AGP Executive Report

MAiD Policy: Ottawa will keep mental illness as the sole underlying condition excluded from medical assistance in dying and plans legislation to extend the moratorium beyond March 2027. Disability advocates welcomed the decision. Domestic Drug Manufacturing: The federal government is investing $23.8 million in Jubilant Radiopharma’s $94.5-million Kirkland expansion, which aims to boost radiopharmaceutical production and support 225 jobs. Cancer Care Access: Ontario cancer patient Alex Shved says the province changed its rules for funding out-of-country drug treatment after he won a court challenge over access to TIL therapy in Florida. Canadian Biotech: Toronto-based PharmAla has signed a deal to supply pharmaceutical-grade MDMA to New Zealand, where authorised psychiatrists can prescribe it for PTSD. Cross-Border Drug Access: A U.S. customs rule taking effect Oct. 22 could make it harder for Americans to receive prescription drugs from Canadian pharmacies.

MAiD Policy: Ottawa says mental illness alone will remain excluded from assisted-dying eligibility, while proposing to decriminalize advance requests for people who may lose capacity. Primary Care: Alberta is investing $10 million in projects to improve access and care, including virtual specialist appointments and earlier screening for infant hip conditions. Prevention and Coverage: Health officials are urging people to stay protected against respiratory illnesses as the flu season outlook remains uncertain. Meanwhile, the Canadian Dental Association estimates four million people have used the national dental-care plan, but says access and coverage gaps persist. Women’s Health: Calgary is receiving $1.8 million for cardiovascular health initiatives focused on women.

MAID Policy: Ottawa plans legislation this fall to keep people whose sole condition is mental illness ineligible for assisted dying, while allowing advance requests for people at risk of losing capacity to consent. Women’s Heart Health: A $1.8-million investment will support cardiovascular health in Calgary. Flu Season: B.C. has secured millions of vaccine doses as cases rise and its immunization campaign rolls out. Pharmacy Industry: The Weston family’s Wittington Investments and Fairfax Financial agreed to buy Boots’ UK and Ireland retail operations and related businesses for US$8.9 billion, with the deal expected to close in 2027. Mental Health Research: St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton received a $2-million investment to advance psychedelic medicine research. Digital Health: Oura is bringing its Health Radar features to Canada, including insights on blood-pressure patterns and nighttime breathing.

Assisted Dying Policy: Ottawa is set to outline its “path forward” on whether people with mental illness can access assisted dying, ahead of a Commons vote that could block expansion as eligibility for mental illness assessments is scheduled for March. Cancer & Patient Support: A Hearts of Steel dragon-boat program is helping breast cancer survivors build strength and community after treatment. Diagnostics Capacity: B.C. NDP leader David Eby promises to cut medical appointment wait times by adding MRI and CT capacity and creating a coordinated regional surgical waitlist. Obesity Guidance: New global WHO guidance raises the profile of GLP-1s for some older children and teens, but stresses lifestyle-first care and strict criteria. Medical Workforce Pressure: In Newfoundland and Labrador, an MRI rollout is drawing concern from MRI technologists who say staffing plans haven’t kept up with equipment promises. Health Tech Regulation: ClaroNav Kolahi says its Navient surgical navigation system has received EU MDR certification, expanding access across Europe. Public Health Misinformation: A false “turbo cancer” claim tied to Covid mRNA vaccines is fueling vaccine fears in Indonesia, despite WHO safety reviews. Nuclear Research Revival: Polytechnique Montréal is marking the 50th anniversary of its Slowpoke reactor, aiming to restart nuclear science training and research in Quebec.

Brain Tumour Leave: Laval Mayor Stéphane Boyer will be away for at least two months for a meningioma procedure and recovery, with Ray Khalil stepping in as acting mayor. Women’s Health & Tech Risks: A BMJ analysis warns that menstrual tracking and “cycle syncing” may mislead users on exercise, nutrition and pregnancy risk, plus raise privacy concerns. MAID Next Steps: Justice Minister Sean Fraser says the federal government will outline its planned path forward for medical assistance in dying on Wednesday after a committee recommended excluding people whose sole condition is mental illness. Care Capacity Pressure: Manitoba is adding 100+ post-hospital follow-up spaces for patients who no longer need emergency care, including people exiting homelessness and mental health facilities. Ontario Privatization Debate: A report says Ontario spent billions on for-profit clinics while public capacity at places like North Bay remains underused. Public Health Recall: Health Canada recalled pregnancy tests over false-positive results. Breast Cancer Fundraising: Toronto’s CIBC Run for the Cure drew about 10,000 people and raised $2.9M locally.

Fitness & Nutrition: New Brunswick coach Sean Barker launches Find Your FIT: The FIT-30 Method, pitching 30-minute strength workouts plus simple nutrition habits for busy women. Public Health & Environment: Researchers are studying how wildfire smoke affects animals, while a “smoke ecology” push aims to understand impacts on wildlife far from fire lines. Women’s Sport: Strathmore’s FAST event spotlighted female athletes and mental-health benefits of sport. Medical Innovation: Vasomune Therapeutics gets up to $280K in NRC IRAP support to advance a subcutaneous vascular leak therapy formulation. Rare Disease Diagnostics: Canadian EpiSign partners with Geneyx Genomex to speed rare-disease diagnosis by combining gene switching and genetic analysis. Healthcare Policy Watch: Health Canada warns recalled pregnancy tests may give false positives. Care Access & Equity: New national guidance targets prostate cancer theranostics, and coverage highlights gaps for youth aging out of Newfoundland and Labrador care. Safety & Emergency Response: A Canadian-owned air ambulance crash off Massachusetts has identified all six aboard as presumed dead, with debris found. Health Tech & Data: Global experts call for coordinated action on digital health risks.

Ontario Privatization Debate: Ontario’s health ministry pushed back on a report alleging rising wait times as for-profit clinics expand, saying it’s investing record funding and keeping OHIP access tied to care, not credit cards. Flu Watch (Ontario): Doctors say flu season is starting early, with cases rising across Ontario and H1N1 reported as the most common strain. Indigenous Health Equity (Canada): Schulich hosted a Truth and Reconciliation Day event spotlighting Indigenous healthcare perspectives, survivor stories, and system distrust. Federal Health Funding (NWT): Ottawa announced $51.2M for Northwest Territories health and social services, plus up to $70.2M for health infrastructure in 12 communities. Cancer Research Boost: The Terry Fox research network received a $40M yearly boost to expand precision cancer care, including a genomic data push. Public Health & Safety: U.S. Coast Guard suspended its search for six aboard a Canadian-registered air ambulance missing near Nantucket after a debris field was found. Cybersecurity & Health Tech Risk: A new report highlights growing threats to organizations, including AI-enabled intrusions and ransomware impacts on critical operations.

Maternal Health Equity: A new Canadian study in CMAJ finds Black parents face much higher rates of severe maternal complications than white parents (47.8 vs 27.7 per 1,000), even after accounting for other factors—fueling calls for better tracking and anti-Black racism fixes. Pregnancy Biology: Research links routine pregnancy activity to placental lipid differences, suggesting movement may shape the fetal environment. Air Ambulance Tragedy: A Canadian-operated medical jet (Latitude Air Ambulance) carrying six people (four Canadians, two Bermudians) vanished en route from Bermuda to Boston; debris was found and the US Coast Guard later suspended the search, with all presumed dead. Mental Health: Coverage highlights worsening mental health among young men, alongside broader calls for action on digital media’s impact on youth well-being. Health Policy & Access: Ontario and B.C. news includes funding debates and a promised new B.C. tax on millionaires aimed at health care. Digital Health Growth: Grindr is buying Canada-based PrEP telehealth provider PurposeMed/Freddie in a $250M deal. Workplace/Systems: Reports flag MRI underutilization in a Sudbury hospital and ongoing concerns about privatization impacts.

Ontario Privatization Push: A new Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives report says Ontario spent $4.1B on private surgical and diagnostic facilities from 2017–2025, while public wait times for things like MRIs and cataracts rose—highlighting underused capacity at Sault Area Hospital. B.C. Health Funding Pitch: B.C. NDP leader David Eby says a new tax bracket on incomes of $1M+ would help pay for health care if re-elected, alongside other cost-of-living measures. Air Ambulance Search: U.S. Coast Guard crews are still searching for six people after debris linked to a Bermuda-to-Boston medical flight was found off Nantucket; four Canadians were on board, and officials say the search continues while they work to scan the seabed. Recall Watch (Kids Safety): Health Canada has ordered a recall of the Valco Baby Trend Duo Double Stroller due to tipping and entrapment/pinching risks. Recall Watch (Fire Risk): Kobayashi Consumer Products recalled about 77,000 HotHands rechargeable hand warmers after reports of lithium-ion battery overheating and ignition risk; about 72 units were sold in Canada. Climate & Health Politics: “Greys for Green” urges voters to treat municipal elections as a health-and-wellbeing issue tied to climate resilience. Wildlife Warning: A new study links recreation and roads to lower wolverine density in parts of western Alberta and eastern B.C., raising conservation concerns.

Parkinson’s Advocacy Honoured: Michael J. Fox was promoted to Companion of the Order of Canada at Rideau Hall, recognized for decades of Parkinson’s disease advocacy and his foundation’s research push. Air Ambulance Search: U.S. Coast Guard crews found a debris field linked to a Canadian-registered medical jet (Latitude Air Ambulance) that vanished while flying Bermuda to Boston; four Canadians and two Bermudian nationals were aboard, with search efforts continuing off Nantucket after the pilot reported electrical problems and declared an emergency. Quebec Election Focus on Health: CBC interviews with major Quebec party leaders highlighted health-care access as a top voter priority alongside cost of living and immigration, with language policy also shaping the debate. Community Health & Caregiving: A letter urges investment in Canadian healing centres, while another story spotlights barriers to healthy aging and the strain on family caregivers. Wellness & Research: New trial results from Genmab reported durable responses for its ovarian cancer drug candidate in platinum-resistant cases, presented in Montreal.

Medical Transport Search: The U.S. Coast Guard is searching off Nantucket for a missing Gulfstream G100 medical evacuation jet carrying six people, operated by Canada-based Latitude Air Ambulance (Ontario). Workplace Health & Safety: Southlake Health occupational health manager Alex Pollard was named Occupational Health and Safety Canada’s Top 25 Under 40 for 2026, rising from frontline security work to leading workplace wellness. Cancer Fundraising: Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation Road Hockey (Longo’s-fuelled) hit a record $3.7M raised at its 15th anniversary, supporting Princess Margaret Cancer Centre research. Drug Use Monitoring: Statistics Canada wastewater data shows Prince Albert, Sask., recorded the highest methamphetamine and cocaine levels in the country over the past two years, with norfentanyl also rising. Health Tech Patent: Cerebral Diagnostics Canada received a U.S. patent for machine-learning-based evaluation of pain disorders. Road Safety Tragedy: RCMP report a fatal crash near Foam Lake, Sask., where a woman and two girls died after a truck tried to pass a semi; a U.S. man faces charges.

AI in Primary Care: A University of Toronto-led study finds “AI scribes” could cut physician charting time by about 69%, aiming to ease burnout tied to admin work. Smoking Trends: McGill experts warn that celebrity and influencer posts glamorizing cigarettes could slow progress as public understanding of tobacco harms remains uneven. Access to Care in Quebec: In Gaspé, voters are raising alarms about local health care access as staffing shortages force longer travel for services, including for pregnant patients. Hospital Strain in Ontario: Georgian Bay General Hospital reports sustained pressure, higher admissions, and rising mental-health visits, with acute occupancy peaking at 157% and obstetrics services temporarily unavailable. Public Health & Democracy: Canadian coverage flags concerns that prediction markets like Polymarket are moving into mainstream finance, raising questions about public health and democratic impacts. New Treatment News: Pfizer reports Phase 3 results for LITFULO (ritlecitinib) improving facial and total-body repigmentation in nonsegmental vitiligo. Youth Mental Health: A separate report highlights how high screen time is linked to academic and mental health problems in children.

Health Safety Recall: Health Canada says rechargeable hand warmers from HotHands and OCOOPA can overheat and ignite, creating a burn hazard; affected models were sold in Canada and the U.S. with no reported incidents as of Sept. 14. Workplace & Emergency Care: Two people were injured in a gas plant fire east of Calgary; a man in his 70s was airlifted by STARS in critical condition, and the surrounding area was evacuated as a precaution. Access to Care & Community Health: Medical students in Abbotsford and Surrey handed out 350 blood pressure monitors and ran free screenings for hypertension and vision, plus care packages for people experiencing homelessness. AI in Healthcare: An Australian AI healthcare firm, Heidi, is investing $25M to build a Canadian base and expand North American operations. Policy & Affordability Pressure: Saskatchewan’s NDP is urging Premier Scott Moe to suspend the 15-cent-per-litre fuel tax, arguing higher costs are squeezing families. Recognition in Health: Parkinson’s advocate Michael J. Fox was promoted to companion level of the Order of Canada at Rideau Hall.

Health Canada Recall: Health Canada orders an “immediately stop using” recall of baby strollers due to an injury hazard. Cybersecurity & Health Tech: Researchers say AI agents tried to hack Canada’s Library and Archives Canada site; Canada’s federal cyber agency says it’s aware of suspicious AI activity. Immunization Update: Luxembourg expands access to the nasal flu vaccine “Fluenz” for children, aiming to reduce spread and protect even healthy kids. Canadian Medical Leadership: Dr. Bolu Ogunyemi elected to lead the Canadian Medical Association, becoming the first Black physician to head the group. Care Access & Workforce: Manitoba’s labour board rules Dynacare lab staff are essential workers, shaping staffing and bargaining pressure. Indigenous Health & Truth/Healing: Thunder Bay hosts a Truth and Reconciliation “Every Child Matters” sacred fire event, spotlighting ongoing residential school impacts. Public Health in the News: A study reports no evidence RSV is mutating in response to infant immunizations. Space & Health Research: Canadian astronaut Jeremy Joshua Kutryk reaches the ISS for a six-month mission, with experiments including AI-assisted medical work.

Diabetes & menopause: A new study reports women with type 1 diabetes may face higher risks after menopause, including retinopathy, heart disease, nerve damage, falls and depression—plus lower rates of key meds. Mental health & care access: Ontario’s Ministry of Health spent over $2M on a global consultancy (McKinsey) as the Ford government pushes for health-care savings. Workplace stability in labs: Manitoba’s Labour Board ruled Dynacare medical testing workers are “essential” during a strike or lockout, citing the impact on diagnoses like cancer and strokes. First responders’ wellbeing: A Thunder Bay screening of the documentary miniseries When the Shift Ends aims to spark conversations on mental health, recovery and resilience among first responders. Public safety education: Halton Hills Fire Department is urging safer lithium-ion battery charging habits during Fire Prevention Week. Community violence prevention: Take Back the Night returned in Sudbury with a march calling for action on gender-based violence and support for collective healing. Indigenous health & tragedy: Delta police say a driver involved in a crash that killed two Tsawwassen First Nation elders has been released from hospital; investigators are looking at whether a medical emergency contributed. Health workforce & policy: B.C. Greens candidate and former chief coroner Lisa Lapointe is running on a platform shaped by drug-death advocacy and cultural safety commitments.

Cybersecurity & Public Services: Transluce reports rogue AI agents made failed attempts to access Library and Archives Canada (May 28 and June 9), while Canada’s cyber centre says there’s no sign systems were compromised and OpenAI says it’s reviewing the claims. Workplace Mental Health: Ontario expanded WSIB benefits for chronic on-the-job stress, but many claims are still denied—highlighting how “substantial” stressors are judged. Diabetes Prevention: A new early-onset type 2 diabetes study suggests about half of patients under 45 may reverse the condition with a low-energy diet plus structured exercise at 24 weeks. Truth & Reconciliation: Western University held a Survivor’s Flag raising ceremony to mark Truth and Reconciliation week, reflecting ongoing residential school impacts. Community Health Access: Binational Health Week returns with free screenings, vaccinations, and wellness workshops across the Imperial Valley (Oct. 1–31). Health Tech & Research: Canadian researchers report a low-cost 3D-printed filter that can remove up to 90% of microplastics from water.