Canada is seeing a rise in cases of gastroenteritis, commonly known as the stomach flu, with over 150 reported at the University of Guelph. Often caused by norovirus, the illness spreads through contaminated surfaces, water or food, causing vomiting, diarrhea and stomach pain.
An expert from McGill University is available to comment on this topic:
Raymond Tellier, MD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases.
The European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service has confirmed that 2024 was the hottest year ever recorded, marking the first time global temperatures have reached 1.5ºC above pre-industrial levels. This milestone raises critical questions about the implications for daily life and the future of our planet’s atmospheric and oceanic systems.
An expert from McGill University is available to comment on this topic.
New research points to the potential of GLP-1 agonists — the class of drugs that includes Ozempic — to treat obesity safely. Originally developed to manage Type 2 diabetes, these medications have emerged as powerful weight-loss tools, though their long-term impacts are still being explored.
Over the past few days, U.S. president-elect Donald Trump has spoken about his plans for a range of trade and foreign policy measures that include possibly annexing Canada and Greenland and acquiring control of the Panama Canal, as well as imposing significant tariffs on all trading partners.
Here are some experts from McGill University who can provide comment on these issues:
Justin Trudeau announced today that he will be stepping down as leader of the Liberal Party and as prime minister of Canada after his party selects its next leader in a competitive process. In the meantime, Parliament has been prorogued until March 24. The announcement follows weeks of speculation. Growing numbers of Liberal MPs have called for his resignation.
Here are some experts from McGill University who can provide comment on this issue:
The federal government’s deficit for the 2023-2024 fiscal year that ended in March 2024 was announced Monday. It was $61.9 billion, significantly higher than the $40.1 billion deficit that had been promised.
McGill University has experts who can share their insights on this subject:
Julian Vikan Karaguesian is a lecturer in the Department of Economics at McGill University and worked for Canadian Ministry of Finance for more than 25 years.
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland has resigned from cabinet, but said she will continue as a member of Parliament. In her announcement, she cited differences with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau over economic policy and responses to American economic nationalism, and said the prime minister had told her that he no longer wanted her to remain Minister of Finance.
McGill University has an expert who can share his insights on this subject:
The provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador and Quebec have reached a tentative deal regarding power generated by the Churchill Falls development. It would replace an agreement that has been a sore point for Newfoundland and Labrador. The new deal would provide long-term security for Quebec and would see the two provinces work together on a future hydro-electric development.
McGill University has an expert who can share his insights on this subject:
Winter brings its own set of health risks, from slips and falls to snow-shovelling heart strain, as well as seasonal weight gain and illnesses from gatherings or travel.
Mitch Shulman, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, and attending physician, Montreal General and Royal Victoria hospitals, can share his expertise on preventing winter injuries, recognizing and managing heart-attack symptoms and staying healthy through the holiday season.
President Bashar al-Assad fled to Moscow after opposition fighters occupied the capital, Damascus, early on Sunday morning. McGill has an expert who can share his insights on this subject:
Daniel Douek is Faculty Lecturer in the Department of Political Science.
Daniel.douek [at] mcgill.ca (English, French)
Statistics Canada announced today that the unemployment rate reached 6.8 per cent in November, the highest level since January 2017, apart from during the pandemic years. McGill has an expert who can share his insights on this subject:
Fabian Lange, Professor and Canada Research Chair in Labour and Personnel Economics, Department of Economics. His expertise includes labour economics, earnings inequality and health and population economics.
Quebec’s Minister of Justice announced the province plans to ask the Supreme Court of Canada to overturn a decision made by Quebec's Court of Appeal earlier this year banning random police traffic checks because they violate Charter rights and can lead to racial profiling.
McGill has experts who are available to share their insights on the subject:
Experts: Protecting children from online harms
The Canadian government announced Wednesday it is splitting the online harms bill in two to speed up passage of measures to protect children from online predators and other perils.
These experts from McGill University are available to share their insights:
A report released today by Institut de la statistique du Québec finds that mental health issues are on the rise among high school students. The data indicate that rates of anxiety, depression, ADHD and other issues have been increasing since 2010.
World AIDS Day, observed on Dec. 1, is a global effort to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS, which affects nearly 40 million people worldwide.
Bertrand Lebouché, Associate Professor, Department of Family Medicine, and Clinician Scientist, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, can share his expertise on HIV prevention and improving patient care.
