December Key Takeaways

“Canada is not broken”. Those were the words of PM Justin Trudeau as he delivered a speech during the Liberal holiday party this past week. His words were a direct response to Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre who stated in November that “it feels like everything is broken in this country right now”. Poilievre’s comments come as the country is experiencing a rising cost of living induced by a 39-year high inflation rate. According to Stats Can, three in four Canadians reported that rising prices are affecting their ability to meet day-to-day expenses such as transportation, housing, food, and clothing.

As Canadians find it harder to stay afloat, and with Poilievre’s message not resonating with the public given the party’s defeat in the Mississauga-Lakeshore by-election, the question of whether 2023 will be an election year or not is gaining more traction.

Provincial
The Ontario government is taking steps towards easing wait times in clinical care settings by launching pharmacist prescribing for some of the most common medical ailments.

As of January 1, 2023, Ontarians will be able to stop in at pharmacies across the province to receive prescriptions for thirteen common ailments, including rashes, pink eye, insect bites and urinary tract infections with just their health card. This service makes it more convenient to access care by removing a doctor’s office visit and will come at no extra cost to Ontarians.

“Stopping by your local pharmacy for quick and easy access to treatment for some of your most common ailments increases your access to the care you need closer to home,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “Expanding the ability of pharmacists to provide care is one more way we’re putting people at the centre of our health care system, making it easier, faster and more convenient to access health care in their community.”