The case for a ‘For Indigenous, By Indigenous’ housing strategy
OTTAWA—When politicians and commentators discuss Indigenous peoples in Canada, it’s not often recognized that 87 per cent of Indigenous peoples in Canada live in urban, rural, and northern settings. Given that fact, it’s an unfortunate reality that the federal government is not living up to its housing obligations for Indigenous people living in urban, rural, […]
Through Brexit and beyond, the European Union is a trusted partner for Canada
On Jan. 31, the United Kingdom left the European Union. We lost a member of our family. It was a sad moment for us, for European citizens—and, indeed, for many British citizens. Nevertheless, we have always respected the sovereign decision of 52 per cent of the British electorate, and we now look forward to starting […]
Let’s work together to make pharmacare a reality: NDP MP Davies
In this minority Parliament, Canada’s New Democrats plan to push universal pharmacare to the top of the agenda. We are calling on all parties to help us fast-tack this long-overdue expansion of our public health-care system because Canadians cannot afford to wait. Today, one in five Canadians—some 7.5 million people—either has no drug coverage at […]
Through the lens of value-based health care: oncology care
Concerns are growing over Canada’s health-care system not delivering value for the money spent. Despite being considered one of the highest spenders on health care when compared to other industrialized countries that offer universal care, our system consistently underperforms on key measures, such as access and quality. The increasing and aging population is adding pressure […]
Long-term care: quest for more beds or quest for quality of life, and can there be both?
Success in improved health care, pharmacological interventions and healthy living has led to a significant increase in life expectancy at the very time baby boomers are entering the later phase of life. This demographic reality is raising concern on a number of fronts almost to the point of hysteria. However, the sheer number of individuals […]
Law allowing for medical assistance in dying needs to be changed as soon as possible
The law allowing for medical assistance in dying needs to be changed as soon as possible. Since 2016, MAID has now been available to Canadians, with more than 7,000 Canadians having taken advantage of this medical procedure to end their lives, on their own terms and with dignity. Despite some dire predictions by groups lobbying […]
Experts split on best path forward for assisted dying legislation
With the March 11 deadline to respond to the Quebec Superior Court ruling that deemed a portion of the federal and Quebec medical assistance in dying legislation unconstitutional fast approaching, and a planned parliamentary review of the legislation in June, experts are split on the best path forward. “It is inappropriate to think about making […]
Patient hotels: an established transitional solution to overcrowding
Ontario has run out of space to care for patients. Even without a novel coronavirus threatening to crush health care, Ontario needs a quick, low-cost solution to transition patients out of hospitals. Fortunately, other countries worked this out decades ago, all within publicly funded systems. All across Ontario, standard operating procedure is to over-fill hospitals […]
Nourishing body and soul: food and mealtimes in long-term care
WATERLOO, ONT.—In many ways, we have made great strides in food and mealtimes in residential care, and in other ways we have a long way to go. Certainly, there has been growing recognition they are important to all of us, including the most vulnerable in our society. In December 2019, the Ontario auditor general’s report […]
One simple step toward finding a solution for drug shortages
KINGSTON, ONT.—Drug shortages have plagued Canada since at least 2010. I am often asked what we should do about it. Pharmacare will be useless if drugs are not available. Many solutions are possible. We need an essential medicines list; others agree. We need to understand why we don’t start manufacturing the missing drugs ourselves. We […]
