As measles cases surge in Canada, six babies have been born with congenital measles to unvaccinated mothers in Ontario since last fall. The MMR vaccine isn’t safe during pregnancy, so doctors urge anyone who could become pregnant to check their immunity now. In addition to being dangerous to newborns, measles can cause pneumonia, miscarriage and other life-threatening complications for expectant mothers.
Here is an expert from McGill University who can provide comment on this issue:
Prime Minister Mark Carney announced on Monday that the government of Canada will be spending 2 per cent of its GDP on defence by the end of the current fiscal year in March –meeting the NATO target – and will take various steps to strengthen Canada’s military capabilities.
This McGill expert can provide insights:
As wildfires continue to burn across Western Canada, thick smoke is triggering widespread air quality alerts and raising concerns about health, infrastructure and environmental impacts, including in neighbouring provinces and parts of the United States. McGill University experts are available to provide insights on these topics.
Quebec is in for a hot and humid summer, with above-normal temperatures, muggy nights and a heightened risk of violent storms, all resulting from a forecast “heat dome” over central North America, according to MétéoMédia.
The Montreal Police (SPVM) announced Monday that a new policy has been put in place for police street checks: Police must clearly inform people they stop that, unless they are being detained, they have no obligation to identify themselves and are free to leave.
This McGill expert can provide insight into the matter:
Tick season returns each spring, bringing a renewed risk of Lyme disease. In Quebec, the number of reported cases has been rising in recent years.
Michael Libman, MD, is a Professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases and member of the Centre for Tropical Diseases at McGill University. He can discuss the increase of Lyme disease cases and the northward spread of ticks, driven in part by climate change.
michael.libman [at] mcgill.ca (English, French)
More than half of Canadian girls and young women ages 15 to 29 with a mental health or substance use disorder received formal supports in 2022, but many are deterred by wait times and cost, according to a new Statistics Canada report. The report highlights a need to improve care, especially for racialized youth, who were less likely to find the support helpful.
Montreal has seen a threefold increase in fires caused by lithium-ion batteries in just two years, according to the city’s latest fire department report. E-bikes and e-scooters are the main culprits, but the batteries that power everything from cellphones to power tools are increasingly being flagged as fire hazards.
As climate change and urbanization reshape how we grow food, a McGill University horticulture expert is available to discuss a wide range of topics related to innovative, sustainable gardening practices.
David Wees is a Faculty Lecturer and Associate Director of the Farm Management and Technology Program at Macdonald Campus. He specializes in urban horticulture, greenhouse production, hydroponics, and community-based food systems.
As wildfires and heatwaves become more frequent in Canada, a McGill University researcher is investigating whether they play a role in triggering autoimmune diseases like lupus.
The Hudson’s Bay recently received permission to auction off its collection of over 4,000 artifacts and pieces of art to help pay its creditors. However, the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples is now joining with the Assembly of First Nations, the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs and Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak in calling on Hudson’s Bay to halt the sale of Indigenous artifacts, which may include sacred items.
This McGill expert can provide insight into the situation:
Earlier today India launched a series of military strikes on Pakistan and the Pakistan-administered part of Kashmir that have killed at least 20 people. The strikes come after gunmen last month opened fire in the Indian-administered part of Kashmir, killing 26 people, mostly Indian tourists. India blamed Pakistan for that attack. Kashmir has long been a source of dispute between the two countries; both claim it as their own.
This McGill expert can share his insights into the situation:
With the arrival of boating season, biologists are raising alarms about the rapid spread of invasive aquatic plants in Quebec’s lakes and rivers. Species like water chestnut and Eurasian watermilfoil are threatening biodiversity around the Montreal archipelago by choking out native flora and fauna, blocking light and depleting oxygen. These aggressive plants are expanding beyond their usual habitats in the Ottawa River and could have an impact on ecosystems throughout southern Quebec.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is in Washington D.C. to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump today.
These McGill experts can share their insights into some of the subjects that are likely to be discussed during that meeting:
Education minister Bernard Drainville has announced that, starting in September 2025, cellphone use by students would be prohibited in all schools in Quebec, even during break periods. The decision comes after an interim report by the parliamentary commission on the impacts of screen time on young people. It will be up to the schools to decide how to implement the new rules.
These McGill University experts are available to provide their insights into this topic:
