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→ NewsHousehold Allergen Neutralizers introduced in new Clorox PURE line
The Clorox Company announced Clorox PURE, a line of daily air and fabric sprays the company says is designed to neutralize common household allergens such as pollen, dust mite matter and pet dander using a plant-based active ingredient and Aller-Fresh Technology.
Alberta appears to have passed the worst of its flu season, chief medical officer says
Alberta's chief medical officer of health said the province appears to be past the worst of an early, large H3N2-driven flu wave and that hospital admissions have begun to decline. Officials plan a formal update on hospital capacity on Thursday.
Health Canada requires more vitamin D in milk and margarine to boost intake
Health Canada has required higher vitamin D fortification in milk and margarine, a rule that became mandatory on Dec. 31, 2025; one in five Canadians are reported to have low vitamin D levels.
Life expectancy in Canada nearly back to pre-pandemic levels, StatCan reports
Statistics Canada reports life expectancy at birth rose from 81.68 years in 2023 to 82.16 years in 2024, approaching the 2019 level of 82.22 years. Cancer remained the leading cause of death, accounting for 26.2% of deaths.
Alberta's chief medical officer of health says flu season likely easing
Dr. Vivien Suttorp said hospitalizations for respiratory viruses peaked on Dec. 31 at 700 influenza patients and have since fallen to 513; she told reporters the worst of the season is likely over.
Measles Update: New exposure site reported in southern Manitoba
Manitoba public health reported one new measles exposure site in southern Manitoba and asked people present at the specified time to monitor for symptoms and check their immunization records; the province will update case counts weekly on its measles webpage.
Menopause at work: Small Achievable Goals reflects everyday experiences
Discussions of menopause have become more common in workplaces, and a Menopause Foundation of Canada survey noted more than two million working women aged 45–55 with about two thirds saying they would not feel comfortable talking to a supervisor or HR.
U.S. FDA grants Breakthrough Therapy Designation for IPN60340 in first-line unfit acute myeloid leukemia
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation to IPN60340 given with venetoclax and azacitidine for first-line unfit acute myeloid leukemia, based on early Phase I/II EVICTION trial data. Ipsen plans to discuss Phase II/III development plans with the FDA in the first half of 2026.
Beef burgers recalled over possible E. coli contamination
Canada’s Food Inspection Agency announced a recall of an unnamed beef burger product after tests indicated possible E. coli contamination and said no illnesses have been reported.
Trevor Dubois remembered by loved ones after hospital altercation
Friends and family recall Trevor Dubois’s long record of helping others and say he died after a physical altercation with security at Royal University Hospital; relatives say they are still waiting for answers from police and the Saskatchewan Health Authority.
Flu shot: is it too late this season?
Officials say the H3N2-driven flu season has been heavier than recent years and has strained hospitals, especially for older adults and young children. Health experts also report it is not too late in the season for people to receive a flu vaccine.
OPP mental health reforms have fallen short, internal records show
Internal records show 21 current and former OPP staff died by suicide since 2012 and reviews and an action plan have not fully resolved gaps in the force's mental-health program; attendance at mandatory check-ins for targeted units has been low, especially in covert operations.
Drinking rose during the pandemic and remains higher, survey finds
A CAMH survey of more than 3,000 Ontario adults found that while long‑term alcohol use in Canada has declined, people who drink are consuming more than before the COVID‑19 pandemic, with increases in daily drinking and weekly binge drinking.
Weight Loss Grocery Aisles launched to highlight muscle-preserving options
Ocado has launched a Weight Management aisle on its UK online store after research found nearly 73% of respondents wanted guidance on items that support preserving lean muscle when using GLP-1 medications. The aisle features products such as Holland & Barrett’s nutrient-dense range and M&S high-protein meals under 600 calories.
Alberta NDP says ER capacity is a crisis and urges Premier Smith to respond
The Alberta NDP is urging Premier Danielle Smith to acknowledge overcrowded emergency departments as a crisis, citing warnings from doctors and the Alberta Medical Association.
No Name beef burgers recalled over possible E. coli contamination
Health officials issued a national recall for No Name frozen beef burgers after E. coli O157:H7 was detected in Canadian Food Inspection Agency testing; the CFIA reports no illnesses so far.
Family seeks change after daughter was forced to leave hospital for MAID
A Charter challenge in B.C. Supreme Court was launched by Dying With Dignity Canada and the parents of Sam O'Neill after she was transferred from St. Paul’s Hospital in 2023 to receive medical assistance in dying. The case questions a provincial exemption that allows publicly funded faith-based hospitals to refuse MAID on religious grounds.
Ontario reports drop in residents lacking primary-care providers
The province says the number of Ontarians without a regular primary-care provider fell to 1.98 million from about 2.5 million in 2023, and more than 275,000 people were newly enrolled in the first nine months of 2025; officials also noted some of the change follows an agreed refinement in how unattached patients are counted.
Accused in killing of Burnaby RCMP Const. Shaelyn Yang ordered to undergo mental fitness test
A judge has ordered a mental fitness assessment for Jongwon Ham, who is charged with first-degree murder in the October 2022 death of Burnaby RCMP Const. Shaelyn Yang; the scheduled trial was adjourned pending the assessment.
Mattel adds an autistic Barbie to its diversity and inclusion line
Mattel introduced an autistic Barbie as part of a line focused on diversity and inclusion, developed with input from the Autistic Self Advocacy Network. The doll includes features such as slightly averted eyes and articulated elbows and wrists intended to reflect some behaviors associated with autism.
Family of MAID patient challenges faith-based transfer policy in court
Proceedings began in B.C. Supreme Court after the family of Samantha O'Neill, joined by Dying With Dignity Canada and a palliative care doctor, challenged a policy that requires transfers from Providence Health Care facilities for medical assistance in dying; the trial is expected to run about four weeks with closing arguments in mid‑April.
Kamloops begins work on 55‑unit supportive housing project
Site work has started at 1453 McGill Rd in Kamloops for a 55‑unit supportive housing project, with operators saying they expect to welcome residents in summer 2026.
Ontario's flu season peaked over the holidays, health minister says
Ontario's health minister said the province's flu season appeared to peak over the Christmas holidays and acknowledged it strained hospitals; critics noted the chief medical officer did not hold a public briefing to promote vaccination.
Peripartum cardiomyopathy linked to PTRH2 in Nature Communications study
Researchers at The Lundquist Institute report that the gene PTRH2 helps the maternal heart adapt to pregnancy, and that loss of PTRH2 in mouse models caused severe postpartum heart failure and persistent heart enlargement.
Alcohol use in Ontario remains marked by harmful patterns since the pandemic
A Centre for Addiction and Mental Health study reports overall alcohol use in Ontario fell slightly since 2019, but weekly binge drinking, daily drinking among drinkers, and symptoms of alcohol dependence remain higher than pre-pandemic levels.
Peripartum cardiomyopathy: PTRH2 linked to postpartum heart failure
A Nature Communications paper from The Lundquist Institute reports that loss of the PTRH2 protein in mouse models caused severe postpartum heart failure, and the authors describe PTRH2 as a previously unrecognized molecular safeguard in the heart.
Saskatoon police detail hospital altercation as family prepares to speak
Police say hospital security entered a room at Royal University Hospital after a reported firearm and a physical altercation followed; the patient, identified by CBC as Trevor Dubois, became unresponsive and later died, and the investigation is ongoing.
Sask. NDP raises safety concerns as RUH patient death probe continues
Sask. NDP says hospitals face growing safety concerns after a patient died following a physical altercation with hospital security at Royal University Hospital; Saskatoon police and the coroner's office are investigating and the SHA has declared the case a critical incident.
Charter challenge over religious exemption to assisted dying law goes to court in B.C.
A constitutional challenge to a B.C. policy that allows religiously affiliated health providers to opt out of offering medical assistance in dying is proceeding to court; plaintiffs include the parents of a patient who was transferred to receive MAID in April 2023.
Stabilization funding for small northeastern hospitals may not cover rising costs
Ontario announced a four per cent increase in targeted funding for small and rural hospitals, but leaders in northeastern facilities say the allocations still leave them expecting deficits before the end-of-March budget deadline.
