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

  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.

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• 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.

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• 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.

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• 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.

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• 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.

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• 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.

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