Latest efforts to improve emergency response times in Toronto
The city is promising to bring on more 9-1-1 operators and upgrade technology so they can answer calls faster when every second counts. CTV's Allison Hurst has the details.
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CBC
9 minutes ago
- CBC
After heat-related death, Montreal health officials warn of risks even after weather cools
With at least one death reported since Sunday, Montreal Public Health is urging people to keep an eye out for heat-related symptoms even once heat dissipates. A spokesperson for Montreal Public Health, Tudor Matei, said the agency has been notified of five other heat-related deaths this year, after temperatures soared in late June. The health agency is asking emergency doctors to report any deaths suspected to be linked to heat on days when Environment Canada issues heat warnings for the city. Temperatures exceeded 33 C in Montreal Sunday and Monday, with Tuesday's high expected to reach 34 C. Environment Canada forecasts a high of 29 C on Wednesday, with seasonal temperatures returning Thursday. Emergency rooms throughout the city say they're already seeing patients with heat-related symptoms. But health officials say the busiest days often come after it cools down. Medical professionals warn the health dangers can linger for days after. "Over a few days, people are warm, their bodies are compensating, but towards the end of it, when it persists for several days, we start to see that people get tired, and then their state tends to decline and that's where we get a peak," said Vanessa Grillo, with Urgences-santé. That means, even when the most recent heat wave is officially over, your body may still be at risk. Heat can cause a range of illnesses: heat cramps, exhaustion, stroke, rash and fainting due to overheating and dehydration. Doctors say it's critical to know when to get help. "Every year we try to avoid this kind of death because it's preventable and we really need people to be aware that it's not just casual heat," said Dr. Anne-Sara Briand, with Montreal Public Health. "It's deadly." WATCH | Health officials urge caution in Montreal heat: Why you should watch for heat-related symptoms — even after a heat wave is over 1 hour ago Health experts say staying hydrated, keeping cool and checking in on neighbours can save lives — especially for seniors and those with chronic illnesses. Montreal Public Health has launched a campaign called Visiter une personne aînée isolée — which translates to Visit an isolated senior — in partnership with the city and police, Briand said. The program involves door-to-door visits to check for fraud, mistreatment and heat-related risks. It helps identify the most vulnerable seniors, provide advice and add them to a contact list for support during heat waves, she said. Earlier this summer, Matei, a toxicologist with Montreal Public Health, said in the context of climate change and the region's rising temperatures, "it's more and more of a problem." During the summer heat wave in 2018, 66 people died in Montreal. Around two-thirds of those deaths were seniors with underlying health conditions. A 2024 study from Quebec's Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS) suggests that heat is responsible for 470 deaths per year in the province, and that the number will increase if nothing changes. Along with deaths, there are over 200 hospitalizations and thousands of emergency room visits.
Globe and Mail
an hour ago
- Globe and Mail
Novanta to Present at Baird 2025 Global Healthcare Conference on Tuesday, September 9, 2025
Novanta Inc. (Nasdaq: NOVT) (the "Company"), a trusted technology partner to medical and advanced technology equipment manufacturers, announced today that Matthijs Glastra, Chair & Chief Executive Officer, and Robert Buckley, Chief Financial Officer, is scheduled to present at Baird 2025 Global Healthcare Conference on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, in New York, NY. About Novanta Novanta is a leading global supplier of core technology solutions that give medical, life science, and advanced industrial original equipment manufacturers a competitive advantage. We combine deep proprietary expertise and competencies in precision medicine, precision manufacturing, robotics and automation, and advanced surgery with a proven ability to solve complex technical challenges. This enables Novanta to engineer proprietary technology solutions that deliver extreme precision and performance, tailored to our customers' demanding applications. The driving force behind our growth is the team of innovative professionals who share a commitment to innovation, the Novanta Growth System, and our customers' success. Novanta's common shares are quoted on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol 'NOVT.' More information about Novanta is available on the Company's website at InvestorRelations@
CBC
an hour ago
- CBC
Premier Doug Ford warns Ontario scientists doing medical tests on dogs to 'stop before I catch you'
Premier Doug Ford warned Ontario scientists who use cats and dogs in research experiments that he would be "hunting" them down to end such work. Ford said it was unacceptable for beagles to be used in cardiac testing that had been approved by London's Lawson Research Institute and St. Joseph's Health Care London, and promised to introduce legislation to ban testing on certain animals. "I understand the mice, the rats, you know, maybe a rabbit, but these poor little beagles — you just look at their faces," Ford told a news conference in Windsor on Tuesday. The comments relate to an article released last week by the Investigative Journalism Bureau at the University of Toronto's Dalla Lana School of Public Health that revealed dogs had been used for years in the heart study. According to the article, published in partnership with Postmedia, researchers were inducing three-hour heart attacks in dogs and puppies before euthanizing them and removing those organs for further study. "I have now directed our team to start hunting down anyone else doing research on dogs or cats," Ford said Tuesday. "It's just unacceptable. Imagine your little dog being there and they try to put him into a heart attack. The poor thing. That's terrible and inhumane." Ontario Premier Doug Ford said Tuesday in Windsor that he's looking at legislating the end to medical testing of certain animals. (Justin Escoto/ CBC News) The research had been kept under wraps, but once the story was published, hospital CEO Roy Butler wrote to staff promising more transparency. He said the work had been approved by the internal animal ethics committee that follows Canadian animal welfare guidelines. "Animal research at Lawson is highly regulated and undertaken only when scientifically necessary and after all other alternatives have been considered," Butler's statement said. On Monday, St. Joseph's Health Care London said that it would "immediately cease" research involving dogs. CBC News has made multiple requests for an interview but the hospital has declined. Ford's office has not responded to questions about whether it directly ordered the cardiac testing to end, but the premier's comments Tuesday suggest as much. "And just a message: If you're doing this with dogs or cats, you gotta stop before I catch you. Simple as that. We're going to legislate this ... You aren't gonna be going after animals like that," Ford said. Almost 17,000 dogs used for science in 2023 According to the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC), which develops standards for the ethical use and care of animals in science, 16,151 dogs were used in research in 2023, the most recent statistics available. The council, which also participates on ethics review panels for research approval, said decisions on animal experimentation are guided by the "Three Rs": Replacement, reduction and refinement. "Is there an alternative method? If yes, you shouldn't use an animal. Reduction is, 'Do you need to use that amount of animals to conduct research?" said Pierre Verreault, CCAC's executive director. The refinement principle aims to minimize pain and distress by using pain medication if possible and giving the animal comfort. Charu Chandrasekera, executive director of the Canadian Centre for Alternatives to Animal Methods, previously worked in a lab that studied heart failure using animals. Chandrasekera said she's thrilled Ford is speaking out. St. Joseph's Hospital said Monday that it would 'immediately cease' research involving dogs. (St. Joseph's Healthcare London) She's been advocating for legislation that guides medical research using animals and believes scientists have become complacent when seeking out alternatives. "We don't have federal legislation defending animals in science. We do not have a federal animal welfare act. We don't have a lot of things that other countries do, and people always ask me, 'Why don't Canadians care?'" said Chandrasekera. "This is a defining moment for science in our country, and hopefully we can show the world that Canadians care by making a plan to phase out animal testing and adopting more and more animal-free methods." After Ford made comments on legislating an end to using dogs in research, CBC reached out to one of the largest medical research organizations in Canada for comment. The University Health Network (UHN), a public research and teaching network in Toronto, said it doesn't conduct studies on dogs or cats. "We are committed to the highest ethical standards of animal care and use for the purpose of continued progress in the field of human medicine," a UHN spokesperson said in an email. "The use of animals in research has been essential for advances in life sciences, medicine and agriculture, and has resulted in enormous benefits for human and animal health. We also continue to explore alternative approaches to reduce and replace animals where possible. "Any research involving animal models is conducted under a rigorous ethical and regulatory framework with protocols that align with national and international regulatory bodies," the release added.
