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CTV News
3 days ago
- Climate
- CTV News
Hot, humid and hazy: What to expect across the Maritimes
The sun is pictured in an undated image. (File Image) The final few days of July are looking to be hot, humid and hazy for parts of the Maritimes. Hazy conditions Environment Canada shared on social media that 'hazy skies' are in the forecast Sunday for New Brunswick. As of 1 p.m., there were no air quality advisories in effect for any parts of the Maritimes. However, neighbouring parts of Quebec were under a special air quality statement Sunday due to wildfire smoke from the Prairies. The Air Quality Health Index for New Brunswick Sunday is generally classified as a 'low risk,' but for areas with smoke, it is at a 'moderate risk' on the scale. These areas include Bathurst, Campbellton, Edmundston, Fredericton and Miramichi. The Air Quality Health Index shows a drop to 'low risk' for these areas by Sunday evening. 'When forest fire smoke is present in the mid and upper levels of the atmosphere, sunrise and sunset are often very red due to the wavelengths of light that are absorbed/blocked,' the weather agency shared. The Public Health Agency of Canada said wildfire smoke can cause coughing, shortness of breath and irritated eyes. Hot and humid Nova Scotia's Annapolis County is warning of a stretch of hot and humid weather on the way. Annapolis Regional Emergency Management Organization (REMO) had put out an early notification for extreme temperatures. It said the areas impacted include Annapolis Valley, parts of the South Shore, Hants, and the North Shore. Maximum daily temperatures are expected in the range of 29 to 31 C with the humidex near 36. Overnight lows are forecast in the range of 16 to 18 C. As of Sunday around 1 p.m., Environment Canada had not put out any watches, warnings or statements for the Maritimes. It did note Monday and Tuesday are 'looking to be fairly hot in parts of Nova Scotia.' Environment Canada said it is possible warnings may be issued as the system moves closer. During periods of extreme heat, people should drink plenty of water, stay in shaded or cool areas, and plan activities during the cooler parts of the day. Relief is expected to arrive Wednesday as a cooler air mass moves into the region. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
CTV News
22-07-2025
- Health
- CTV News
Dead bird in Waterloo Region tests positive for West Nile virus
Public Health is keeping a close eye on mosquitoes in Waterloo Region after a bird tested positive for the West Nile virus. CTV's Colton Wiens explains how.
The Spinoff
21-07-2025
- Health
- The Spinoff
It's time to shut the alcohol industry out of health policy in Aotearoa
Alcohol is our most harmful drug, yet industry groups have inside access during the development of alcohol harm reduction strategy, where they can put pressure on officials to water down policy advice. It has to stop, argues Steve Randerson. Most New Zealanders would be shocked to learn the alcohol industry is regularly invited to help shape our national health policies on alcohol. But that's exactly what's happening. Recent information uncovered by RNZ through the Official Information Act shows senior health officials in the Public Health Agency are 'expected' to work directly with alcohol industry representatives. Who set this expectation or what the expectations entail is unclear, but the information reveals the agency's diligent response. Regular interactions occurred between four separate industry associations representing spirits, wine, beer and hospitality and the Public Health Agency, part of the Ministry of Health. A group manager with responsibilities for alcohol harm reduction, Ross Bell, emerged as the main conduit for contact. The interactions included regular meetings, ongoing email contact and consultation on alcohol harm reduction plans. The alcohol industry had been involved in the development of an action plan for foetal alcohol spectrum disorder. All four industry groups were invited to give input to a new guiding framework for spending the $16 million alcohol levy, a public fund meant to reduce harm; in contrast, to our knowledge, there was no opportunity for most of Aotearoa's major public health organisations that work on alcohol to contribute to the framework. One industry representative questioned a government refresh of New Zealand's outdated guidance on lower-risk drinking levels, which some other countries now set considerably lower to reflect current evidence of the health risks of alcohol. The partially completed project was subsequently put on hold. While the pause was described as an internal ministry decision, current systems leave ministry staff exposed to potential industry pressure and there is a concerning lack of transparency around possible industry influence. For instance, alcohol industry feedback on the alcohol levy framework was redacted from the OIA documents supplied to RNZ. There's a reason this matters. Alcohol is our most harmful drug. It causes cancer and foetal alcohol spectrum disorder, and costs our country more than $9 billion a year in health and social harm. The damage is sustained by our lack of effective safeguards around the supply and promotion of alcohol, such as online marketing and the higher numbers of outlets in communities at greater risk of harm. Communities around the country have long fought to have more say on where and how alcohol is sold, while well-funded alcohol industry groups have doggedly opposed such changes in our courts, media and parliament. In this context the inside access alcohol industry representatives are enjoying during the development of alcohol harm reduction strategy is disheartening. Industry involvement in public health policy isn't just bad practice. It's a major conflict of interest. This is why Health Coalition Aotearoa . Almost half the alcohol sold in Aotearoa is consumed in heavy drinking sessions, while lighter alcohol consumption also increases the risk of cancer and other diseases. Any steps that broadly reduce these harms will impact alcohol industry profits, creating an inescapable incentive to undermine or block effective change. A senior health official put it bluntly: 'In my experience… these alcohol interests have zero interest in reducing harm (or sales of booze) and a huge purse to fund their lawyers.' Despite this, the government continues to expect the alcohol industry to have a seat at the table, where they can put pressure on officials to water down policy advice to ministers well before the public has a say. In contrast, New Zealand is required to protect our tobacco control public health policies from the commercial interests of the tobacco industry – since 2005 we have been party to the World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. This agreement recognises the 'irreconcilable conflict' between tobacco industry profits and public health. The same logic applies to alcohol – yet no such protections exist. The Ministry of Health and Customs have continued to interact with tobacco industry representatives for tobacco regulation purposes, but one improvement of Aotearoa signing the framework convention is they now both maintain a public register of these interactions, which should only occur where strictly necessary. Other parts of the government may not have been so scrupulous, however. NZ First politicians have been reported to be closely affiliated with industry executives, and several coalition government ministers have appeared to use similar arguments as tobacco industry representatives to defend their repeal of the tobacco endgame measures in the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Act 1990, suggesting a common script. While the New Zealand government is yet to fully implement its responsibilities under the framework convention, it is a strong step in the right direction, and Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall has proposed legislation to promote stronger compliance. We urgently need a similarly stringent approach for alcohol and await new rules for engagement with the alcohol lobby being considered by the Ministry of Health. The World Health Organization's Global Alcohol Action Plan 2022-2030 is clear: governments should protect public policy to reduce alcohol harms from commercial and other vested interests that undermine health. Most New Zealanders agree – a recent poll found 71% believe the alcohol industry should have no role in alcohol policy development. This strong public support should give politicians the courage to draw clear boundaries around industry involvement in policy intended to reduce alcohol harm.
National Post
20-07-2025
- Health
- National Post
Salmonella contaminated salami recalled extended to B.C. and Saskatchewan
Health officials are adding Saskatchewan and British Columbia to the list of provinces where salami and cacciatore products connected to a salmonella outbreak were distributed. Article content The Public Health Agency of Canada says 87 people have now gotten sick after eating contaminated lunch meat, with nine of those people landing in the hospital. Article content The federal health agency previously reported the contaminated products were sold in Ontario, Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec. Article content Article content Salmonella is a bacterial illness that can result in severe and potentially deadly infections, particularly for children, pregnant people, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems. Article content Article content Healthy people may experience short-term fever, headache, vomiting, nausea, cramps and diarrhea. Article content The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has recalled over 65 products linked to the outbreak, including Rea brand salamis, Bona brand salamis, Cosmo's Smoked Meats, Imperial Meats and other brands sold in grocery stores, specialty markets, restaurants, cafes, delis and butcher shops. Article content
CBC
20-07-2025
- Health
- CBC
Contaminated salami that caused outbreak also sold in B.C. and Saskatchewan
Social Sharing Health officials are adding Saskatchewan and British Columbia to the list of provinces where salami and cacciatore products connected to a salmonella outbreak were distributed. The Public Health Agency of Canada says 87 people have now gotten sick after eating contaminated lunch meat, with nine of those people landing in the hospital. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) previously reported the contaminated products were sold in Ontario, Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec. Salmonella is a bacteria that can cause severe illness and potentially deadly infections, particularly for children, pregnant people, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems. Healthy people may experience short-term fever, headache, vomiting, nausea, cramps and diarrhea. The CFIA has recalled over 65 products linked to the outbreak, including Rea brand salamis, Bona brand salamis, Cosmo's Smoked Meats, Imperial Meats and other brands sold in grocery stores, specialty markets, restaurants, cafes, delis and butcher shops. A list of the specific products and their package codes is available on CFIA's website. Consumers can subscribe for updates from CFIA on recalled products here.
