• Ontario Clarifies Longstanding Out-of-Country Drug Funding Process

  Source: Ontario - Ministry of Health
  Date: 2026-10-06 21:00:00.0
  Tags: [Ontario, Healthcare, Affordability, Governance, Finance]

  The Government of Ontario has amended Regulation 552 of the Health Insurance Act to align with its longstanding out-of-country drug funding policy, restricting out-of-country funding to treatments where the drug and administration are publicly funded in Ontario, temporarily unavailable locally, and necessary to prevent death or irreversible tissue damage. According to the Ministry of Health led by Minister Sylvia Jones, the regulatory clarification aims to prevent global pharmaceutical companies from bypassing direct price negotiations with the province and avoids potential health-care system cost increases of up to $5.2 billion annually alongside $170 million in out-of-country treatment requests. This follows a recent Ontario Divisional Court decision concerning out-of-country drug funding, which the government is evaluating alongside options such as an appeal or a negotiated resolution with the applicant.

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• With city's next four-year plan less than a month away, Edmonton's budget deliberation process unveiled

  Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
  Date: 2026-10-06 20:29:58.0
  Tags: [Municipal, Alberta, Finance, Taxation, Governance, Affordability]

  The City of Edmonton unveiled its upcoming four-year budget deliberation process, which will encompass five distinct budgets: the capital, operating, utility services operating and capital, office of the city auditor, and climate budgets. Draft budgets are scheduled for publication on November 2, followed by a public hearing beginning on November 23 that will remain open for up to 10 days until December 18 or budget approval. In an 8-5 vote, City Council approved raising the city's franchise fee to 19.4 per cent to match Calgary's rate, aiming to offset property tax pressures on residents and businesses while the city works to rebuild its financial stabilization reserve back to the $150-million baseline.

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• Alberta's new insurance regime will see savings for 88 per cent of vehicles: rate board

  Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
  Date: 2026-09-10 18:23:35.0
  Tags: [Alberta, Transportation, Affordability, Finance, Governance]

  The Alberta Auto Insurance Rate Board released reports indicating that the province's new "Care-First" auto insurance system, taking effect January 1, will reduce average private passenger vehicle premiums by 13.7 percent, saving drivers $297 per year. The analysis shows that 88 percent of Alberta's 3.1 million insured vehicles will see premium reductions, with about 47 percent (1.47 million vehicles) saving $300 or more, while approximately 10 percent of vehicles—led by a 37 percent increase for motorcycles—will face higher rates. The transition to the care-focused model, which replaces the court-based tort system, has drawn opposition from personal injury lawyers, governing United Conservative Party members who voted against it at an annual general meeting, and Opposition New Democrats who criticize it for prioritizing insurer profits.

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