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Tessie Sanci

Tessie Sanci is the executive editor of Hill Times Health, which provides in-depth coverage of federal health policy, and The Lobby Monitor, which covers the federal lobbying industry.

Health minister won’t commit to tabling safe long-term care bill

  • The bill was initially promised by Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government following the thousands of deaths that occurred in long-term care during the initial waves
News | BY TESSIE SANCI | July 21, 2025
Marjorie Michel
Marjorie Michel
Health Minister Marjorie Michel takes over from previous Liberal health ministers who said they would move ahead with safe long-term care legislation. However, Health Canada's 2025-26 departmental plan makes no mention of the promise. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Health minister won’t commit to tabling safe long-term care bill

News | BY TESSIE SANCI | July 21, 2025
  • The bill was initially promised by Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government following the thousands of deaths that occurred in long-term care during the initial waves

Health minister won’t commit to tabling safe long-term care bill

News | BY TESSIE SANCI | July 21, 2025
  • The bill was initially promised by Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government following the thousands of deaths that occurred in long-term care during the initial waves
Marjorie Michel
Health Minister Marjorie Michel takes over from previous Liberal health ministers who said they would move ahead with safe long-term care legislation. However, Health Canada's 2025-26 departmental plan makes no mention of the promise. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

A different ‘philosophy’ steers new drug pricing guidelines, says top PMPRB bureaucrat after contentious path to rule changes  

  • Guideline changes became necessary after Justin Trudeau's government chose to amend the Patented Medicines Regulations, a process beset with legal challenges and many delays.
News | BY TESSIE SANCI | July 20, 2025
Guillaume Couillard became director general of the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board in April 2023. He now leads a team that will monitor and review drug prices under new guidelines to enforce regulations that were put into force in July 2022. Photograph courtesy of the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board

A different ‘philosophy’ steers new drug pricing guidelines, says top PMPRB bureaucrat after contentious path to rule changes  

News | BY TESSIE SANCI | July 20, 2025
  • Guideline changes became necessary after Justin Trudeau's government chose to amend the Patented Medicines Regulations, a process beset with legal challenges and many delays.

A different ‘philosophy’ steers new drug pricing guidelines, says top PMPRB bureaucrat after contentious path to rule changes  

News | BY TESSIE SANCI | July 20, 2025
  • Guideline changes became necessary after Justin Trudeau's government chose to amend the Patented Medicines Regulations, a process beset with legal challenges and many delays.
Guillaume Couillard became director general of the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board in April 2023. He now leads a team that will monitor and review drug prices under new guidelines to enforce regulations that were put into force in July 2022. Photograph courtesy of the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board

Canada’s next top doctor must be a ‘focal point’ for public health amid changes in the U.S., concerns about next pandemic

  • Dr. Theresa Tam has left the job of chief public health officer after eight years. Her successor will have to contend with a change
News | BY TESSIE SANCI | June 30, 2025
Theresa Tam
Theresa Tam
Dr. Theresa Tam was Canada’s chief public health officer between June 26, 2017, and June 20, 2025. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada’s next top doctor must be a ‘focal point’ for public health amid changes in the U.S., concerns about next pandemic

News | BY TESSIE SANCI | June 30, 2025
  • Dr. Theresa Tam has left the job of chief public health officer after eight years. Her successor will have to contend with a change

Canada’s next top doctor must be a ‘focal point’ for public health amid changes in the U.S., concerns about next pandemic

News | BY TESSIE SANCI | June 30, 2025
  • Dr. Theresa Tam has left the job of chief public health officer after eight years. Her successor will have to contend with a change
Theresa Tam
Dr. Theresa Tam was Canada’s chief public health officer between June 26, 2017, and June 20, 2025. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

It’s time for Ottawa to fully fund NIHB program, say Northwest Territories and Nunavut health ministers

  • Nunavut Health Minister John Main and his Northwest Territories counterpart Lesa Semmler were in Ottawa to discuss viable funding for the federal Non-Insured Health
News | BY TESSIE SANCI | June 16, 2025
After becoming Indigenous services minister on May 13, Mandy Gull-Masty is now in charge of a process to renew agreements for Non-Insured Health Benefits funding. Both Nunavut and the Northwest Territories have been without an agreement since March 31, 2025. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade.

It’s time for Ottawa to fully fund NIHB program, say Northwest Territories and Nunavut health ministers

News | BY TESSIE SANCI | June 16, 2025
  • Nunavut Health Minister John Main and his Northwest Territories counterpart Lesa Semmler were in Ottawa to discuss viable funding for the federal Non-Insured Health

It’s time for Ottawa to fully fund NIHB program, say Northwest Territories and Nunavut health ministers

News | BY TESSIE SANCI | June 16, 2025
  • Nunavut Health Minister John Main and his Northwest Territories counterpart Lesa Semmler were in Ottawa to discuss viable funding for the federal Non-Insured Health
After becoming Indigenous services minister on May 13, Mandy Gull-Masty is now in charge of a process to renew agreements for Non-Insured Health Benefits funding. Both Nunavut and the Northwest Territories have been without an agreement since March 31, 2025. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade.

From Haiti to the PMO to cabinet: Canada’s new Health Minister Michel reflects on her front-row seat in politics

  • Before becoming involved in Canadian politics, Marjorie Michel was the daughter of a Haitian prime minister. Politics is 'not really a privilege, it's like
FeatureBY TESSIE SANCI | June 9, 2025
Marjorie Michel
Marjorie Michel
Health Minister Marjorie Michel sits for an interview with The Hill Times in West Block on May 29, 2025. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

From Haiti to the PMO to cabinet: Canada’s new Health Minister Michel reflects on her front-row seat in politics

FeatureBY TESSIE SANCI | June 9, 2025
  • Before becoming involved in Canadian politics, Marjorie Michel was the daughter of a Haitian prime minister. Politics is 'not really a privilege, it's like

From Haiti to the PMO to cabinet: Canada’s new Health Minister Michel reflects on her front-row seat in politics

FeatureBY TESSIE SANCI | June 9, 2025
  • Before becoming involved in Canadian politics, Marjorie Michel was the daughter of a Haitian prime minister. Politics is 'not really a privilege, it's like
Marjorie Michel
Health Minister Marjorie Michel sits for an interview with The Hill Times in West Block on May 29, 2025. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Health minister says mental health and access to care are on her list of priorities

  • Health Minister Marjorie Michel says she has been communicating with her provincial and territorial counterparts as she develops a list of policy tasks.
News | BY TESSIE SANCI | June 5, 2025
Marjorie Michel
Marjorie Michel
Health Minister Marjorie Michel sits for an interview with The Hill Times in West Block on May 29, 2025. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Health minister says mental health and access to care are on her list of priorities

News | BY TESSIE SANCI | June 5, 2025
  • Health Minister Marjorie Michel says she has been communicating with her provincial and territorial counterparts as she develops a list of policy tasks.

Health minister says mental health and access to care are on her list of priorities

News | BY TESSIE SANCI | June 5, 2025
  • Health Minister Marjorie Michel says she has been communicating with her provincial and territorial counterparts as she develops a list of policy tasks.
Marjorie Michel
Health Minister Marjorie Michel sits for an interview with The Hill Times in West Block on May 29, 2025. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Trudeau era’s ‘activist’ health policy moves likely in the rear-view mirror, say consultants

  • Major health policy shifts including cannabis legalization and national dental care were introduced by the last Liberal government, but the path forward for this
News | BY TESSIE SANCI | June 2, 2025
Liberal MP Marjorie Michel, centre, pictured with Prime Minister Mark Carney and Governor General Mary Simon at the cabinet swearing-in on May 13, is the minister now tasked with driving forward Carney's health agenda. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia for The Hill Times

Trudeau era’s ‘activist’ health policy moves likely in the rear-view mirror, say consultants

News | BY TESSIE SANCI | June 2, 2025
  • Major health policy shifts including cannabis legalization and national dental care were introduced by the last Liberal government, but the path forward for this

Trudeau era’s ‘activist’ health policy moves likely in the rear-view mirror, say consultants

News | BY TESSIE SANCI | June 2, 2025
  • Major health policy shifts including cannabis legalization and national dental care were introduced by the last Liberal government, but the path forward for this
Liberal MP Marjorie Michel, centre, pictured with Prime Minister Mark Carney and Governor General Mary Simon at the cabinet swearing-in on May 13, is the minister now tasked with driving forward Carney's health agenda. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia for The Hill Times

Now-eliminated mental health and addictions cabinet post ‘shone a brighter light’ on issues, but also caused some confusion, stakeholders say

  • The new Liberal cabinet no longer includes a seat for a mental health and addictions minister after former prime minister Justin Trudeau created the
News | BY TESSIE SANCI | May 26, 2025
Health Minister Marjorie Michel, left, is sworn in as a cabinet minister by PCO Clerk John Hannaford, right, on May 13, 2025, at Rideau Hall as Governor General Mary Simon and Prime Minister Mark Carney look on. The Hill Times Photograph by Sam Garcia

Now-eliminated mental health and addictions cabinet post ‘shone a brighter light’ on issues, but also caused some confusion, stakeholders say

News | BY TESSIE SANCI | May 26, 2025
  • The new Liberal cabinet no longer includes a seat for a mental health and addictions minister after former prime minister Justin Trudeau created the

Now-eliminated mental health and addictions cabinet post ‘shone a brighter light’ on issues, but also caused some confusion, stakeholders say

News | BY TESSIE SANCI | May 26, 2025
  • The new Liberal cabinet no longer includes a seat for a mental health and addictions minister after former prime minister Justin Trudeau created the
Health Minister Marjorie Michel, left, is sworn in as a cabinet minister by PCO Clerk John Hannaford, right, on May 13, 2025, at Rideau Hall as Governor General Mary Simon and Prime Minister Mark Carney look on. The Hill Times Photograph by Sam Garcia

Liberals to push ahead with pharmacare, but program’s fate under Conservatives is unclear

  • Health Minister Kamal Khera highlighted Yukon signing onto the pharmacare deal since Mark Carney became prime minister, saying the Liberal government 'will continue to
News | BY TESSIE SANCI | March 26, 2025
Kamal Khera
Kamal Khera
Health Minister Kamal Khera said that the Liberal Party will continue to focus on delivering diabetes medication and oral contraception that is 'changing lives.' Bilateral deals for pharmacare funding have now been signed by four provinces and territories. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Liberals to push ahead with pharmacare, but program’s fate under Conservatives is unclear

News | BY TESSIE SANCI | March 26, 2025
  • Health Minister Kamal Khera highlighted Yukon signing onto the pharmacare deal since Mark Carney became prime minister, saying the Liberal government 'will continue to

Liberals to push ahead with pharmacare, but program’s fate under Conservatives is unclear

News | BY TESSIE SANCI | March 26, 2025
  • Health Minister Kamal Khera highlighted Yukon signing onto the pharmacare deal since Mark Carney became prime minister, saying the Liberal government 'will continue to
Kamal Khera
Health Minister Kamal Khera said that the Liberal Party will continue to focus on delivering diabetes medication and oral contraception that is 'changing lives.' Bilateral deals for pharmacare funding have now been signed by four provinces and territories. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

‘One-off funding announcements’ not the way to fix homelessness and substance use, says Burlington mayor

  • A group representing Ontario’s big cities is calling on the province to appoint a minister to lead a plan to tackle homelessness, mental health,
News | BY TESSIE SANCI | August 16, 2024
Ya’ara Saks
Ya’ara Saks
Mental Health and Addictions Minister Ya’ara Saks did not reply to a request for comment from Hill Times Health about calls from Ontario’s big city mayors for Ottawa to step up on homelessness, mental health, and substance use. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

‘One-off funding announcements’ not the way to fix homelessness and substance use, says Burlington mayor

News | BY TESSIE SANCI | August 16, 2024
  • A group representing Ontario’s big cities is calling on the province to appoint a minister to lead a plan to tackle homelessness, mental health,

‘One-off funding announcements’ not the way to fix homelessness and substance use, says Burlington mayor

News | BY TESSIE SANCI | August 16, 2024
  • A group representing Ontario’s big cities is calling on the province to appoint a minister to lead a plan to tackle homelessness, mental health,
Ya’ara Saks
Mental Health and Addictions Minister Ya’ara Saks did not reply to a request for comment from Hill Times Health about calls from Ontario’s big city mayors for Ottawa to step up on homelessness, mental health, and substance use. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Pharmacare bill and Liberal messaging at odds, confusing stakeholders on vision for ‘single-payer’ system

  • The language in the pharmacare bill is ‘fatally flawed,’ according to pharmacare expert Dr. Steve Morgan.
News | BY TESSIE SANCI | June 8, 2024
Mark Holland
Mark Holland
Despite the pharmacare bill referencing only a ‘single-payer’ program, Health Minister Mark Holland says people with private insurance for contraceptives and diabetes-related pharmaceuticals can keep their plans following the implementation of national pharmacare. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Pharmacare bill and Liberal messaging at odds, confusing stakeholders on vision for ‘single-payer’ system

News | BY TESSIE SANCI | June 8, 2024
  • The language in the pharmacare bill is ‘fatally flawed,’ according to pharmacare expert Dr. Steve Morgan.

Pharmacare bill and Liberal messaging at odds, confusing stakeholders on vision for ‘single-payer’ system

News | BY TESSIE SANCI | June 8, 2024
  • The language in the pharmacare bill is ‘fatally flawed,’ according to pharmacare expert Dr. Steve Morgan.
Mark Holland
Despite the pharmacare bill referencing only a ‘single-payer’ program, Health Minister Mark Holland says people with private insurance for contraceptives and diabetes-related pharmaceuticals can keep their plans following the implementation of national pharmacare. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canadian access to pork insulin at risk if Health Canada adopts 1,400 per cent fee increase, says sole supplier

  • This story is an exclusive from Hill Times Research Health. To find out more, register for a free trial now. A Health Canada decision
News | BY TESSIE SANCI | August 13, 2021
Health Minister Patty Hajdu is facing calls to stop her department from charging Wockhardt UK the standard base fee for importing medicines into Canada. The company was previously subject to a heavily discounted fee to account for its low volume of sales of pork insulin in Canada. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canadian access to pork insulin at risk if Health Canada adopts 1,400 per cent fee increase, says sole supplier

News | BY TESSIE SANCI | August 13, 2021
  • This story is an exclusive from Hill Times Research Health. To find out more, register for a free trial now. A Health Canada decision

Canadian access to pork insulin at risk if Health Canada adopts 1,400 per cent fee increase, says sole supplier

News | BY TESSIE SANCI | August 13, 2021
  • This story is an exclusive from Hill Times Research Health. To find out more, register for a free trial now. A Health Canada decision
Health Minister Patty Hajdu is facing calls to stop her department from charging Wockhardt UK the standard base fee for importing medicines into Canada. The company was previously subject to a heavily discounted fee to account for its low volume of sales of pork insulin in Canada. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Health Canada’s COVID-19 task force ‘likely working night and day’ as bureaucrats across departments hammer out policy response

  • The global nature of the COVID-19 pandemic is demonstrated by a “whole-of-government” approach that has captured bureaucrats from many federal departments to form Health
News | BY TESSIE SANCI | April 13, 2020
Health Minister Patty Hajdu provides an update on the government’s COVID-19 response in the West Block on April 2. Behind the scenes, a task force of bureaucrats is working at a ‘hectic’ pace to provide the policy backbone. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Health Canada’s COVID-19 task force ‘likely working night and day’ as bureaucrats across departments hammer out policy response

News | BY TESSIE SANCI | April 13, 2020
  • The global nature of the COVID-19 pandemic is demonstrated by a “whole-of-government” approach that has captured bureaucrats from many federal departments to form Health

Health Canada’s COVID-19 task force ‘likely working night and day’ as bureaucrats across departments hammer out policy response

News | BY TESSIE SANCI | April 13, 2020
  • The global nature of the COVID-19 pandemic is demonstrated by a “whole-of-government” approach that has captured bureaucrats from many federal departments to form Health
Health Minister Patty Hajdu provides an update on the government’s COVID-19 response in the West Block on April 2. Behind the scenes, a task force of bureaucrats is working at a ‘hectic’ pace to provide the policy backbone. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada’s chief public health officers take centre stage amid COVID-19 crisis

  • Chief public health officers across the country now have a public profile never before seen in this country, thanks to their position as the
News | BY TESSIE SANCI | March 27, 2020
Dr. Theresa Tam and her deputy, Dr. Howard Njoo, have become recurring fixtures in Canadians' lives, thanks to their public-facing role in communicating the feds' response to COVID-19 pandemic. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada’s chief public health officers take centre stage amid COVID-19 crisis

News | BY TESSIE SANCI | March 27, 2020
  • Chief public health officers across the country now have a public profile never before seen in this country, thanks to their position as the

Canada’s chief public health officers take centre stage amid COVID-19 crisis

News | BY TESSIE SANCI | March 27, 2020
  • Chief public health officers across the country now have a public profile never before seen in this country, thanks to their position as the
Dr. Theresa Tam and her deputy, Dr. Howard Njoo, have become recurring fixtures in Canadians' lives, thanks to their public-facing role in communicating the feds' response to COVID-19 pandemic. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Millennials influence parties’ key policy promises, outreach efforts

  • With millennials making up about one-third of Canadian voters, most political parties have been eager to develop policy platforms and appealing messaging to entice
News | BY TESSIE SANCI | October 21, 2019
Thousands of protesters, many of them young Canadians not yet old enough to vote, took to the streets of Ottawa on Sept. 27 to call on political leaders to do more to curb greenhouse gas emissions. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

Millennials influence parties’ key policy promises, outreach efforts

News | BY TESSIE SANCI | October 21, 2019
  • With millennials making up about one-third of Canadian voters, most political parties have been eager to develop policy platforms and appealing messaging to entice

Millennials influence parties’ key policy promises, outreach efforts

News | BY TESSIE SANCI | October 21, 2019
  • With millennials making up about one-third of Canadian voters, most political parties have been eager to develop policy platforms and appealing messaging to entice
Thousands of protesters, many of them young Canadians not yet old enough to vote, took to the streets of Ottawa on Sept. 27 to call on political leaders to do more to curb greenhouse gas emissions. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia
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