U.S. ‘whistleblower’ site targets Canadian doctors providing gender-affirming care
A new U.S. government portal lets anyone report a health-care provider — including Canadian ones — for allegedly “chemically or surgically mutilating children.”
Why it’s important: Canadian providers practicing legal, regulated care can now be flagged to U.S. authorities without ever setting foot in the country. The “whistleblower” form supports Canadian provinces, postal codes, and addresses — a deliberate inclusion given the formatting differences in Canadian vs. American data.
Canadian media have not covered its release, but Redditors speculate the form could be used to build watchlists, bar entry, or detain providers at the border. The portal was launched under EO 14187, which is already being used to investigate a major U.S. hospital — even after a court ordered the regime to stop. While the current focus is trans healthcare, this quasi-legal structure could be easily expanded to target abortion, contraception, or any other medical service the regime disapproves of.
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‘It’s time to come home,’ says Carney to Canadian doctors working in the US
Carney made the appeal while unveiling his health care plan in Charlottetown.
Why it's important: “If you’ve been thinking about coming back to Canada, there’s never been a better time,” Carney said. He aims to add thousands of physicians to the system in the coming years.
Pierre Poilievre hasn’t released a platform yet, but floated the idea of giving judges the ability to order compulsory addiction treatment for offenders. The proposed sentencing option would be a substitute for more traditional forms of incarceration.
Amid the leaders’ debates last week, healthcare was sidelined from the discussion. CMA president Dr. Joss Reimer said the decision was disappointing, if “understandable” given the economic chaos of the moment. “But you can’t separate health from the economy,” she added, pointing out that every person and business relies on a functioning healthcare system.
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Trump wants our drugs. But he also wants to tariff them..?
Florida says it’s ready to start importing Canadian pharmaceuticals. Trump just signed an order to speed things up. Meanwhile, the U.S. weighs tariffs on drug imports.
Why it's important: Florida got FDA approval in Jan. 2024 to import low-cost Canadian drugs, but hasn’t done so yet. Trump’s new executive order revives this plan, potentially expanding it to other states. Health Canada said last year it can block exports in case of shortages but hasn’t responded to this latest move.
Critics say the idea makes little economic sense: Canada and the U.S. mostly source meds from the same global manufacturers, who have no incentive to sell to Canada just to re-export to the U.S. market at a lower price. So even if this goes ahead, it might not save Americans money — it would just cost Canadians.
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Toxic chemicals found in baby mattresses sold in Canada
A new study found banned and restricted compounds linked to cancer, ADHD, and hormone disruption being released from children’s mattresses, especially when kids are sleeping on them.
Why it’s important: Babies and toddlers spend up to 18 hours a day in close contact with these chemicals, breathing in plasticizers and flame retardants that Canada bans in toys, but not in mattresses.
Two of 16 mattresses tested broke federal safety rules. One contained a known carcinogen banned in Canada since 2014. Researchers recommend frequent washing of bedding and pyjamas, using undyed fabrics, and layering with terry cloth to reduce exposure. Health Canada says it’s reviewing the study and its findings.
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Med school admissions test under fire for lack of evidence, transparency
A screening test used by most Canadian medical schools is being criticized for murky scoring, questionable research, and a growing influence beyond medicine.
Why it’s important: Applicants never see their own scores, raters don’t need formal credentials, and many supporting studies were written by people affiliated with the company selling the test. Casper’s reach has expanded into admissions for nursing, engineering, and teaching programs.
The Casper test is now used in 12 of 17 med schools in Canada. But multiple researchers say there’s no good evidence it actually predicts success as a physician.
One expert called the research behind it “surprisingly poor.” Another said the company’s claims are “groundless.” Yet it still helps decide who does, and doesn’t, become a doctor.
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When following the science means ignoring it
Is “evidence-based medicine” really “science” as most of us would think of it?
Why it’s important: There’s a historic throughline from the dismissal of handwashing protocols in the 1800s, to the WHO’s denial of airborne COVID spread, to the Canadian Preventive Task Force’s refusal to recommend mammograms for women aged 40–49.
If you want to know why these things happen, strap in for a foundational read.
The stakes of ignoring inconvenient evidence have always been high. But the danger now isn’t just institutional inertia, it’s manipulation. With the purging of women and minorities from U.S. federal science review boards, the same systems that once ignored evidence could soon be hijacked to erase it — or replace it with politically-desirable narratives. It’s time to ask whether the bodies tasked with interpreting science still know how to recognize it.
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