(Session)’s Out for the Summer

Parliament breaks for summer recess, leaving pharmacare legislation to wrap up this Fall. On that, and more, here is your Syntax Weekly Health Round-Up.

Around the Hill

• At Committee, the Standing Committee on Health (HESA) established June 28 as the deadline for each party to submit its recommendations to the clerk for reports on the committee’s studies of women’s health and breast screening guidelines. The committee also established a budget for its upcoming study of the treatment and prevention of cancer and agreed to begin accepting submissions (of up to 2,000 words) for its studies on the treatment and prevention of cancer, natural health products, and a national strategy on brain injuries.
• The House of Commons has adjourned for the summer recess. It will resume business on September 16, 2024. The Senate has also adjourned for the summer recess, leaving the government’s pharmacare legislation (Bill C-64) on the docket for committee study, report stage debate, and third reading when Senators return for the Fall Session.

Around Government 

• Health Canada launched a call for proposals to develop a collaboration centre to strengthen Integrated Youth Services (IYS) across Canada. Proposals are due July 12, 2024. The collaboration centre is intended to strengthen the capacity of community-based hubs to meet the needs of young people, promote collaboration and alignment across hubs in all jurisdictions, improve services, and enhance equitable access to hubs across the country.
• Indigenous Services Canada announced an investment of $1.2 billion to support the Weeneebayko Area Health Authority (WAHA) hospital redevelopment project. The project will serve the 12,000 people in the Weeneebayko region, providing them with fair access to quality healthcare services closer to home.
• Mental Health and Addictions Minister Ya’ara Saks tabled the results of the second legislative review of the Tobacco and Vaping Products Act (TVPA) in Parliament. The review found that progress has been made in reducing tobacco-related death and disease in Canada, with youth smoking rates falling to an all-time low of 1.6 per cent in 2022 (despite some communities experiencing rates as high as 60 per cent among youth).
• Minister of Seniors Seamus O’Regan and Minister of Health Mark Holland announced the reappointment of Dr. Pamela Williamson to the National Seniors Council (NSC) for a three-year term and as the new Chairperson of the Council. Dr. Williamson was first appointed to the Council in 2021.

Around the Dominion

• The Government of Nova Scotia formally opened the new Port Hawkesbury Health Centre. Formerly privately owned and called Island Gateway Medical Clinic, the province renovated and expanded the site to create a new collaborative care centre. The healthcare team includes four physicians, a family practice nurse, a dietitian, social worker, and administrative staff.
• Turning to Quebec, the federal government announced an agreement-in-principle to transfer the Asticou Centre building in Gatineau, Quebec, along with part of the land, to the Government of Quebec to enable the future Centre hospitalier affilié universitaire de l’Outaouais to be developed on the site.

In the territories, the Government of Nunvaut partnered with federal Health Minister Mark Holland to announce a joint investment of $4.8 million over five years to fund the creation of the Nunavut Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research (SPOR) Support for People and Patient-Oriented Research and Trials (SUPPORT) Unit. The new unit will connect local health research with local patient needs so that evidence-based solutions are used to improve healthcare and the health and wellness of Inuit communities in Nunavut.