People First Media program archive
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Pharma and medical research industries have routinely exploited poor, powerless

August 1st, 2013 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (Comments Off on Pharma and medical research industries have routinely exploited poor, powerless)

The truly shocking aspect of revelations concerning the use of native children as research subjects is that we were shocked by the revelation, says author Tom Koch

picture 496Demonstrations were held across the country Thursday July 25, 2013 as a growing chorus of Canadians urged the federal government to release documents related to nutritional experiments done on aboriginal children decades ago. The protests, which varied in size, were sparked by a report published earlier in the month that said 1,300 children in northern Manitoba and at six residential schools across Canada were deprived of food and used as subjects to test the effects of minerals and vitamins in the 1940s and 1950s. [source: CTV]. (more…)

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The gap in the gender gap: Violence against women in Canada

July 18th, 2013 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (Comments Off on The gap in the gender gap: Violence against women in Canada)

Study shows how Canada lacks a coherent response to end violence against women—and says costs related to that violence rival those related to the use of illegal drugs

picture 493Progress on ending violence against women in Canada is stalled by the absence of a coherent national policy and consistent information about the levels of that violence says a study released by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA).

“The difficulty of collecting data about violence against women has been a barrier to progress in ending that violence,” says the study’s author Kate McInturff. (more…)

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Conflict of interest policies at Canadian medical schools are under observation

July 11th, 2013 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (Comments Off on Conflict of interest policies at Canadian medical schools are under observation)

Researchers say that the education of medical students should be based on the best clinical information available, rather than on commercial interests

picture 490A first-of-its kind study has analyzed the conflict-of-interest policies at the 17 medical schools across Canada. Macleans magazine reports that “overall, the researchers found policies were “permissive”—meaning most medical schools allowed interactions with sales reps, turned a blind eye to faculty’s relationships with speakers’ bureaus (so instructors who teach students may also have speaking contracts with drug companies), and failed to educate newbie doctors about conflicts of interest despite the minefield they’d be entering.” (more…)

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At Home/Chez Soi project nears its end

March 21st, 2013 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (Comments Off on At Home/Chez Soi project nears its end)

Housing first makes better use of public dollars—especially for those who are high service users

picture 465In 2008 the federal government invested $110 million for a five year demonstration project aimed at providing evidence about what services and systems best help people experiencing serious mental illness and homelessness. The Mental Health Commission of Canada’s At Home/Chez Soi project was established as a field trial of complex interventions in Vancouver, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal, and Moncton. The rigorous, multi-site, experimental research design of the At Home/Chez Soi project was expected to help identify what works, at what cost, for whom, and in which environments. It compared “Housing First” approaches with existing approaches in each of the five cities. For the first time in a trial, it included a standardized definition of Housing First and used assessments to document the quality of the implementation of the program over its first two years. (more…)

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From the streets to a home and a new life

March 21st, 2013 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (Comments Off on From the streets to a home and a new life)

Housing First approaches prove to be effective and can change lives

picture 466A three-year-long intensive multi-city study looking into the effectiveness of Housing First approaches is due to end on March 31, 2013. The federal government funded the research through its Mental Health Commission of Canada initiative. The At Home/Chez Soi project has proven—in interim results [opens to PDF]—to (1) improve the lives of those who are homeless and have a mental illness; (2) make better use of public dollars-especially for those who are high service users; (3) be able to be implemented across Canada; and (4) demonstrate that a cross ministry approach that combines health, housing, social services with non profit and private sector partners is required to solve chronic homelessness. (more…)

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Canada gets a “B” on its Society report card for 2012

February 28th, 2013 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (Comments Off on Canada gets a “B” on its Society report card for 2012)

Despite solid performance, high rates of poverty and a large gap in income between the rich and everyone else put stress on a society and on the economy

picture 458The Conference Board of Canda is an independent, not-for-profit applied research organization that specializes in economic trends, as well as organizational performance and public policy issues. The group’s 2012 “report card” on Canada’s performance has revealed that, despite a general “B” grade in the country’s “society” performance, Canada places 12th (out of 17 peer countries) on income equality. Canada has been unable to reverse the rise in income inequality – and poverty rates – that occurred in the 1990s. (more…)

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