The Santis team shares its insights on the key sectors and factors driving decisions and change in the health care and life sciences sector across Canada.
Rapid Recap: Federal, Provincial, and Territorial Health Ministers Meet in Calgary
October 20, 2025 - On October 17, Canada’s Federal, Provincial, and Territorial (FPT) Ministers of Health met in Calgary to discuss mutual challenges and opportunities for collaboration in Canada’s health care system. This marked Minister of Health Marjorie Michel’s first time hosting an FPT meeting since the most recent election. Representatives from Newfoundland and Labrador, Nunavut, and Yukon were not present at the meeting due to each jurisdiction being in caretaker mode for elections.
Read MoreRapid Recap: LTC Staff-Up & Labour Mobility Moves
Friday, October 17, 2025 - The Ontario Government has rolled out several health announcements in advance of the return of the Legislative Assembly next week. The Ontario Government will introduce legislation that moves forward on as-of-right rules for Canadian health care workers, covering 16 additional health professionals. The government also made a massive re-up on its long-term care funding commitment, with an additional $1.92 billion to sustain the increase in hours of direct care for long-term care residents and help homes attract and retain more staff to care for them.
Read MoreRapid Recap: Newfoundland & Labrador Progressive Conservatives to Form Majority Government
October 15, 2025 - In a significant upset, Progressive Conservative (PC) leader Tony Wakeham has secured a majority government in yesterday's 2025 Newfoundland & Labrador general election, bringing an end to the Liberal party's 10-year run in power. The PCs captured 21 seats with the Liberals reduced to 15. The New Democratic Party (NDP) won two seats and two independents were elected in the new legislature.
Read MoreRapid Recap: Cancer Drugs in the FAST Lane in Ontario
October 8, 2025 - The Ontario Government has announced more details on the long-awaited cancer therapies pilot dubbed the Funding Accelerated for Specific Treatments (FAST) program. It promises to allow the fast-tracking of access to 7-10 breakthrough cancer therapies at least one year earlier than traditional pathways. The FAST program would make Ontario the first jurisdiction in Canada to expedite access to new and innovative medicines within Canada. The FAST program is enabled through a three-year pilot program for streamlining Health Canada-approved cancer drugs through Project Orbis.
Read MoreRapid Recap: Ontario Announces Second Round of Primary Care Expansion
Tuesday, September 23 - Yesterday, the Ontario government launched the eagerly-awaited second call for Interprofessional Primary Care Team proposals. Ontario’s Minister of Health, Sylvia Jones, alongside Primary Care Action Team (PCAT) chair, Dr. Jane Philpott, made the announcement in Brampton. The government aims to create and expand approximately 75 primary care teams and a $250 million investment is expected to connect an additional 500,000 people to primary care clinicians. The announcement was preceded by a first call back in June for 130 teams. The deadline for submissions is November 14, 2025.
Read MoreRapid Recap: Ontario’s Scope of Practice Expansion, OMA Arbitration Award
Monday, September 22 - As the health care system eagerly awaits the second call for proposals on primary care expansion, the Ministry of Health announced sweeping consultations last week aimed at expanding the scope of practice for a number of professions. A Board of Arbitration, chaired by veteran lawyer William Kaplan, also released its ruling on the Physician Services Agreement, settling compensation for the physicians of Ontario for 2025, 2026, 2027 and Spring 2028.
Read MoreRapid Recap: Ontario’s Health Innovation Pathway is a Decade-Long Policy Made, Unmade and then Remade
Friday, September 5 - Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Sylvia Jones launched Ontario's Health Innovation Pathway yesterday, creating the first systematic route for medical devices, digital health products, and care delivery innovations to reach scaled adoption in the provincial health system. The goal is to scale up innovative health technology adoption through the pathway's streamlined systemThe pathway includes $12 million in immediate project funding through the Health Technology Accelerator Fund.
Read MoreRapid Recap: AMO Catch-alls, LTC Overhauls
Thursday, August 21 - The annual Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) conference wrapped up on Wednesday with the Ontario government highlighting its investment in health initiatives to date and introducing upcoming projects across the province. Premier Doug Ford opened the conference with a keynote reinforcing Ontario’s protective stance against “President Trump’s tariffs”. On Monday Premier Ford pledged to build a stronger, more self-reliant Ontario. He highlighted record investments in hospitals and the $2.1 billion Primary Care Action Plan alongside major new housing commitments.
Read MoreSantis Health Expands its Management Consulting Practice with the Addition of Dr. Brendan Carr as Senior Vice President
Toronto, ON – July 10, 2025 – Santis Health is pleased to welcome Dr. Brendan Carr as its newest Senior Vice President, National Practice Lead, Management Consulting. Dr. Carr joins the Santis Health team on a full-time permanent basis after previously joining the team as a Senior Associate in March 2025.
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