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Thanks to advancements in healthcare and public health, Canadians are living longer than ever before and our senior population is rapidly growing. However, increased longevity also means that many people are living longer with multiple chronic diseases resulting in reduced function, reduced quality of life and need for increased support from caregivers and the healthcare…
Artificial intelligence (AI) is making headlines everywhere. Yet AI applications and implications for older adults, particularly older women, have not been adequately contemplated. It’s no longer a moonshot idea from a science fiction movie. AI is already part of our daily lives – Apple’s Siri, Amazon’s Alexa, self-driving cars. And now ChatGPT, an AI chatbot…
Canada is growing. In June, our population reached 40 million – but we are not only getting bigger, we are getting older. There are now over 7.3 million Canadians who are 65 years or older and that number is climbing as the Baby Boomers age. By 2051, seniors are expected to make up 25 per…
The rising trend of “fake news” came to prominence over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic as people turned to social media channels to read and distribute information that often fell far short of offering reliable information or verifiable data. The unchecked spread of misinformation led to serious harm for many individuals, especially those who…
Building ecosystem and community resilience amid the climate crisis Negotiators representing federal, provincial and First Nation governments gathered recently in Seattle, Washington to continue efforts to modernize the Columbia River Treaty in an 18th round of negotiations. Further talks are expected in the months ahead. Much has changed since the original Treaty was ratified in…
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights, and have the potential to contribute constructively to the development and well-being of their societies. Honouring the contributions of the African diaspora, The International Day for People of African Descent was celebrated for the first time Aug. 31, 2021. Through this observance, the…
When Canadians have a financial problem, want to make a financial plan or need help with their taxes, most simply reach out to their financial institution, advisor, accountant or commercial tax preparer for the help they need. But who do low-income individuals turn to? A new report by Prosper Canada reveals that people with low…
Banning e-cigarette flavours and restricting the marketing of unhealthy food and beverages to children are vital to making our kids healthier adults. The short and long-term health consequences of what people consume are dramatically different. In the short term, indulge in something a little too much and you are likely to suffer for a day…
Community centers can be a important resource for new parents. Community and cultural centres play a critical role in public health. The sports and recreation activities, and the leisure and education programs they offer, give people an opportunity to improve their fitness, live healthier lives and learn new skills. They also serve as a meeting…
Women are being silenced, violated and gaslit. And not just in Sarah Polley’s brilliant, Oscar-nominated film, Women Talking. In recent weeks, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Scotland’s First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon announced their resignations, citing, in part, the toll that being viciously trolled and attacked was taking on their lives. Here at home,…
When it comes to infrastructure, Canada’s North is lagging behind the rest of the world. Focusing on energy infrastructure in comparable regions throughout the circumpolar Arctic, we see countries that have successfully harnessed alternatives, such as nuclear and geothermal energy, to power communities in northern and remote areas. In stark contrast, all 25 of Nunavut’s…
Late last year, a federal government committee met to hear directly from persons with disabilities living in poverty. One hundred and fifty-three separate submissions were provided in support of the need for the federal government’s proposed Bill C22, also known as the Canada Disability Benefit, which would provide a much-needed income supplement to Canadians with…
It’s perplexing for us disabled people and advocates that so many media headlines point to the extreme financial struggles of people with disabilities in our inflationary economy while the powers that be continue debating details. What details? Our Parliamentarians are busy parsing the words of the proposed federal Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) as it wends…
