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Tessie Sanci

@tessiesanci.bsky.social
91 followers 34 following 43 posts

Journalist @hilltimes.com, health policy nerd and bookworm.

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Tessie Sanci @tessiesanci.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
In #cdnhealth news... New HIV cases jumped 22.8% from 2022 to 2024. The future of fed funds with an HIV focus is uncertain. Community-Based Research Centre's Michael Kwag says his concern has grown b/c PHAC has been "really non-committal" about what happens to these funds after 2028.
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Reposted by Tessie Sanci
The Hill Times @hilltimes.com · 26/07/2026
Time-consuming drug-pricing negotiations and governments’ focus on the costs of medicines is harming Canada’s potential as an investment destination for pharmaceutical companies, says a new report from a federal task force. www.hilltimes.com/2026/07/24/p...
hilltimes.com
Feds' pharma task force says cutting time to get medicines onto public plans should be a priority with a three-month deadline - The Hill Times
The federally appointed group’s report released on July 24 says the multi-year process between Health Canada’s approval and drug pricing negotiations is contributing to companies ‘deprioritizing…
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Tessie Sanci @tessiesanci.bsky.social · 12/07/2026
Awareness about chronic kidney disease is key as symptoms don't typically make themselves felt until the disease is in advanced stages. Normalizing two very specific tests—one for blood and one for urine—in routine care could help catch the disease early. #cdnhealth
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Tessie Sanci @tessiesanci.bsky.social · 13/06/2026
Wondering what the "medical countermeasures" references in the Defence Industrial Strategy actually mean? The feds gave us a first glimpse this week. That news & analysis from Northern RNA's Thomas Hansen and Torys LLP's Teresa Reguly about the path forward in my story below. #cdnhealth
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Tessie Sanci @tessiesanci.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
Some fascinating behind-the-scenes stories about Dr. Augustine's biggest accomplishments. Including why she had to wait for an Independent MP to return to his riding before she could get a motion passed adding the Famous Five statue to Parliament Hill. #cdnpoli
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Tessie Sanci @tessiesanci.bsky.social · 17/05/2026
Free reading for today. @cepi.net is on a 100 Days Mission to produce safe, effective, and accessible vaccines within 100 days of identifying a pandemic threat. CEO Dr. Richard Hatchett spoke to me about this project, how Canada can help, and the hantavirus. www.hilltimes.com/2026/05/17/c...
hilltimes.com
CEPI CEO pitches his 100-day vaccine development project amid hantavirus outbreak - The Hill Times
Dr. Richard Hatchett was recently in Ottawa seeking support for the project. His trip’s timing—amid news of the spread of hantavirus on a cruise ship—was a coincidence, but has reinforced ‘that these ...
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Tessie Sanci @tessiesanci.bsky.social · 20/04/2026
“The concern around the country is: do we have the system in place that would have allowed for the supports to that individual for the duration of their illness? And I would say they are not. That is one point where we’re still having active conversations,” said Health Canada ADM Sarah Lawley.
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The Lobby Monitor @lobbymonitor.bsky.social · 01/04/2026
ETHI’s 2012 Lobbying Act review: 30 witnesses, 13 meetings, 11 recommendations, zero changes #lobbying #cdnpoli lobbymonitor.ca/2026/04/01/n...
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Tessie Sanci @tessiesanci.bsky.social · 31/03/2026
A follow-up to last week's scoop that ISED has informed Strategic Science Fund recipients that they will receive less money than originally agreed to in 2024 as a result of the feds' spending review. #cdnpoli
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Tessie Sanci @tessiesanci.bsky.social · 23/03/2026
SCOOP: Nearly two years after signing contribution agreements and approving detailed spending plans, ISED has informed funding recipients that it will reduce the originally-promised funding levels in 2028-29. The decision was made as a part of the feds' spending review. #cdnhealth #cdnpoli
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Tessie Sanci @tessiesanci.bsky.social · 01/02/2026
Your free Sunday read. Only three provinces and one territory have pharmacare funding for a list of diabetes meds and contraceptives. While in Ottawa last week for their COF and First Ministers meetings, premiers without deals answered my questions about the reasons for the delay. #cdnhealth
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The Hill Times @hilltimes.com · 08/01/2026
High-speed internet "is a centrepiece of what is necessary in rural Canada,” says Buckley Belanger, secretary of state for rural development. “There’s been a heavy commitment afforded to that connective piece for all of Canada … and we’re making great progress.” www.hilltimes.com/story/2026/0...
hilltimes.com
Feds ‘on track’ to connect every household to high-speed internet by 2030, as critics point to gaps in rural and Northern Canada
In 2026, 98.8 per cent of Canadian homes are expected to have access to high-speed broadband, surpassing the Liberal government’s goal of 95 per cent set in 2019. But only 16.7 per cent of Nunavut…
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Tessie Sanci @tessiesanci.bsky.social · 16/12/2025
Why was Tory MP Todd Doherty calling for fast-tracking? Because a previous identical bill had made its way through both parliamentary chambers in 2024. It only needed a third reading vote in the Senate before becoming law. #cdnhealth #cdnpoli
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Tessie Sanci @tessiesanci.bsky.social · 08/12/2025
“We want to know what’s on our plate, we want to know what we’re buying, we want to be able to choose our food according to our values ​​and concerns,” said agriculture critic Yves Perron during a recent press conference about his support for a petition calling for labels. #cdnhealth
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Tessie Sanci @tessiesanci.bsky.social · 02/12/2025
“I think there are reasons for optimism even though, right now, there is no clear plan for implementing pharmacare ... Prior to the next election, this gov't will have to explain what progress has been made toward pharmacare,” said Dr. Nav Persaud. #cdnhealth #pharmacare
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Tessie Sanci @tessiesanci.bsky.social · 25/11/2025
Search for alcohol guidelines through Health Canada and you'll find a 2011 webpage advising no more than 2 standard drinks per day for women and no more than 3 daily for men. Updated guidance–funded by the dept—states that up to 2 drinks per week is considered safer. #cdnhealth
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Tessie Sanci @tessiesanci.bsky.social · 18/11/2025
There's no new funding for mental health or substance use programs in Budget 2025. Current funds are thanks to two sets of bilateral agreements negotiated by Justin Trudeau's govt. How would Mark Carney's govt move forward on these issues? It's a mystery to those who work in these areas. #cdnhealth
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Tessie Sanci @tessiesanci.bsky.social · 07/11/2025
If you're not budgeted out, check out this post-budget webinar featuring former Conservative MP Ed Fast, former BC premier Christy Clark, and former PBO Yves Giroux. Kudos to everyone at @hilltimes.com—including Peter Mazereeuw and Riddhi Kachhela—who worked on this. www.youtube.com/watch?v=ui7i...
youtube.com
The Hill Times: Navigating Ottawa After the Budget 2025
YouTube video by The Hill Times
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Tessie Sanci @tessiesanci.bsky.social · 04/11/2025
If you were looking for #cdnhealth funding in this budget, you would have had to literally review the entire document (no health section) and even then you wouldn't have found much. #cdnpoli
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Tessie Sanci @tessiesanci.bsky.social · 03/11/2025
This article was inspired by a recent Research Canada conference. A panellist said that health procurement for a Canadian company is "difficult." The audience laughed as if it was an understatement. So, why is it hard and how could the Elbows Up mentality help? #cdnhealth
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Tessie Sanci @tessiesanci.bsky.social · 27/10/2025
This story explores national licensing for physicians, which is still in the process phase years after the COVID-19 pandemic. I asked the Federation of Medical Regulatory Authorities of Canada what they're doing about this, and they answered my questions. #cdnhealth
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Tessie Sanci @tessiesanci.bsky.social · 22/10/2025
Your one-stop-shop look at what the #SOCI affairs committee—and some of their members—are focusing on this fall. #cdnhealth #cdnpoli
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Tessie Sanci @tessiesanci.bsky.social · 15/10/2025
This @hilltimes.com article is a few days old but it's a great read. Check out Marlo Glass’ most recent work as she highlights how the newly-announced budget format impacts northern territories. www.hilltimes.com/story/2025/1...
hilltimes.com
Fall budget cycle 'great news' for 'more timely' northern project planning, says N.W.T. finance minister
'By the time we're actually seeing money coming through, our own estimates of our projects are sometimes six months to a year old,' says Northwest Territories Finance Minister Caroline Wawzonek.
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Tessie Sanci @tessiesanci.bsky.social · 14/10/2025
“When you’re seeing announcements in research and innovation, or digital health, or health equity, or health prevention, or mental health and substance use, it’s very indicative of … essentially [Health Minister Marjorie Michel's] interests,” says Eshan Naik of EnterpriseHealth. #cdnhealth
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Tessie Sanci @tessiesanci.bsky.social · 10/10/2025
The Carney govt hasn't been the most vocal on its health/social policy so the move to focus a pre-budget press conference on actions for low-income Canadians is notable. The Liberals to go ahead with permanent automatic tax-filing, national school food program. #cdnhealth www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
cbc.ca
Carney announces long-awaited automatic tax filing, makes school food program permanent | CBC News
Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Friday that his government will begin rolling out an automatic tax filing system for low-income Canadians and will make the school food program permanent, in advan...
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Tessie Sanci @tessiesanci.bsky.social · 06/10/2025
Trend data going up over 10 years as well as the mental health concerns amongst those who misuse substances, said Patricia Conrod, Canada Research Chair in Preventive Mental Health and Addiction. "That, to me, is a perfect storm and that needs to be addressed immediately." #cdnhealth
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Tessie Sanci @tessiesanci.bsky.social · 18/08/2025
New from me. This Liberal govt may not be interested in discussing pharmacare with provinces/territories that hadn't yet signed agreements, but jurisdictions including Sask. and NL are ready to talk...which is what happens when some provinces get money for something and others don't. #cdnhealth
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Tessie Sanci @tessiesanci.bsky.social · 12/08/2025
Want to read the interview? An edited version appears online: www.hilltimes.com/story/2025/0...
hilltimes.com
Natan Obed weighs in on the Major Projects law, Carney's election, and what the North needs
At a recent meeting, the prime minister put a lot of ‘issues to rest’ related to the government’s fast-track legislation for major projects, says the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami president.
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Reposted by Tessie Sanci
The Hill Times @hilltimes.com · 05/08/2025
Unlocked | House Finance Committee faces pre-budget time crunch ahead of fall tabling www.hilltimes.com/story/2025/0...
hilltimes.com
House Finance Committee faces pre-budget time crunch ahead of fall tabling
The amount of influence the House Finance Committee can have on a government budget is debatable, say observers, who note the fall schedule could provide an opportunity to adjust the process.
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Tessie Sanci @tessiesanci.bsky.social · 28/07/2025
Missing from the plan are any references to regulating vaping flavours and producing a safe long-term care law, which were both Trudeau promises from 2021. For more info, click on the link. #cdnpoli #cdnhealth
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Tessie Sanci @tessiesanci.bsky.social · 23/07/2025
CARP's Anthony Quinn told me that before COVID-19, the fight to improve long-term care was typically a private one pursued by residents and their families. Once that resident died, the fight died with them. It was COVID-19 that turned that fight into a public one. It's something to remember.
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Tessie Sanci @tessiesanci.bsky.social · 23/06/2025
This bill to criminalize forced sterilizations—now re-introduced—has been before Parliament in some form since 2022. "The survivors are waiting for it...It’s very important to them, and...it’s very important to me, too,” said Senator Yvonne Boyer. #cdnpoli
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Pandemic Center at Brown University’s School of Public Health @pandemiccenter.bsky.social · 23/06/2025
Join us this Friday @ 12PM ET for our next webinar: What's at Stake? The impact of US cuts to CDC’s global health programs Moderated by @jennifernuzzo.bsky.social w/ panelists Jennifer Kates ( @kffhealthnews.org) and Rebecca Martin ( #EmoryGHI) Registration ⤵️ brown.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
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Tessie Sanci @tessiesanci.bsky.social · 19/06/2025
Both @govofnunavut.bsky.social and Northwest Territories have been without NIHB funding agreements since March. The federal program funds health services for Inuit and First Nations Peoples. Although it's Ottawa's program, the ministers say they use territorial dollars to cover what Ottawa won't pay
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The Hill Times @hilltimes.com · 18/06/2025
Front | Electoral success a temporary substitute for Israel-Gaza consensus; 'I'm a tariff person' Trump doubles down on levies; Potential Canada-EU defence deal short on details; BOIE pushed discussion of NDP resources to future meetings; and more. www.hilltimes.com
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Tessie Sanci @tessiesanci.bsky.social · 17/06/2025
Coming to you from a new role: I'm now covering health at @hilltimes.com. This is one of my first stories. Nunavut and Northwest Territories have been without an agreement for Non-Insured Health Benefits (which helps fund health services for First Nations and Inuit Peoples) since March. #cdnpoli
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Tessie Sanci @tessiesanci.bsky.social · 25/04/2025
UHN's Dr. @bradwouters.com gets 2-3 emails per week from U.S. researchers looking for jobs in Canada. He said, "...existing scientists in the United States are rethinking that their future looks like. That’s primarily based on the fact that science is under threat" in the U.S. #cdnhealth
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Tessie Sanci @tessiesanci.bsky.social · 19/04/2025
A rare non-health post from me but did anyone have "Canadian election makes the @deadline.com homepage" on their #cdnpoli bingo card? Article: deadline.com/2025/04/cana...
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Tessie Sanci @tessiesanci.bsky.social · 16/04/2025
One of the things that has struck me about this campaign is: where is health? The two most popular party leaders aren't focusing on the subject and the chosen debate themes are a continuation of this. 1/2 #cdnhealth #cdnpoli
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Tessie Sanci @tessiesanci.bsky.social · 04/04/2025
“I really think that [in] this election, we’ve sort of pivoted from talking about domestic issues to continental issues or international issues, and health care is a domestic issue ... health care is just a lot harder to keep on the agenda, ”said Abacus Data's OksanaKishchuk. #cdnhealth #cdnpoli
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Tessie Sanci @tessiesanci.bsky.social · 27/03/2025
Thanks to @canadahealthwatch.bsky.social for sharing my story. Also, if you'd like some background on why I say the Conservative plan is unclear after its leader, Pierre Poilievre, said he would keep the program, here's my little explainer on LinkedIn ⬇️ www.linkedin.com/feed/update/... #cdnhealth
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Tessie Sanci @tessiesanci.bsky.social · 14/03/2025
New from me ⬇️
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Tessie Sanci @tessiesanci.bsky.social · 14/03/2025
BREAKING: Kamal Khera is Canada's new minister of health. The position of mental health and addictions minister has been eliminated in what is considered to be a "caretaker" cabinet led by new prime minister, Mark Carney.
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Tessie Sanci @tessiesanci.bsky.social · 11/03/2025
How easy is it to order U.S. goods & not realize it? An example from Cameron Groome, CEO of life sciences company Microbix: “We may order from a lab products supplier, who is a Canadian affiliate of the U.S. company, and find out later that all that product [is] actually coming in from the States."
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Hunter Cresswell @huntercresswell.bsky.social · 27/02/2025
My latest story: Two hundred union members and health care advocates recently met in downtown Ottawa to learn how to communicate a key message: the next federal government must strengthen publicly funded medicare, and that should include dental care and pharmacare.
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Tessie Sanci @tessiesanci.bsky.social · 27/02/2025
After receiving questions for weeks about when a pharmacare deal was coming, Health Minister @markhollandlib.bsky.social announced the first one today with Manitoba Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara. #cdnpoli #cdnhealth
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Tessie Sanci @tessiesanci.bsky.social · 20/02/2025
“What’s our superpower here in Canada? Well, [it] turns out it’s collaboration, or at least it can be,” said Dr. Paul Hébert. “We have to find mechanisms to essentially deliver on collaborative strategies, and that involves a lot of you guys because I can’t do that alone.” #cdnhealth
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Tessie Sanci @tessiesanci.bsky.social · 10/02/2025
Hiya Bluesky, let me introduce myself. I'm a proud Italian-Canadian, a journalist, a bookworm and a policy nerd. I'm in charge of @hilltimeshealth.bsky.social and we recently released our winter 2025 policy guide. Not subscribed? Sign up for a free demo through the link below. #cdnhealth #cdnpoli
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