Letters to the Editor, April 1, 2025

Several applications for generic semaglutide, the active ingredient in Novo Nordisk's Ozempic and Wegovy, are currently under review by Health Canada, as the patent for Ozempic is set to expire due to Novo Nordisk's failure to pay maintenance fees. This opens the market for cheaper alternatives, with a U.S. telehealth service planning to offer generic versions at a significant discount, potentially impacting weight-loss drug usage and social dynamics, particularly in dating. Explain It To Me...

Marjorie Michel, recently appointed as Canada's Minister of Health and the MP for Papineau, replaced Justin Trudeau and is known for her pragmatic leadership style. A former advisor to Trudeau with deep roots in Haiti, she has faced challenges transitioning from a behind-the-scenes role to a public political figure while prioritizing her family's security and education after fleeing Haiti in 1999. Explain It To Me Like I'm 5: Marjorie Michel, a former advisor to Justin...

Belinda Sarkodie, who fled Ghana for Canada in 2024, was tragically killed in Hamilton while waiting for a bus with a friend; police have described her as an "innocent bystander." Authorities are actively searching for a 17-year-old suspect involved in the incident. Explain It To Me Like I'm 5: Belinda Sarkodie, a woman from Ghana who came to Canada for safety, was sadly hurt while waiting for a bus with a friend, and the police...

The Department of National Defence is investing $500 million in two new F-35 hangars, with total infrastructure costs expected to exceed $2 billion, as Canada reviews its $19 billion purchase of 88 F-35s amid rising tensions with the U.S. Construction will begin soon in Cold Lake and Bagotville, but the delivery of the first jets has been delayed until 2026, with costs having surged to $27.7 billion. Explain It To Me Like I'm 5: The...

One year after a pivotal report addressing the tragic death of an 11-year-old Indigenous boy in foster care, British Columbia's representative for children and youth, Jennifer Charlesworth, asserts that the NDP government still has significant progress to make in enhancing the welfare of vulnerable children. The follow-up report highlights alarming burnout rates among social workers in the Ministry of Children and Family. Explain It To Me Like I'm 5: After a sad story about a...

The Federal Court of Appeal heard a case from a British Columbia ostrich farm challenging a government-ordered cull of its flock due to avian flu, amid criticisms of potential government overreach from both Canadian and U.S. observers. The outcome could significantly impact the farm's operations and the broader agricultural sector's response to animal health crises. Explain It To Me Like I'm 5: A woman named Katie is watching ostriches on her mom's farm while they...