Advocates embrace potential for ‘systemic changes’ stemming from House committee report on health and IP, but opponents question study’s ‘premise’
Advocates for reducing intellectual property rules to promote access to medicines see a report issued by the House Foreign Affairs Committee last week as having many positive elements, while members of the pharmaceutical industry and related groups expressed mixed reactions, ranging from openness despite their disagreement with a key recommendation to questioning the premise of […]
Governments are nipping the cannabis industry in the bud
VICTORIA, B.C.—In 2015, legalization of cannabis seemed like such a good idea. Then-third-party Liberal leader Justin Trudeau laid out a plan for legalization that appealed to young people across the country, but was responsible enough to not turn off older folks like me. It was a vote-getter for the Liberals. However, as with so many […]
Committee report on vaccine equity calls for immediate review of Canada’s Access to Medicines Regime
The federal government should move quickly to consult Canadians on the rules surrounding when generic drug makers can manufacture and send patented medicines to developing nations in the throes of a health crises, says a House committee in a new report tabled on Oct. 24. Liberal MP Ali Ehsassi (Willowdale, Ont.), chair of the House […]
‘No consensus’: some Senators urge return of hybrid option in Red Chamber
Senate group leaders say there’s “no consensus” on restoring hybrid proceedings in the Red Chamber, in part citing the constraint on work that came as a result of shared support resources being stretched thin, but some Senators are eager to see the option returned. “By not reinstating the hybrid proceedings, the Senate missed an opportunity […]
NDP urges Senate to pass justice reform bill, begin countdown to drug-possession record suspension
As the Senate studies Bill C-5, NDP MP Randall Garrison and civil liberties associations say they hope Senators won’t make ‘perfect the enemy of the good’ in addressing the ‘historic injustice’ of drug criminalization.
‘A difficult and delicate thing’: the complex history of health equity fuels coming House committee report
At a May 9 meeting of the House Foreign Affairs and International Development Committee, NDP MP Heather McPherson has only a few seconds left in her time. She interjects to land one more question to the witness, pressing for answers about Canada’s approach to supporting global vaccine access. “The only barrier was on intellectual property? […]
‘Challenge accepted’: De Adder retweets every Poilievre cartoon he’s ever drawn after receiving threatening email
Political cartoonist Michael de Adder, who works his magic for The Washington Post, The Hill Times, The Toronto Star, and The Halifax Chronicle Herald, tweeted out a particularly nasty email he had received from a supporter of new Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre on Oct. 3. The person didn’t like his Poilievre as The Omen cartoon. “One way or the […]
Preparing our medical system for the next pandemic
Yes, Canada performed well throughout the pandemic, but at what cost? With the highest COVID-19 vaccination rate in the world, Canada has become a model for its handling of the pandemic. With stringent public health measures and strong solidarity throughout the lockdowns and vaccination campaign, Canada performed better, in terms of health outcomes, than many […]
There are no overnight successes in science: medical research needs more stable funding
The rollout of the first bivalent COVID shots is a reminder that the development of these vaccines ranks among the greatest public health achievements of our lifetimes. But they also showcase the gap that exists between perception and reality when it comes to scientific advances—and how we fund them. The vaccines are frequently said to […]
Mental Health Policy Briefing
