On Sunday, Nov. 2, Canadians in most of the country will set their clocks back to standard time. (Those in Yukon, most of Saskatchewan and some other places remain on standard time year-round.) A Private Member’s Bill to end the biannual time change was introduced in the House of Commons earlier this month, reigniting the age-old debate.
Topics McGill University experts can address:
The company that makes Tylenol is pushing back against a proposed safety warning on labels for all drugs containing acetaminophen. A petition filed with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration calls for labels to state that, if taken during pregnancy, the medication may increase a child’s risk of neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism.
A report released yesterday by an inter-university team of researchers has found that none of the mobile games intended for children under the age of 13 fully comply with Quebec, Canadian or U.S. laws on the protection of children's data.
This McGill University expert was part of the research team and can discuss this topic:
As trade tensions with China and the United States continue to affect Canadian canola exports, producers are seeking new markets abroad.
Pascal Thériault, Director of McGill’s Farm Management and Technology Program, can comment on agricultural economics, farm management, and market diversification in the agri-food sector.
pascal.theriault [at] mcgill.ca (English, French)
While experts call for stronger oversight of artificial intelligence (AI) technology development, including clearer legal frameworks, the legal system itself is grappling with AI-related challenges. In recent days, Quebec and several other jurisdictions have issued substantial fines to individuals who submitted court documents containing “hallucinations,” the term for false or invented information generated by AI tools.
Israel and Hamas have agreed on a ceasefire as well as an exchange of Israeli hostages being held in Gaza and Palestinian prisoners.
These McGill experts are available to comment:
Rex Brynen, Professor, Department of Political Science, can comment on the Arab-Israeli peace process, refugees, Middle East politics and regional security, development assistance, peacebuilding, and authoritarianism and democratization in the Arab world.
Fall is a dangerous season for pedestrians, with a rise in road accidents linked to reduced visibility and shorter daylight hours. According to the Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ), October and November consistently see spikes in pedestrian injuries and fatalities, with a notable increase in deaths in recent years.
To draw attention to this problem, the SAAQ marks Pedestrian Safety Month each October, as do authorities in several other jurisdictions.
Quebec Justice Minister Simon Jolin-Barette will be unveiling a Quebec constitution Thursday, according to media reports.
This McGill expert is available to comment:
Johanne Poirier, Professor and Peter MacKell Chair in Federalism, Faculty of Law, can speak about various aspects of federalism, the protection of minorities (notably linguistic ones), and, more broadly, public law.
Prime Minister Mark Carney is meeting U.S. President Donald Trump today in Washington to discuss trade and tariff issues.
These McGill experts are available to comment:
Diya Jiang, PhD candidate and course lecturer, Department of Political Science, has expertise in the politics of trade, Canada-U.S. relations and public opinion.
Diya.jiang [at] mail.mcgill.ca (English, French)
As respiratory virus season kicks off and COVID-19 cases continue to rise, provinces and territories are launching their vaccination campaigns. In Quebec, free vaccines will be available only to members of high-risk groups and health-care workers.
A McGill University expert is available to comment on this topic:
The 2025 Ocean State Report from the Copernicus Marine Service, a European Union ocean monitoring organization, has found that sea floor temperatures off the coast of Nova Scotia have risen at twice the rate of surface temperatures over 30 years. Researchers say the rapid warming rate is a result of changes to the climate, including more acute marine heat waves and fewer periods of colder weather.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is reviewing the safety and efficacy of mifepristone, a drug used widely in medical abortions. The review has raised concerns about potential new restrictions on access to abortion in the United States.
Christopher Labos, MD, is an Associate at McGill’s Office for Science and Society. He can discuss the known evidence on mifepristone and the broader implications of the review.
On Sept. 28, it will be five years since Joyce Echaquan, an Atikamekw woman, died in a hospital north of Montreal after having broadcast on Facebook racist and sexist remarks being made about her by health-care staff. The event sparked calls for Quebec to recognize systemic racism.
McGill University experts are available to comment:
According to a report by Quebec researchers studying social inequalities, Quebec’s economy lost $4.2 billion in 2021 due to the ongoing housing crisis — a figure the authors say is likely even higher in 2025.
Manque de logements adéquats : quels coûts sur la prospérité économique? is the first publication in a larger research project conducted by the Observatoire des inégalités du Québec with several partners.
