Canada’s digital strategy stalls
It’s been more than two years since the federal government held online consultations on a strategy to develop Canada’s digital economy and Industry Canada has yet release a plan, despite assurances by Industry Minister Christian Paradis to introduce a strategy by the end of 2012. Speaking with The Hill Times, Minister of State for Science […]
Feds look to bolster business innovation
Minister of State for Science and Technology Gary Goodyear says that new investments in small and mid-size business innovation are part of a wider strategy to bolster innovation and commercialization in Canada, but critics say the federal government’s approach still falls short nearly a year and a half after the release of the Jenkins […]
Health
Canada can end chronic homelessness, it’s a health issue
TORONTO, ONT.—We have the knowledge, the evidence, and the strategies to improve the plight of those who fall between the cracks and stay there for long periods of time. But every night, the shelters continue to fill up, and every day, the many people who are homeless on our streets watch as we pass […]
Standardize clinical trials to gain global attraction, says Senate committee
The Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology is calling on the federal government to standardize ethics reviews and establish a national framework for clinical trials in Canada in order boost its international appeal, but while the committee’s recommendations to increase clinical trial activity in Canada have been well-received by some academics, Urszula […]
Obesity costs Ontario taxpayers an estimated $2.2-billion and $2.5-billion each year, says Ontario Medical Association
An estimated one-quarter of Canadians is obese, and with high fat, sugary and processed foods easily available, governments around the world are searching for the right approach to encourage healthy eating. Some groups are advocating for government regulation of industry, while others are calling on the implementation of “fat taxes,” but Harvey Anderson, director […]
Canadian health-care innovations in the 21st Century
Many innovative ideas and practices are emerging to address healthcare challenges today. This includes technological innovation, e-health, and tele-robotics, to name a few. These innovative practices are found in local hospitals, long-term care facilities, universities, and in the ranks of health-care providers and patients. The House of Commons Standing Committee on Health passed […]
Independent research questions hospital mortality stats
Recently-published independent research has called into question the integrity of an index for measuring the quality of care in Canadian hospitals, but the Canadian Institute for Health Information says that there’s been no evidence of statistical manipulation since it began publicly releasing the data in 2007. The research, published on the British Medical Journal’s […]
Stigma around end-of-life planning contributes to later life pain
Palliative care advocates are unsurprised by recent studies confirming the importance of advance care planning and say that federal and provincial health agencies have a role in raising public awareness around end-of-life care. A study recently published in the U.S. Journal of Clinical Oncology is the latest research to confirm that advanced discussions on […]
Banning generic version of OxyContin isn’t ‘true solution,’ experts say
Provincial calls for a federal ban on generic versions of the pain-reliever pill OxyContin is not a “true solution” to opioid drug abuse, say health experts who want the federal government to take on a “broader approach” to stemming addiction in Canada. “We don’t see prohibition as a true solution in this case. What […]
