Self-care is an important part of preventive health, which is crucial to supporting the well-being of Canada’s growing—and aging—population. Millions of Canadians use cosmetics, natural health products (NHPs) and over-the-counter medication to support a healthy lifestyle every day, with 77 per cent of our population using NHPs. Canadians are increasingly interested in playing a role […]
A new way to pay for social programs is opening up in Canada
Every year, Canada’s provincial and federal governments spend billions of dollars trying to combat social problems. From homelessness to chronic ill health, criminal re-offending to high school drop-out rates, the list of issues is long, and the challenges are complex. Despite the vast sums of money at play, there is inevitably not enough to go […]
All you need to know about marijuana legalization in Canada
Picture this: you’re driving back from a weekend at the cottage with your friends. It’s Sunday at noon, and the countryside is beautiful. Suddenly you see blue and red flashing lights ahead; it’s a roadside spot check. You kill the music. You tell yourself you’ve got nothing to worry about. You’re sober as a gopher. […]
One year on: promises, what promises?
MONTREAL—Much celebration, for the most part justified, is attending the first anniversary of Justin Trudeau’s election victory. Twelve months later, polls elicit no buyer’s remorse. Many voters who did not support Trudeau last year are on balance happy he won. The alignment of the stars continues to favour the prime minister. With the opposition parties […]
Get rid of polio for good
It was just 22 years ago, in 1994, that Canada was declared “polio-free.” Until a vaccine was developed in 1955, polio crippled tens of thousands of Canadians, mostly children, peaking in 1953 when 500 died. Canada’s last major polio epidemic was in 1959, with just under 2,000 paralyzed. Many of us have family members who […]
Why are we paying so much more for drugs than Europe?
TORONTO—A few weeks ago, Canadian consumers rejoiced because the cost of prescription drugs in Canada were lower than in the United States. But do they know that the cost of drugs in Canada is much higher than in most of the European countries? Laureano Leone, born in Italy, with a degree in pharmacy from the […]
Canada must commit to timeline to increase aid to 0.7 per cent goal
Last month, Canada truly seemed to be back, and here to help. A year after a recently-elected Trudeau made ambitious pledges at the Paris Climate Summit, Canada hosted the Fifth Replenishment Conference of the Global Fund to fight AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, to which we pledged $785-million over three years. This is a laudable commitment, and […]
