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Unity Health Toronto welcomes Altaf Stationwala as new President and CEO
Unity Health Toronto, one of Canada's largest Catholic healthcare networks, has appointed Altaf Stationwala as its new President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective July 1, 2025. Stationwala brings extensive expertise in health system operations, integration, and digital transformation. Unity Health Toronto comprises St. Joseph’s Health Centre, St. Michael’s Hospital, and Providence Healthcare, and is renowned for its comprehensive patient care, research, and education initiatives.
By: Unity Health Toronto
Catholics, Hippocrates, and reforming American medicine
George Weigel criticizes the current state of American medicine, highlighting how the willful participation of medical professionals in practices such as abortion and euthanasia contradicts the Hippocratic Oath's original intent to preserve life. Weigel calls for a reformation of American medicine to uphold life-affirming values, advocating for the involvement of well-catechized Catholic medical professionals and organizations like the Catholic Medical Association to lead these changes.
By: Geroge Weigel
Documents show Alberta’s Catholic healthcare body paying private staffing agencies nearly $110 an hour per nurse
Covenant Health in Alberta is significantly reliant on private staffing agencies to fill nursing roles, paying nearly $110 per hour for registered nurses, which is more than double the top wage for unionized nurses. This has led to the projection that Covenant will have spent over $20 million on private nursing contracts from April 2022 to April 2025. The high costs are partly due to shortages in recruiting and retaining skilled health professionals, with Covenant spending considerably more than budgeted across several healthcare facilities.
By: Jeremy Appel
Canada Launches ‘national consultation' on ‘advance requests' for euthanasia
The Canadian government is seeking public feedback on a proposal to allow "advance requests" for euthanasia, enabling individuals to arrange for medically assisted death before becoming incapacitated. This initiative follows Quebec's earlier adoption of similar policies for patients diagnosed with severe, incurable illnesses like Alzheimer’s. While the federal government describes this as a complex issue, it aims to ensure that the euthanasia program is responsive to Canadians' needs, supports autonomy, and protects vulnerable individuals. This proposal continues the expansion of the MAiD program, which has been contentious since its inception in 2016.
By: Daniel Payne
Premier Smith reveals plans to take some Alberta hospitals away from AHS
A previous secular hospital in Alberta, under Alberta Health Services (AHS), has been transferred to a private healthcare provider. The premier of Alberta said that the decision to transfer operations was made because AHS has 106 facilities, which makes it difficult for them to run everything. The hospital operates under Covenant Health, which has a reputation for never shutting down rural hospitals. Friends of Medicare, a healthcare advocacy group, finds the premier’s comments controversial because there is no evidence to support Covenant Health’s superior track record.
By: Lauryn Heintz
N.S regulatory group, some Christian doctors clash over medical assitance in dying
A group of Christian doctors object to the conscientious objection policy, where healthcare workers who refuse to provide medical service on religious grounds must refer the patient to a facility that administers those services. These doctors face potential disciplinary action for not following the referral protocol in conscientious objection. Many physicians object to referring patients to MAiD services because they believe euthanasia does not reflect what is in “the best interest of the patient”.
By: Vernon Ramesar
St Vincent could be breaking up with health insurer nib. Here's what's going on
The discovery of unmarked graves at former residential school sites has led to questions about why Catholic institutions continue to be publicly funded in Canada. Catholic schools and hospitals receive funding because Canada’s constitution protects them. The article explains the tension between provincial healthcare policy and Catholic hospitals’ obligation to follow the Health Ethics Guide from the Catholic Health Alliance of Canada. In addition to the constitution, it would be hard to defund Catholic hospitals because of legal and ethical implications under Canada’s Universal Medical Act.
By: Penny Timms
Family sues over hospital's religious exemption for euthanasia
A patient who requested MAID in a catholic hospital was transferred to another location because the Catholic hospital refused to provide MAiD to the patient. The patient's family is suing British Columbia for violating their daughter’s rights under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The organization Dying with Dignity was named in the lawsuit, and they released a survey reporting that most British Columbians are in favour of MAiD. Data also showed that the majority support religious healthcare institutions' refusal to administer MAiD.
By: The B.C. Catholic
Father of Calgary woman starving herself abandons court fight against her MAiD approval
"A woman received approval for MAiD, however her family is fighting this decision because they don’t think she should qualify for MAiD. A judge ordered that her access to MAiD be placed on hold until, the appeal decision is made. During the interim period, she began to starve herself, which led her case to be expedited to June 24th. However, the family has currently dropped the appeal for their daughter’s MAiD approval.”
By: CBC
Local hospitals raising flags for pride month
In light of their upcoming merger, St Mary’s and Grand River hospital are raising pride flags for the pride month. The CEO of Grand River says the purpose of raising the pride flag is to promote inclusivity and demonstrate the shared values between the hospitals. Particularly, they want to express that the LGBTQ+ community is welcomed into these hospital spaces. These hospitals will also participate in pride events in Victoria park.
By: City News
Meet Marienette Bergantinos, concierge, Evanston Summit
Marienette Bergantinos, a concierge at Evanston Summit, a Covenant Living site in Calgary, values every interaction with residents and their families. She sees it as an opportunity to strengthen bonds. She dedicates time daily to greet and speak with residents to prioritize these interactions. Her commitment to enhancing operations and increasing efficiency has earned her a nomination for Covenant's 2024 Mission Award for Stewardship. Marienette's journey with Covenant began in 2022, driven by a passion for helping others. She highlights the supportive organizational culture at Covenant, emphasizing the importance of compassionate care and community building.
By: Peter Rybar
‘Our lord and saviour': Saskatoon doctor allegedly tried to talk patient out of abortion for religious reasons
A Saskatoon doctor, Davids, faces scrutiny for allegedly making uncomfortable religious comments to a patient, leading to charges by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan on February 13. The complaint highlights a distressing interaction during a medical consultation, where Davids made remarks about the patient's deceased relatives caring for her baby in heaven and urged her to believe in 'our lord and saviour.'
By: Rory MacLean
Conscience rights’ battle rages in Nova Scotia
The article focuses on Christian physicians in Nova Scotia who are opposing a policy by the province’s College of Physicians and Surgeons that would require them to refer patients for euthanasia, abortion, and gender-affirming medical services. The policy could result in disciplinary action or loss of medical licenses for physicians who refuse to comply. The Christian Medical and Dental Association of Canada (CMDA) is fighting this proposal, emphasizing the integration of Christian faith into medical practice.
Despite conflicting statements from the college, indicating initially no intention of these policies, consultations are now underway. The CMDA questions the necessity of referrals when resources are already accessible to patients and sees the policy as potentially coercive towards Christian physicians
By: Luke Mandato
Quebec judge won't exempt church-supported palliative care home from MAID law
A Superior Court judge in Montreal denied the Roman Catholic archdiocese's request for an exemption to a Quebec law mandating all palliative care centres to offer MAiD. Justice Catherine Piche ruled that Quebecers' right to choose their medical care, including MAiD, outweighs any infringement on religious freedom. The archdiocese argued that the law violated their religious beliefs, particularly at St. Raphael's palliative care home, which operates in a former church owned by the archdiocese. Despite acknowledging the moral dilemma for some Catholic supporters, the judge ruled against granting an exemption.
By: Jacob Serebrin
‘Constantly be curious’: Rev. Bob Bond reflects on a career as Niagara Health chaplain
The article focuses on Christian physicians in Nova Scotia who are opposing a policy by the province’s College of Physicians and Surgeons that would require them to refer patients for euthanasia, abortion, and gender-affirming medical services. The policy could result in disciplinary action or loss of medical licenses for physicians who refuse to comply. The Christian Medical and Dental Association of Canada (CMDA) is fighting this proposal, emphasizing the integration of Christian faith into medical practice. Despite conflicting statements from the college, indicating initially no intention of these policies, consultations are now underway. The CMDA questions the necessity of referrals when resources are already accessible to patients and sees the policy as potentially coercive toward Christian physicians.
By: Niagara Health
Canada’s public health system is not equal for all
Canada's public health system, though founded on principles of equality and diversity, exhibits systemic biases adversely affecting Black Canadians. Studies reveal experiences of dehumanization, negligent communication, and unequal access to care among Black patients, leading to diminished trust and underutilization of healthcare services. These disparities are further exacerbated by socioeconomic barriers and a lack of culturally sensitive support systems. Addressing these issues is crucial for achieving true healthcare equity and reform in Canada.
By: Rayana Jamasi
Canadian bishops warn government ‘fully committed’ to expanding assisted suicide
In this article, there is a focus on the proposed expansion on MAiD. The decision, criticized by Canada’s Catholic bishops, highlights concerns about the readiness of the healthcare system to support vulnerable individuals. The bishops oppose assisted suicide, emphasizing the sanctity of life and advocating for increased investment in mental health resources. Despite the pressure, Catholic healthcare institutions maintain their stance against participating in assisted suicide, asserting their commitment to Catholic teachings.
By: John Lavenburg
Ordinary Catholics must rise up against MAiD
This article discusses anti-euthanasia education material being delivered by parishes to Canadians. It addresses the efforts of the Christian Medical Dental Association and Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Sherwood, working together to bring an end to MAiD policies in Canada through lectures and open discussions. In Edmonton, those in Catholic leadership positions are aiming to demand better support to keep 'living patients living' rather than turning to MAiD.
By: Quinton Amundson
Access to MAiD should not cater to faith-based interests
This article criticizes the B.C. Ministry of Health's plan to accommodate MAiD services at St. Paul's Hospital. The author argues that the proposed solution (which involves creating a separate space for MAiD services due to the hospital's Catholic affiliation) is unconstitutional. The article highlights concerns about patient suffering caused by forced transfers, challenges to patient-centred care, and the infringement of constitutional rights in faith-based healthcare settings. There is emphasis on a redesign of the plan to prioritize patient needs over religious considerations.
By: Jocelyn Downie, Daphne Gilbert
Catholic Church challenging Quebec MAID law in court on religious freedom grounds
The lawsuit discussed in the article argues that the Catholic Church should be exempt from a section of the law requiring all palliative care homes in the province to offer medical assistance in dying. It claims the law forces the church into an unsolvable dilemma: either cease supporting its palliative care center or "accept that their property, a former church, be used to carry out acts they consider morally unacceptable."
By: Jacob Serebrin