The war in Iran and the blocking of the Strait of Hormuz have disrupted the international oil trade, resulting in a dramatic increase in fuel prices worldwide and energy crises in several African and Asian countries. Broader economic impacts are also being felt.
McGill experts are available to comment:
The Supreme Court of Canada has begun hearing arguments on Quebec’s secularism law, Bill 21.
A McGill expert is available to comment:
Pearl Eliadis, Associate Professor (professional) at the Max Bell School of Public Policy, member of the Centre for Human Rights & Legal Pluralism at the Faculty of Law, is a practising lawyer specializing in human rights. She has expertise in equality and anti-discrimination law and minority rights.
As Quebec seeks to implement its Digital Health Record (DSN) project, concerns are emerging about translation errors and inefficiencies in the platform, resulting in ballooning costs and potentially severe delays to patient care.
A McGill expert is available to comment on this topic:
World Happiness Report 2026, released Thursday, ranks countries based on survey data of self-reported life satisfaction. Canada, once in the Top 10, has fallen to 25th, extending a decade-long decline. The report also links heavy social media use to a marked drop in well-being among young people, particularly among teenage girls.
McGill University has an expert who can comment on this topic:
Quebec Finance Minister Eric Girard is presenting his 2026-2027 budget today, March 18.
These McGill experts are available to comment:
Julian Karaguesian, Faculty Lecturer, Department of Economics, can speak about budgetary issues, as well as wider fiscal and economic policy issues.
Julian.karaguesian [at] mcgill.ca (English, French, German)
The functional health of Canadian adults has declined over the past decade, according to a new Statistics Canada report. Since 2015, the number of Canadians reporting very good to perfect health dropped from about 69 per cent to 56 per cent. Using a measurement that covers eight dimensions of health, the report finds the decline is driven mainly by worsening emotional health and a ris
The Canadian economy lost 84,000 jobs last month as the national unemployment rate rose to 6.7 per cent, according to Statistics Canada.
A McGill expert is available to comment:
Fabian Lange, Professor and Chair, Department of Economics, specializes in labour economics, earnings inequality and health and population economics.
fabian.lange [at] mcgill.ca (English, French – no live broadcast interviews in French)
A special meeting of Air Transat shareholders, scheduled for Tuesday, March 10, will determine the future leadership of the company. Pierre Karl Péladeau’s investment firm, Financière Outremont, is the airline’s largest shareholder; he is calling for a smaller board of directors.
These McGill experts are available for comment:
Since the joint U.S. and Israeli attacks began Feb. 28, the situation in Iran and in the region has evolved rapidly. U.S. President Donald Trump has said his objective is regime change in Iran.
These McGill experts are available to comment:
Rex Brynen, Professor, Department of Political Science, is an expert in Middle East politics and security.
rex.brynen [at] mcgill.ca (English)
Six months before the killings in Tumbler Ridge, Open AI suspended a ChatGPT account owned by the shooter. However, it failed to alert Canadian authorities of its contents. In the wake of Bill C-27’s death on the order paper in January 2025, there remains no binding federal regulation of artificial intelligence in Canada. These McGill experts can comment:
The killing on Sunday of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” the leader of a powerful drug cartel, has triggered violence between security forces and criminal gangs in at least 20 of Mexico’s 32 states. Canadian airlines have suspended flights in and out of Puerto Vallarta and tourists in the popular resort destination are sheltering in place.
These McGill experts can comment:
The Munich Security Conference, which opened today and runs until Feb. 15, is a leading forum for discussions on international security. It is attended by heads of state and ministers of defence and foreign affairs from around the world.
Following a deadly mass shooting at a school in Tumbler Ridge, B.C. and a murder-suicide in Kitigan Zibi Anishinābeg, Que. this week, a McGill University expert is available to speak about the psychological toll of gun violence.
Tina Montreuil, Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at McGill University is available to comment on the following topics:
A new report by the Institut de la statistique du Québec estimates that, in 2024, 59 per cent of Quebec workers held a job with “high exposure to artificial intelligence (AI).”
Exposure to AI means occupations where AI can play a beneficial complementary role or occupations where tasks could be transformed or workers be replaced by AI.
These McGill experts are available to comment:
The 25th Winter Olympics will take place in Milan–Cortina, Italy, Feb. 6 to 22, drawing top athletes to one of the world’s most watched sporting events.
Gordon Bloom, James McGill Professor, Chair, Department of Kinesiology and Sports Activity can share his expertise in Sport psychology; high-performance sport; team cohesion; and coaching.
gordon.bloom [at] mcgill.ca (English)
