Health and Wellness Archives

Premier-designate leaves door open for changes on marijuana legalization

After the federal government set the legalization date for Oct. 17, Doug Ford said he is seeking to consult with others about how cannabis should be sold in Ontario. ...

Ontario to produce enough of a key medical isotope to supply all of North America

The partnership between OPG and BWXT represents the first large-scale commercial production of molybdenum-99. ...

OPSEU calls out premier-designate on hiring freeze

Andrea Horwath and Smokey Thomas demand clarity on who the moratorium impacts. ...

New OMA president recommends health-care reforms for Ford’s incoming government

The health-care system desperately needs a good shake-up, says Dr. Nadia Alam. ...

Home-care agency hit by cyberattack, personal health and financial information compromised

A large Ontario home-care agency has been hacked, resulting in a breach of patients' privacy. ...

Ford touts Tory health-care plan at semi-private health clinic

The PCs say Ford is committed to Ontario's public health care. ...

Updated: Doug Ford doubles down on opposition to supervised injection sites, mere hours after PCs promised he’d consult experts on the issue

The party said Ford would consult experts on supervised injection sites — and then Ford doubled down on his opposition to them later the same day. ...

NDP announces public funding for take-home cancer drugs

The cancer-drug promise is separate from the NDP's pharmacare plan, which would cover the cost of some essential medications, starting with 125 common drugs. ...

PCs promise $1.9B in mental health-care funding, reviving a third promise from People’s Guarantee

The Doug Ford Tories have adopted the mental health, child-care and hydro plans from the party's Patrick Brown-era platform. ...

Ford promises new long-term care beds, comes out against supervised injection sites

PC leaders joins other major parties with promises to build long-term care facilities with a goal to move elderly patients who no longer require acute care out of overcrowded hospitals. ...

Cabinet minister accuses Doug Ford of ‘lying’ about his past comments on autistic youth

Children and Youth Services Minister Michael Coteau drew comparisons between Ford and U.S. President Donald Trump. ...

Human rights commissioner calls for ‘urgent action’ on Indigenous, Black overrepresentation in child welfare system

Indigenous and Black children removed from families at more than two times the rate of rest of child population: report. ...

Sponsored Content: Alzheimer Society calls for continued commitment to dementia strategy funding in 2018 budget

Ontario Medical Association reaches interim agreement with province on ‘relativity’

The OMA sent an email to members Tuesday morning announcing an interim relativity agreement. ...

Canadians have high anxiety over marijuana legalization, poll finds

The 38-per-cent support for legalization is down from 60 per cent two years ago. ...

Dissident doctors call for a Liberal defeat and elimination of LHINs

The Concerned Ontario Doctors vented their frustration with the Liberal government's management of health care. ...

Preschoolers to get free child care, premier announces

The government's $2.2-billion, three-year plan will likely be a cornerstone in the Liberal budget, as opposition lawmakers warn the "Oprah"-esque move comes too late. ...

As arbitration looms, OMA ramps up campaign, blaming Liberals for health-care wait times

Billions of dollars are riding on the outcome of the binding arbitration between the government and doctors represented by the Ontario Medical Association. ...

Province announces up to $2.4 billion for new care centre at SickKids Hospital

The cash for a pair of new buildings at the Toronto hospital comes amid an outcry over hospital overcrowding and dated facilities. ...

Liberals continue streak of health care funding announcements with $822-million pledge

The money is meant to address hospital overcrowding, but the NDP criticized it as insufficient. ...

Government under fire on the home care file, promises to make new investments

Under a new government agency, personal support workers will be left "with no medical supports, no oversight, and no protection," an advocate for the workers charges. ...

Wynne announces OHIP+ expansion for seniors in pre-election promise

Ontarians 65 and over would no longer have to pay deductibles. ...

Dental health groups welcome NDP’s ‘Ontario Benefits’ plan, say important details still to be determined

Meanwhile, both the Liberals and the PCs have signalled they might promise some kind of dental care, but haven't nailed down the details. ...

Health care quality and access at risk, unless province finds significant efficiencies or increases spending: Watchdog

The FAO has issued a report on health spending in order to give MPPs and the public the information they need to evaluate the upcoming budget. ...

Sharp spike in opioid-related deaths prompts outcry in the legislature

Opioid-related deaths are up more than 50 per cent in Ontario, with hospital visits from overdoses increasing 72 per cent. ...

Ontario passes concussion safety law

Former NHL star and concussion safety advocate Eric Lindros reflects on how far awareness has come since the days when "it wasn't spoken of." ...

Finance Minister: Federal budget shows collaboration with Ontario, but some things are missing

Charles Sousa says he's glad the feds are following Ontario's lead on issues such as pharmacare. ...

Eric Hoskins resigns as minister of health to take on national pharmacare role

Details of Hoskins' new role are expected to be unveiled with the federal budget Tuesday. ...

Liberals, NDP spar over health-care horror stories

The health minister hit back Thursday, accusing the NDP of "putting politics over patients." ...

Government makes health-care funding announcement amid mounting criticism

On the same day, the NDP releases more information about hospital overcrowding. ...

Premier declines to comment on PCs, but suggests questions to ask them

Kathleen Wynne also defended Liberal candidate Deanna Sgro. ...

Finance minister says foot-dragging by the feds on pot legalization could cost Ontarians

Provinces say they need months between enactment of legalization and start of sales, possibly making a July 1 start date a pipe dream. ...

Patrick Brown and Steve Paikin respond to respective allegations on social media

Brown and Paikin deny any wrongdoing. ...

Steve Paikin faces sexual harassment allegation from ex-mayoral candidate

The accusation concerns a comment the broadcaster allegedly made over lunch with Sarah Thomson in 2010. ...

Court decision backs Ontario’s medically assisted dying policy

Doctors who object to medically assisted deaths must refer patients to willing physicians, judges say in a ruling that cuts to the core of conscientious objection and patient rights. ...

In brief: New minister’s stance on sex-ed, cardiac care in Barrie, and Hydro One’s acquisition passes one more hurdle

A collection of briefs on the news of the day. ...

Ontario tax investigators are learning jiu-jitsu moves

Ministry of Finance puts out call for self-defence training to help government agents manage conflict that may arise with those who owe. ...

Doctors heading to arbitration with Ontario government in fee negotiations

The province and the OMA have set May dates for binding arbitration. ...

Cold snap sends a chill through Queen’s Park over response to Toronto shelter crisis

NDP leader calls out "silent" premier's frozen tongue; ministers to meet with mayor soon, government says. ...

Canadian universal pharmacare is ‘inevitable’ and Kathleen Wynne is its Tommy Douglas: Health minister

"I believe it's inevitable. I believe that it is coming. We're looking at the how, as opposed to the if," Eric Hoskins asserts. ...

In Brief: A homeless hospice, the Wettlaufer inquiry and shekels for the Stratford stage

A collection of briefs on the news of the day. ...

Health minister shares personal memories of Sherman family

Eric Hoskins knew as "friends" the billionaire philanthropic couple who were found dead in their Toronto home last Friday. ...

Hospitals are ‘on the brink’ of a capacity crisis, sector warns

The OHA's prebudget submission speaks of "warning signs of an imminent capacity crisis." ...

An inside look at Sam Oosterhoff’s push to pass his first bill, on palliative care

Ontario's youngest MPP wants to bring compassion to end-of-life care - and to the PC brand. ...

Omnibus health-care accountability legislation passed over opposition objections

'This piece of legislation wins the Palme for the worst piece of legislation that has ever come across my desk,' NDP health critic France Gélinas asserts. ...