From critical oversight findings to emerging health concerns, this week's developments reveal mounting pressures on Canada's healthcare system. As government audits expose policy gaps and outdated strategies, new data highlights the evolving challenges in public health, mental wellness, and healthcare delivery across generations.
The Auditor General of Ontario's 2024 Annual Report criticized several of the province's programs and policies, including its opioid strategy, redevelopment of a spa and waterpark, government advertising, and land-use planning through the Minister’s Zoning Orders (MZO). Calling Ontario's opioid strategy outdated, Auditor General Shelley Spence recommended developing a new comprehensive plan to deal with the crisis. The province's current drug strategy has not been updated since 2016. The report highlighted the Ford government's closure of 10 safe consumption sites and the plan to open 19 Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment Hubs for supportive housing and addiction recovery beds.
Ontario government officials, including Deputy Premier Sylvia Jones, Treasury Board President Caroline Mulroney, Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Paul Calandra, and Infrastructure Ontario President and CEO Michael Lindsay, held a news conference on December 3 in response to the Auditor General's report. The officials said they will review the report and exercise prudent fiscal management based on the recommendations.
Federal Innovation, Science, and Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne acknowledged the Auditor General's report and assured that the government will take action. The minister pledged to improve the transparency of ITB Policy by providing more information, updating the performance measurement, and collaborating in reviewing Key Industrial Capabilities. In a post on X, The Drug Strategy Network of Ontario said the report on provincial drug strategies, including challenges with supervised consumption sites (CTS) and other initiatives, was not flattering.
On December 1, World AIDS Day and Indigenous AIDS Awareness Week, the Public Health Agency of Canada expressed its continuing commitment to providing equitable access to HIV testing, treatment, and care. According to the agency's statement, positive HIV diagnoses have increased by 35% from 2022 to 2023, driven by increased access to testing post-pandemic.
Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam reaffirmed Canada's goal to end HIV as a public health concern by 2030. Canada, like other high-income countries, observed increasing infections amid a global decline. Research scientist Austin Carter of the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation reported that the spike is caused by the increase in high-risk populations, coupled with the decrease in “interest in HIV care”.
The situation is particularly concerning in Saskatchewan, which recorded three times the national average of 19.4 new HIV infections per 100,000 people. “With the numbers escalating exponentially, we can’t keep up. We just don’t have the capacity in the health system,” said the University of Saskatchewan’s Head of Infectious Diseases, Satchan Takaya.
The healthcare landscape faces additional challenges, as revealed in Dialogue's year-end report on generational well-being. The analysis from the telemedicine company shows concerning trends among Generation Z Canadians and suggests that worsening worker mental health offers employers and plan sponsors an opportunity to rethink traditional benefits, this is supported by insights from the World Health Organization's Well-Being Index. The report showed that Canadians ages 20 to 29 have low well-being scores due to sleep deprivation, lack of physical activity, and financial stress.
These findings align with broader national trends, as Statistics Canada and the Canadian Social Survey report a decline in high-life satisfaction among Canadians from 54% in mid-2021 to 48.6% in 2024, with particularly sharp declines among those aged 25-34. Employers are also urged to invest in virtual mental health services to empower employees to improve well-being.
Against this backdrop of domestic health challenges, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has called for an enhanced border security plan in response to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's tariff threats on Canadian imports. Poilievre calls for action on illegal drug trafficking, visa regulations, and more provincial law enforcement collaboration. He proposed expanding patrols, using advanced technology, and limiting asylum seekers to address the refugee backlog. Poilievre criticized Prime Minister Trudeau’s handling of border security, stressing the urgency of Trump's taking office.
The Globe and Mail reported that the focus of drug trafficking between Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. has shifted, particularly concerning fentanyl. While the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) warned in 2015 about Canada's role in MDMA smuggling, by 2024, U.S. law enforcement data points to Mexico as the primary source of fentanyl.
In 2023, only a small amount of fentanyl was seized at the U.S.-Canada border, compared to nearly 10 tonnes at the U.S.-Mexico border. Despite this, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump used drug trafficking from both countries as justification for a 25% tariff on imports. The data, however, shows that Mexico is the main source, exposing a gap between political claims and the facts.
The various reports and findings this week underscore the need for updated strategies and evidence-based approaches across the healthcare system.
Stay informed with Delphic Research as we continue to analyze these critical developments. Book a free consultation today!
