New board appointed to address systemic racism and inclusion in Yukon health care
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CTV News
3 hours ago
- CTV News
Lawyer ‘very confident' a foreign adversary attacked Canadian diplomats in Cuba
In this April 17, 2018, file photo, a man walks beside Canada's embassy in Havana, Cuba. (AP Photo/Desmond Boylan, File) OTTAWA — A lawyer for Canadian diplomats and their families says he believes the mysterious ailments they suffered in Cuba were caused by a foreign adversary, despite a federal government report that dismisses the theory. Eight years after foreign service officials and their dependants began reporting such symptoms as headaches, memory loss, mood changes, vision problems, nausea and nosebleeds, a legal action against Ottawa over the health problems is still grinding along in Federal Court. The 17 plaintiffs, who seek millions of dollars in damages, allege the Canadian government failed to protect them, hid crucial information and downplayed the seriousness of the risks. The government has denied negligence and wrongdoing. Several U.S. personnel who worked in Cuba have reported similar health issues, commonly known as Havana Syndrome. Theories about the cause have included pesticide spraying, the effect of chirping crickets, malfunctioning eavesdropping devices, and targeted energy or sonic attacks by an enemy state. The Canadian government says it has found no evidence of foul play by a foreign adversary. A Global Affairs Canada report completed in August 2024 says the department has concluded that the unexplained health incidents 'were not the result of a malicious act of a foreign actor.' The report, drawing on the work of an interdepartmental task force and external experts, says pre-existing medical conditions, environmental factors and conventional illnesses 'were likely to have been important factors in many of the symptoms experienced.' The report adds that the findings 'do not cast doubt on the authenticity of the symptoms reported by staff members and their dependants.' Paul Miller, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, told The Canadian Press he is 'very confident' a foreign actor is to blame for the Canadians' health difficulties. 'I really trust the people that I have spoken with and met with,' he said. 'I have absolutely no faith in the (Global Affairs Canada) report because they are trying to put out the narrative that works for them.' The plaintiffs' court action, filed in 2019, remains unresolved. Three years ago, the parties agreed to the appointment of a former Supreme Court judge to mediate the claims of nine family members in the case. Miller said the two days of talks in early 2023 'just went nowhere.' He said he has made efforts to file new information in the case but the material is being treated as confidential pending the resolution of concerns about the disclosure of sensitive or potentially injurious information, as defined by the Canada Evidence Act. The Global Affairs report traces the various steps federal agencies have taken over the years in response to the illness complaints, including security, medical and environmental assessments. A multi-agency Integrated National Security Enforcement Team, led by the RCMP, opened an investigation in June 2017. Global Affairs and RCMP officials began travelling regularly to Cuba as part of the investigation to look at the possibility of malicious attacks, the report says. Canadian officials also shared information with foreign partners, including the United States. In 2019, instruments designed to detect and capture evidence of acoustic and radiation surges, and to measure environmental effects — such as temperature, humidity, barometric pressure and ozone levels — were installed in the living quarters of Canadian staff in Havana. 'The data collected from the instruments did not provide relevant and probative information to identify a cause for the symptoms,' the Global Affairs report says. 'As such, in 2022, the instruments were removed.' The integrated national security team concluded 'there was no criminality and no evidence attributing these health symptoms to a foreign actor,' the report adds. 'In their conclusions, the RCMP and other domestic partner agencies assess that there is no known criminality, no known attribution for (unexplained health incidents) and no patterns related to symptoms, age, gender, location, or other variable.' The U.S. intelligence community looked at possible evidence of a foreign adversary's involvement, the feasibility of tools that could cause the reported symptoms and whether medical analysis could help find answers. A March 1, 2023, report from the U.S. National Intelligence Council said these lines of inquiry led most intelligence community agencies to conclude — with varying levels of confidence — that it was 'very unlikely' a foreign adversary was responsible for the health issues reported by American personnel. Global Affairs, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service and the RCMP subsequently met to discuss the U.S. council's findings. The RCMP indicated that 'since no criminality was uncovered, its criminal investigation would be concluded,' and CSIS advised it also would be wrapping up its investigations for similar reasons, the Global Affairs report says. Overall, the Canadian efforts 'have not uncovered a clear common cause of the symptoms experienced by government of Canada employees,' the report adds. 'Canada's findings are aligned with the conclusions of the United States on their various health studies and the security report published by the National Intelligence Council.' Miller points to other research and testimony that challenge those findings. Lawyer Mark Zaid, representing several U.S. personnel with symptoms, told a congressional hearing in May 2024 there was intelligence, scientific and medical evidence substantiating the reports of anomalous health incidents, and that some were caused by a foreign adversary. Zaid, who had authorized access to secret details, said he was convinced that 'the evidence that exists in the classified arena directly contradicts the public conclusions' provided by U.S. federal agencies about the cause of the health symptoms. Global Affairs says it stands by the findings of its 2024 report. Department spokesperson John Babcock said the foreign ministry continues to support the Canadian diplomats and their dependants. 'For privacy and security reasons, Global Affairs Canada cannot comment on the specifics of the ongoing investigations, individual cases, nor on specific security measures,' he said in an emailed response to questions. 'We cannot provide further comment on this matter as it is before the courts.' Internal Global Affairs notes — prepared last year to help answer questions about the department's report — say the unexplained health incidents 'highlighted the challenges of providing responsive health care to diplomats and their families in the context of unforeseen crisis situations abroad.' The notes, obtained through the Access to Information Act, say the department had initiated a 'thorough review' of the department's overseas health program for employees and their dependants in missions around the world. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 17, 2025. Jim Bronskill, The Canadian Press
CBC
4 hours ago
- CBC
Growing for good: U of Regina garden produce feeds hungry stomachs
Fresh produce harvested from a garden at the University of Regina is helping combat food insecurity and teaching people about the art of gardening. Members of the Regina Public Interest Research Group — a student-funded resource centre at the university with a focus on social and environmental justice — have been growing vegetables, from zucchini to tomatoes to spinach, in a garden located behind the Dr. John Archer Library since the spring. They've harvested over 100 kilograms of vegetables, which are then donated to local organizations, including the Cathedral Community Fridge, Carmichael Outreach and YWCA Regina. Tayef Ahmed, the group's executive director, said some of the food also gets donated to a fridge run by the University of Regina Students' Union, which students can access. According to a 2024 study by University of Saskatchewan students, nearly a third of Canadian post-secondary students said they experienced food insecurity in 2023. While Regina's public interest group is currently collecting U of R-specific data, Ahmed said demand for the food donated to the student union's fridge has increased. "Within five to 10 minutes, almost all of the food [is] gone," said Ahmed. "We have way more interest or demand in getting vegetables than we ever anticipated." Ahmed said newcomers to Canada are the largest group among the fridge's clientele. As a result, his group has started growing a more diverse variety of foods to suit their needs, such as amaranth and peppers, he said. "When people from different backgrounds comes and says, 'Hey, I used to grow up eating this, I'm so glad I got this' … they would come every week and say, 'Can I have some vegetables?'" Ahmed believes the fresh vegetables in the garden offer an alternative for more expensive produce at the grocery store, which may also be damaged or close to expiration, he said. His organization is now expanding its garden and offering gardening sessions, which Ahmed hopes will help students find ways to grow their own food. "Eventually, when they buy a new house or apartment … they get this education themselves, and when they get older, they start something [of] their own," he said. Community organizations grateful for food Grayson Somers works in the kitchen at Carmichael Outreach, which serves lunch to people experiencing homelessness in Regina every weekday. He said the produce from the garden is put to good use. "We prepare it all and we'll make meals — about 150 to 250 meals per day," said Somers. "With the grocery stores nowadays, the price changes, and I just think everyone should be growing their own gardens." The produce will be similarly used in the YWCA Regina's kitchen. "We don't typically get this much fresh produce," said Mackenzie Thiessen, who works in the YWCA's outreach area. "To have a lot of it will mean a lot." Thiessen said their clients are "like a kid in a candy store" when they see the fresh food. "When you're on the street, you don't get access to fresh stuff often. It humanizes their experience, makes them feel normal, regular." Back in the garden at the U of R, garden assistant Brooke Litzenberger laughs as she shows volunteers how to pick beans in the hot August sun. She's spent hours working since the spring to get everything ready for harvest. "Being able to give back to the community … and watch everyone enjoy everything that we've worked so hard with has been a really great part of this job." Regina community garden provides fresh free vegetables to local groups 2 days ago The University of Regina community garden is a place to learn about gardening as well as providing vegetables to a handful of charitable organizations in the city.
CTV News
5 hours ago
- CTV News
‘Live my life out loud': P.E.I. woman battling cancer encourages others to ‘just live'
Prince Edward Islander Michelle Hughes is documenting her cancer journey daily, while encouraging others to live and embrace the joy in everyday. (Source: Facebook / My Journey to Just Live) Michelle Hughes is on a journey to 'just live,' and she's encouraging others to do the same. The 38-year-old Prince Edward Islander from Cornwall is a mother of three young children. She's also battling stage four incurable cancer. Four years ago, and three weeks after giving birth to her third child, Hughes was diagnosed with stage four Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma, or EHE. The Canadian Cancer Society describes EHE as 'a cancerous (malignant) tumour that starts in the blood vessels.' At the time, an oncologist gave her three to five years to live. 'Obviously, I was heartbroken and devastated and envisioned my husband raising our children all by himself. And that oncologist really left a mark in my heart thinking that I need to savour every moment moving forward for these children because they're not going to remember me,' explains Hughes in an interview with CTV Atlantc. 'Thankfully, I came about another oncologist who was a sarcoma cancer specialist at the Princess Margaret (Cancer Centre). And she had said, 'Sure, you could die in those five years. You could die in three years. But I have patients living for decades. And I have hope for you, so I want you to just live.'' The conversation was a turning point for Hughes. 'That's when I realized that tomorrow is not promised to anybody. And I took her slogan, and ran with it, literally. It changed my life. I decided to live my life out loud.' Michelle Hughes Four years ago, Michelle Hughes was diagnosed with stage four Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma, or EHE. (Source: Facebook / My Journey to Just Live) She started by documenting her cancer battle online under the banner My Journey To Just Live. She also wanted to create daily posts with her husband, Ty, and young children as a family keepsake. 'For them to look back and see all the fun memories that we've captured, and all the joy that we've been chasing as a family. But it's evolved into so much more as people actually started to read it and to follow along. And I never envisioned that in a million years, so that's not at all what I set out when I started my journey to just live.' Michelle Hughes Michelle Hughes is pictured with her husband and three children. (Source: Facebook / My Journey to Just Live) Along with challenging herself physically, Hughes' decision to 'just live' included a mind shift change. 'Like, things that you used to just take for granted in life are something that you value every moment of every day,' she says. 'For example, walking my children to the bus stop is my favourite part of my everyday, because when I get to stand there and see my two girls looking out the window back at me and I'm there smiling at them, it's amazing. It's a beautiful feeling because my four-year-old son's hand, who I'm holding, he might not get that opportunity.' Michelle Hughes Michelle Hughes is pictured with her son. (Source: Facebook / My Journey to Just Live) Making an impact People following her journey include over 96,000 on Facebook and 446,000 on Instagram. Her daily posts serve as a diary entry: experiences with the family, daily errands, feelings, life lessons and self reflection. 'It gives a raw, real perspective of what it's like in my journey to just live because, you know, we could meet somebody else who has stage four cancer as well, but we might be walking completely different lives,' says Hughes. 'So, I always just reiterate that this is my journey to just live, and it's been beautiful to connect with cancer survivors and survivors around the world, and just people suffering with chronic health conditions, and hearing from them how me living my life out loud has supported them, and it's been so beautiful to be a part of.' Michelle also has a podcast, and was featured in a documentary called The Journey Home, where she ran, cycled and swam a total of 120 kilometres from the Moncton Hospital to her home in P.E.I. Michelle Hughes Michelle Hughes is pictured in a gym. (Source: Facebook / My Journey to Just Live) Forward thinking Hughes is choosing to 'just live' alongside battling cancer. 'Unfortunately, right now, over the last few weeks my liver pain has come back, and it's out of the norm for me. I'll be going in my CT scan again next week.' Hughes says the cancer she has is 'considered incurable' and there isn't a 'standard protocol' for treating it. In the coming weeks, she'll begin participating in a new clinical trial out of Toronto. 'It is not a pharmaceutically sponsored trial. So, all costs will be on us, but it's not stopping us. We're moving forward because we have hope that it's going to help bring me back to stability as my cancer has been progressing since last year. It's been growing every three months.' Despite these challenges, Hughes isn't slowing down. While preparing for the clinical trial to begin, she is also planning the third annual Just Live Fun Run in Cornwall, P.E.I. on Sunday, Aug. 24. More than 1,500 people have registered, and 500 race kits have been shipped to 12 countries for people who will be participating virtually. 'Last year alone we raised $108,000. All proceeds go to Sarcoma Cancer Foundation of Canada, where they match every dollar.' Michelle Hughes Michelle Hughes is planning the third annual Just Live Fun Run in Cornwall, P.E.I. on Sunday, Aug. 24. (Source: Facebook / My Journey to Just Live) Hughes also has her sights set on her next endurance event in 2026. 'Next year will be my five year 'cancerversary' date. We have something really special we'll be announcing in the coming months. It's going to be so difficult, but I think it's what my body needs and what I mentally need to get through this clinical trial because, obviously, I'm scared, and it's going to be a rough journey. But I need something physically to set my body up for success and to mentally keep me in the game. And I'm really excited to announce this next endurance event that I'm about to do.' As for anyone looking to 'just live' her advice is simple. 'Just live in the moment. It doesn't cost money. You don't have to exert yourself. It's literally just standing in a moment that you don't know you'll have forever and just savouring it.' For more P.E.I. news, visit ourdedicated provincial page.
