Nova Scotia weighs risks of online gambling as other provinces expand access

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Source: Nova Scotia - Halifax & Regional News
Date: 2026-10-30 20:11:56.0
Tags: [Nova Scotia, Healthcare, Public Safety, Governance]

The Nova Scotia government, through Finance Minister John Lohr, is evaluating whether to expand government-regulated online gambling after seeing Ontario and Alberta open up their markets in 2022 and July respectively, currently relying solely on the Atlantic Lottery Corporation for authorized platforms. Opposition leaders, including NDP Leader Claudia Chender and Interim Liberal Leader Iain Rankin, have cautioned that the province must proceed very carefully and conduct public health risk assessments first. This comes as studies from institutions like the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health highlight significant concerns regarding online gambling harms, noting that Ontario emergency department visits for gambling disorders doubled following expansion and high school youth participation rates rose from one per cent in 2019 to nine per cent.

Fraud, breach of trust and money laundering subject of RCMP Alberta health care procurement probe: court filing

Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-10-28 17:11:45.0
Tags: [Alberta, Healthcare, Justice, Public Safety, Governance]

An Ontario Crown prosecutor's letter filed in Athana Mentzelopoulos's $1.7-million wrongful dismissal lawsuit against the Alberta government revealed that the RCMP are investigating Alberta Health Services procurement practices for potential fraud, breach of trust, and money laundering. Mentzelopoulos, the former CEO of Alberta Health Services, claims she was fired after investigating inflated contracts for private clinic surgeries and conflicts of interest involving Sam Mraiche's medical supply company, MHCare. While opposition NDP leader Naheed Nenshi renewed calls for a public inquiry, Premier Danielle Smith rejected the demand, citing an earlier report by retired judge Raymond Wyant.

Amendments to the Social Workers Act Will Strengthen Public Safety

Source: Newfoundland & Labrador - Government Releases
Date: 2026-10-27 17:55:46.0
Tags: [Newfoundland and Labrador, Healthcare, Public Safety, Governance]

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, through Minister of Health and Community Services Joedy Wall, has introduced amendments to the Social Workers Act to establish a new Registered Clinical Social Worker category for private practice. Developed in collaboration with the Newfoundland and Labrador College of Social Workers, the designation requires a Master of Social Work, proven clinical experience, and a recognized clinical exam. A transition plan is being formulated for existing private practice social workers who do not yet meet the new standard. Additional amendments clarify that social work students on field placements do not require registration, remove redundant honorary membership provisions, mandate the college board to appoint an auditor, and incorporate gender-neutral language.

Solu Med inc. de Montréal perd son autorisation de contracter et est inscrite au RENA

Source: Quebec - Fil de presse gouvernemental
Date: 2026-10-26 11:59:00.0
Tags: [Quebec, Healthcare, Labour, Governance, Public Safety]

The Autorité des marchés publics has revoked the contracting authorization of Solu Med inc., a Montreal-based nursing personnel placement agency. Consequently, the company has been officially registered in Quebec's Registre des entreprises non admissibles aux contrats publics (RENA), barring it from participating in public sector contracts.

In P.E.I., sweeping new strategy takes aim at ‘pervasive drinking culture’

Source: Prince Edward Island - Regional News
Date: 2026-10-24 08:00:00.0
Tags: [Prince Edward Island, Healthcare, Public Safety, Justice]

The Government of Prince Edward Island, led by Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Heather Morrison, has released a sweeping 16-point provincial alcohol strategy designed to address a pervasive drinking culture and reduce health and safety harms. The strategy follows five years of planning and public consultation, responding to data showing high-risk drinking contributes to 7,000 emergency department visits and hospitalizations annually, while direct alcohol-related costs reach over $131 million compared to $70 million in revenue. Key policy measures include screening for high-risk drinking during medical appointments, adjusting pricing based on alcohol content rather than volume to target high-potency cheap drinks, reviewing retail store availability and operating hours where 80 percent of residents live within 10 minutes of a P.E.I. Liquor Control Commission outlet, and reinvesting three percent of net alcohol profits back into community, education, and harm-reduction programs.

Four hospitals, 22 ambulances, six planes, two helicopters: The CFB Wainwright evacuation effort

Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-10-18 20:42:10.0
Tags: [Alberta, Emergency, Healthcare, Defence, Public Safety]

Following a mass casualty explosion at the Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Wainwright training facility, Acute Care Alberta activated a Code Orange on Saturday night that lasted over 10 hours until Sunday afternoon. Emergency Health Services (EHS)-Alberta and contracted service partners deployed 30 units directly to the scene, including 22 ground ambulances, six fixed-wing planes, and two rotary-wing helicopters. Patients were evacuated from the Wainwright Healthcare Centre and distributed across four major medical facilities: University of Alberta Hospital, Royal Alexandra Hospital, Foothills Medical Centre, and Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre.

Yukon to extend presumptive cancer coverage to wildland firefighters

Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-10-07 00:23:01.0
Tags: [National, Labour, Healthcare, Public Safety, Governance]

The Yukon government tabled a bill in the Legislative Assembly to amend the territory's Workers' Safety and Compensation Act to extend presumptive cancer coverage to wildland firefighters. Previously, only full-time and part-time structural firefighters were covered under the legislation for 19 types of cancer. Under the proposed statutory amendments introduced by Minister Laura Lang, wildland firefighters diagnosed with listed cancers and meeting eligibility requirements will have their conditions legally presumed to be work-related, streamlining the claims process.

Ontario Opens Kingston HART Hub, Replacing Last Remaining Provincial Drug Injection Site

Source: Ontario - Ministry of Health
Date: 2026-10-02 14:00:00.0
Tags: [Ontario, Healthcare, Social Services, Public Safety]

The Government of Ontario has opened the Kingston Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hub at 661 Montreal Street, marking the final deployment of all 29 provincially funded HART Hubs supported by an overall investment of more than $560 million. Lead agency Addiction and Mental Health Services — Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington (AMHS-KFLA), alongside partners including Kingston Health Sciences Centre and Peer Support South East Ontario, will operate the facility to provide integrated care, primary health services, and over 50 transitional and supportive housing units. This opening officially replaces Ontario's last remaining provincially funded drug injection site, fulfilling a provincial policy shift prohibiting safer supply, supervised consumption, or needle distribution at HART Hubs while complying with 2024 legislative restrictions banning drug injection sites within 200 metres of schools and child-care centres.

S-202 (45-1) - An Act to amend the Food and Drugs Act (warning label on alcoholic beverages)

Source: Parliament of Canada (LEGISinfo)
Date: 2026-10-01 10:20:00.0
Tags: [National, Healthcare, Public Safety, Governance]

Bill S-202, titled An Act to amend the Food and Drugs Act (warning label on alcoholic beverages), was sponsored by Senator Patrick Brazeau in the 45th Parliament, 1st session. The Senate Public Bill progressed through committee study by the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology and reached third reading debate on October 1, 2026. The legislation proposes mandatory warning labels on alcoholic beverages to inform consumers about health risks such as cancer. It serves as a successor to Bill S-254 from the 44th Parliament.

New EPS integrated stabilization centre already saving lives

Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-09-28 11:15:28.0
Tags: [Alberta, Healthcare, Public Safety, Social Services, Justice]

The Edmonton Police Service opened a new 18-bed integrated stabilization centre inside its downtown headquarters, recording 98 admissions over its first three and a half weeks, with 12 individuals transferred directly to the Addiction Recovery Centre at Alberta Hospital Edmonton. The initiative forms part of the Alberta provincial government's broader Mental Health and Addiction portfolio, which has expanded its budget from approximately $80 million in direct funding in 2019 to $2.3 billion. Operating in partnership with Recovery Alberta, the facility aims to provide frontline police and health workers an immediate destination for individuals experiencing substance use crises and connect them with voluntary opioid agonist therapy programs.

Weapon detection screening installed at U of A Hospital emergency department

Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-09-02 22:25:16.0
Tags: [Alberta, Healthcare, Public Safety]

The University of Alberta Hospital emergency department in Edmonton installed an AI-powered and electromagnetic weapons detection system at its entrance, following a similar implementation at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in May. All patients and visitors are required to undergo screening prior to entering the emergency department, with options provided to store or dispose of prohibited items. At the Royal Alexandra Hospital, the screening program has processed over 56,000 scans with near-total compliance and reduced nighttime visitors from nearly 100 down to 30 to 50 per night.

Saskatchewan Monthly Construction Update August 2026 Edition

Source: Saskatchewan - Government News
Date: 2026-08-31 23:00:00.0
Tags: [Saskatchewan, Infrastructure, Healthcare, Public Safety]

The Government of Saskatchewan highlighted infrastructure progress in its August 2026 Monthly Construction Update, detailing advancements on two major Saskatoon projects: the Saskatoon City Hospital Acute Care expansion and the Saskatoon Complex Needs Facility. The Saskatoon City Hospital project, which is nearly 80 percent complete at Market Mall, adds 109 acute inpatient beds (including 60 Acute Medicine beds, 22 Acute Rehabilitation beds, 12 Acquired Brain Injury beds, and 15 High Acuity beds) with a scheduled completion in early 2027. Meanwhile, the Saskatoon Complex Needs Facility—located at 1701 Idylwyld Drive North by contractor Quorex Construction—has reached approximately 80 percent construction completion, delivering 30 new medical supervision and stabilization spaces across the province funded via a October 2023 initiative to support individuals struggling with addictions and relieve pressure on police cells and hospital emergency departments.

Task Force Prepares for Community Engagement With Discussions on Key Violence Prevention Initiatives

Source: Newfoundland & Labrador - Government Releases
Date: 2026-08-31 12:00:36.0
Tags: [Newfoundland and Labrador, Justice, Public Safety, Social Services, Healthcare]

The Task Force to End Gender-Based Violence in Newfoundland and Labrador met on August 25 and 26, 2026, to advance community engagement plans targeting diverse populations, including survivors, Indigenous communities, and 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals. Co-chaired by Stacey Hoffe and overseen by Minister of Women and Gender Equity Lela Evans, the 12-member task force discussed policy areas such as electronic monitoring, emergency protection orders, and post-release supports for incarcerated individuals in Labrador. The task force also received updates from various provincial bodies—including the Department of Social Supports and Well-Being, the Department of Health and Community Services regarding the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Program, and the Department of Justice and Public Safety regarding the Policing Transformation Working Group report—ahead of delivering its first public report in fall 2026.