2024
Partial truths from politicians won’t fix the toxic drug crisis
June 19, 2024
by Ian Culbert and Natalie Brender
The Hill Times, Opinion
June 19, 2024
Recent efforts by political leaders to reverse progressive policies intended to address the toxic drug crisis are misguided. People who use drugs are not the only ones being harmed by several actions: British Columbia’s request that Ottawa re-criminalize the public use of illicit drugs in that province; Ontario’s refusal to support the City of Toronto’s decriminalization application; and Premier Doug Ford’s promise to review and limit supervised consumption facilities. In fact, political…
This disease is spiking in an Ontario city. But there's a vaccine — if you can afford it
March 18, 2024
What’s at stake in supporting sex workers’ right to health
February 16, 2024
Sex work is made more dangerous by a law that must change. But police, health and social-service bodies can do more now for workers’ minority rights.
The thrills and benefits of risky play for children
January 31, 2024
The Canadian Public Health Association notes that learning to confront and manage risk promotes coping skills, self-esteem and self-confidence, and that may well reduce anxiety and depression.
2023
Experts call on Health Minister Duclos to rise to challenge of health-care system transformation
April 24, 2023
A transformation is needed to fix Canada’s health-care system, with a recent multi-billion dollar funding deal struck between Ottawa and the provinces representing only the beginning, according to health-care sector experts.
Show you can lead in public health policy, Ottawa
March 23, 2023
Instead of fixating just on the incredibly costly medical systems that treat us when we’re sick, the federal government can decide right now to invest policy leadership in strengthening the public health systems that keep us healthy.
B.C.’s drug decriminalization experiment starts today. Toronto and other jurisdictions are watching
January 30, 2023
Toronto Public Health says it continues working with Health Canada on a revised version of its initial decriminalization proposal.
2022
It’s time to re-wire the structures of Canada’s public health systems
December 20, 2022
Re-wiring public health systems is not about spending more money in the same old ways. It’s about assessing what public health systems should be doing.
An innovative new way to get your COVID-19 vaccine questions answered
November 9, 2022
MIICOVAC offers reliable, up-to-date, science-based vaccine information to help parents make the right choice for their families.