Today: Canada’s $30-billion homelessness plan, doctors being flagged for working overtime, the rising cost of prescription drugs, and two new mRNA vaccines on the horizon. 

Plus, on Pulse Check: a look into concerns with Budget 2026.

Let’s get into it.

Canada wants to end homelessness. How, exactly? 🔒

Canada is backing its 10-year plan to end homelessness with nearly $30 billion in funding and a renewed $100-million Emergency Treatment Fund. But experts and advocates are cautiously optimistic, warning that previous governments have made big promises that fell short. 

Sound familiar? Researchers Mohammad Karamouzian and Thomas Kerr argue Canada's toxic drug crisis offers a cautionary tale: a decade into the emergency, and more than 56,000 apparent opioid-toxicity deaths have been recorded nationwide, despite promising interventions: advanced treatment, overdose protection, harm reductions — the list goes on.

Experts say it’s not that Canada is short on solutions to these health crises. It just has to learn how to make them stick. 

As if the crisis didn't have enough moving parts: a new veterinary sedative is making an already unpredictable drug supply even harder to imagine. And ER’s are struggling to keep up. Read more about it here.

Working overtime… and getting a warning for it

In April, Ontario changed how family doctors are paid, saying the new model would give them more time to care for patients. Now, some are getting flagged for working too much. Madoc physician Dr. Adam Stewart says a Ministry of Health letter questioning his billing patterns felt more like a warning than a thank-you. 

And, according to the Ontario Medical Association — Dr. Stewart isn’t alone. Hundreds of doctors have received similar letters — raising one big question: if the province wants doctors to do more, why are they being questioned for doing exactly that?

While some, like Globe and Mail columnist André Picard, argue that some level of oversight is necessary when taxpayer dollars are going towards physician billings, others, like Dr. Stewart, are worried the letters could make doctors think twice about taking on more patients. 

Keep in mind: 2.5 million Ontarians are currently without a family doctor — and one in six Canadian adults are not connected with a regular healthcare provider.

Can Canada afford the next medical breakthrough? 🔒

Canada’s prescription drug system is facing pressure from both ends: getting to new medications and keeping older ones affordable. U.S. President Donald Trump’s push to lower American drug prices could mean fewer new medications coming to Canada, although reporter Chris Hannay says the impact is so far mixed. 

Meanwhile, Jim Keon points to a problem with Canada’s patent rules that could be delaying cheaper generic and biosimilar drugs from reaching patients — potentially costing billions. According to the Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association, delays involving the cancer drug Keytruda alone could cost $12.4 billion. 

The question is: how does Canada make room for medical breakthroughs without making medications harder to afford?

Two new mRNA vaccines — just not this season

Canada has given the green light to two new Moderna vaccines — one for the flu and another that combines flu and COVID-19 protection. Both are approved for adults 50 years and older, making Canada the first country to authorize both shots. 

There’s just one catch: they won’t arrive in time for this flu season. So, for now, it’s business as usual: The National Advisory committee recommends the regular flu shot for everyone six months and older, with a higher-dose version recommended for adults 65 and older. 

But mRNA’s potential goes well beyond flu season — researchers are also seeing promising results using the technology to help the immune system fight cancer. Read more about it here. 

Pulse Check™

Budget 2026 dropped last week. With it came concerns:

⛰️ The budget offers no assurance to premiers looking for clarity on looming "fiscal cliff” 🔒

💰 The Manitoba Métis Federation says the budget lacks Métis funding, despite pre-budget calls for expanded health infrastructure 🔒

⏳ The CMA says the budget made positive steps, but still lacks long-term funding plans 

🏡The budget leaves households paying more for health care, says the Canadian Health Coalition

⚖️The budget offers no guarantee that provincial health care will remain stable after 2028

 For more on Budget 2026, check out this health recap. 
 

That's it for today. 

Thanks for reading. Have feedback, story tips, or an issue you'd like us to cover? We'd love to hear from you. Until next week!

Canada Healthwatch
[email protected]