Ht-Logo-gigapixel-icon
Ht-Logo-gigapixel-icon
Tuesday, April 15, 2025

Canada’s Politics and Government News Source Since 1989

Latest Paper

Read the latest Election 2025 stories

Tuesday, April 15, 2025 | Latest Paper
Subscribe Now

TRENDING:

ISG Senator Stanley Kutcher

Nova Scotia ISG Senator Stanley Kutcher is a Canadian psychiatrist and politician, who was appointed to the Senate of Canada on Dec. 12, 2018.

American attacks on Canada echo Russian playbook with enemies

  • U.S. President Donald Trump's approach to Canada mimics Russian narratives targeting Ukraine: that neighbouring democracies are illegitimate, dangerous, and ripe for domination.
Opinion | BY ISG SENATOR STANLEY KUTCHER, MARCUS KOLGA | April 14, 2025
The narrative convergence between Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and U.S. President Donald Trump is producing a toxic wave of disinformation and destabilization, write Stanley Kutcher and Marcus Kolga. Photographs courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, Gage Skidmore photograph courtesy of Flickr

American attacks on Canada echo Russian playbook with enemies

Opinion | BY ISG SENATOR STANLEY KUTCHER, MARCUS KOLGA | April 14, 2025
  • U.S. President Donald Trump's approach to Canada mimics Russian narratives targeting Ukraine: that neighbouring democracies are illegitimate, dangerous, and ripe for domination.

American attacks on Canada echo Russian playbook with enemies

Opinion | BY ISG SENATOR STANLEY KUTCHER, MARCUS KOLGA | April 14, 2025
  • U.S. President Donald Trump's approach to Canada mimics Russian narratives targeting Ukraine: that neighbouring democracies are illegitimate, dangerous, and ripe for domination.
The narrative convergence between Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and U.S. President Donald Trump is producing a toxic wave of disinformation and destabilization, write Stanley Kutcher and Marcus Kolga. Photographs courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, Gage Skidmore photograph courtesy of Flickr

Seizing the moment to grow Canada’s biomedical research enterprise as the U.S. falters

  • This opportunity to attract top health research talent to Canada will not last long.
Opinion | BY ISG SENATOR STANLEY KUTCHER, JOHN BERGERON, KATHLEEN DICKSON | March 31, 2025
Canada needs move quickly and get its own house in shape to offer safe harbour and a successful career home for the talent who are now looking elsewhere to make discoveries, write Stanley Kutcher, John Bergeron, and Kathleen Dickson. Unsplash photograph by ThisisEngineering

Seizing the moment to grow Canada’s biomedical research enterprise as the U.S. falters

Opinion | BY ISG SENATOR STANLEY KUTCHER, JOHN BERGERON, KATHLEEN DICKSON | March 31, 2025
  • This opportunity to attract top health research talent to Canada will not last long.

Seizing the moment to grow Canada’s biomedical research enterprise as the U.S. falters

Opinion | BY ISG SENATOR STANLEY KUTCHER, JOHN BERGERON, KATHLEEN DICKSON | March 31, 2025
  • This opportunity to attract top health research talent to Canada will not last long.
Canada needs move quickly and get its own house in shape to offer safe harbour and a successful career home for the talent who are now looking elsewhere to make discoveries, write Stanley Kutcher, John Bergeron, and Kathleen Dickson. Unsplash photograph by ThisisEngineering

Ukrainian resilience must be recognized and rewarded

  • As Ukraine faces a new tyrant, Canada and allies must stand strongly together to support the country.
Opinion | BY ISG SENATOR STANLEY KUTCHER, ISG SENATOR DONNA DASKO | February 26, 2025
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Ukraine has become the touchstone for the preservation of democratic state sovereignty, write ISG Senators Stan Kutcher and Donna Dasko. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Ukrainian resilience must be recognized and rewarded

Opinion | BY ISG SENATOR STANLEY KUTCHER, ISG SENATOR DONNA DASKO | February 26, 2025
  • As Ukraine faces a new tyrant, Canada and allies must stand strongly together to support the country.

Ukrainian resilience must be recognized and rewarded

Opinion | BY ISG SENATOR STANLEY KUTCHER, ISG SENATOR DONNA DASKO | February 26, 2025
  • As Ukraine faces a new tyrant, Canada and allies must stand strongly together to support the country.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Ukraine has become the touchstone for the preservation of democratic state sovereignty, write ISG Senators Stan Kutcher and Donna Dasko. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Here are two major ways Canada can significantly increase its supply of family doctors

  • The federal government can enhance funding to the Medical Council of Canada to asses foreign doctors, and provinces can boost investment to increase their
Opinion | BY ISG SENATOR STANLEY KUTCHER, INDEPENDENT SENATOR MOHAMED-IQBAL RAVALIA, RATNA OMIDVAR, KAREEM EL-ASSAL | February 12, 2025
Federal and provincial/territorial health ministers can work to solve the physician shortage in Canada in a cost-effective manner by enhancing the PRA route to licensure, write ISG Senators Stanley Kutcher, Mohamed-Iqbal Ravalia, and Ratna Omidvar; and Kareem El-Assal.  Photograph courtesy of Unsplash

Here are two major ways Canada can significantly increase its supply of family doctors

Opinion | BY ISG SENATOR STANLEY KUTCHER, INDEPENDENT SENATOR MOHAMED-IQBAL RAVALIA, RATNA OMIDVAR, KAREEM EL-ASSAL | February 12, 2025
  • The federal government can enhance funding to the Medical Council of Canada to asses foreign doctors, and provinces can boost investment to increase their

Here are two major ways Canada can significantly increase its supply of family doctors

Opinion | BY ISG SENATOR STANLEY KUTCHER, INDEPENDENT SENATOR MOHAMED-IQBAL RAVALIA, RATNA OMIDVAR, KAREEM EL-ASSAL | February 12, 2025
  • The federal government can enhance funding to the Medical Council of Canada to asses foreign doctors, and provinces can boost investment to increase their
Federal and provincial/territorial health ministers can work to solve the physician shortage in Canada in a cost-effective manner by enhancing the PRA route to licensure, write ISG Senators Stanley Kutcher, Mohamed-Iqbal Ravalia, and Ratna Omidvar; and Kareem El-Assal.  Photograph courtesy of Unsplash

Canada needs a complete pandemic preparedness strategy

  • As another possible pandemic looms, the discovery research engine that will help protect Canadians' health sputters, stalls, and may fall off the rails.
Opinion | BY ISG SENATOR STANLEY KUTCHER, JOHN BERGERON AND KATHLEEN DICKSON | January 9, 2025
Mark Holland
Mark Holland
Health Minister Mark Holland. The federal government has not done enough to respond to recommendations from a report it commissioned on Canada's pandemic response, write Senator Stan Kutcher, John Bergeron, and Kathleen Dickson.

Canada needs a complete pandemic preparedness strategy

Opinion | BY ISG SENATOR STANLEY KUTCHER, JOHN BERGERON AND KATHLEEN DICKSON | January 9, 2025
  • As another possible pandemic looms, the discovery research engine that will help protect Canadians' health sputters, stalls, and may fall off the rails.

Canada needs a complete pandemic preparedness strategy

Opinion | BY ISG SENATOR STANLEY KUTCHER, JOHN BERGERON AND KATHLEEN DICKSON | January 9, 2025
  • As another possible pandemic looms, the discovery research engine that will help protect Canadians' health sputters, stalls, and may fall off the rails.
Mark Holland
Health Minister Mark Holland. The federal government has not done enough to respond to recommendations from a report it commissioned on Canada's pandemic response, write Senator Stan Kutcher, John Bergeron, and Kathleen Dickson.

Let Ukraine strike back

  • The restraints put on Ukraine by its western allies to not attack missile launch sites in Russia have become a major barrier to Ukraine’s
Opinion | BY ISG SENATOR STANLEY KUTCHER, ISG SENATOR DONNA DASKO | November 4, 2024
Justin Trudeau, Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Justin Trudeau, Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Canada can work harder to convince our allies to lift the restrictions that they have put on Ukraine, write Senators Stanley Kutcher and Donna Dasko. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

Let Ukraine strike back

Opinion | BY ISG SENATOR STANLEY KUTCHER, ISG SENATOR DONNA DASKO | November 4, 2024
  • The restraints put on Ukraine by its western allies to not attack missile launch sites in Russia have become a major barrier to Ukraine’s

Let Ukraine strike back

Opinion | BY ISG SENATOR STANLEY KUTCHER, ISG SENATOR DONNA DASKO | November 4, 2024
  • The restraints put on Ukraine by its western allies to not attack missile launch sites in Russia have become a major barrier to Ukraine’s
Justin Trudeau, Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Canada can work harder to convince our allies to lift the restrictions that they have put on Ukraine, write Senators Stanley Kutcher and Donna Dasko. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

A prescription for progress: boosting Canada’s family doctors by 50 per cent

  • One of the key drivers of the primary care crisis is our failure to fully use the skills of internationally trained physicians already living
Opinion | BY ISG SENATOR STANLEY KUTCHER, INDEPENDENT SENATOR MOHAMED-IQBAL RAVALIA, INDEPENDENT SENATOR RATNA OMIDVAR, KAREEM EL-ASSAL | October 14, 2024
Among the steps the federal government can take is to directly fund medical faculties to create 750 new family medicine residency positions each year, write ISG Senators Stanley Kutcher, Mohamed-Iqbal Ravalia, and Ratna Omidvar; and Kareem El-Assal. Unsplash photograph by National Cancer Institute

A prescription for progress: boosting Canada’s family doctors by 50 per cent

Opinion | BY ISG SENATOR STANLEY KUTCHER, INDEPENDENT SENATOR MOHAMED-IQBAL RAVALIA, INDEPENDENT SENATOR RATNA OMIDVAR, KAREEM EL-ASSAL | October 14, 2024
  • One of the key drivers of the primary care crisis is our failure to fully use the skills of internationally trained physicians already living

A prescription for progress: boosting Canada’s family doctors by 50 per cent

Opinion | BY ISG SENATOR STANLEY KUTCHER, INDEPENDENT SENATOR MOHAMED-IQBAL RAVALIA, INDEPENDENT SENATOR RATNA OMIDVAR, KAREEM EL-ASSAL | October 14, 2024
  • One of the key drivers of the primary care crisis is our failure to fully use the skills of internationally trained physicians already living
Among the steps the federal government can take is to directly fund medical faculties to create 750 new family medicine residency positions each year, write ISG Senators Stanley Kutcher, Mohamed-Iqbal Ravalia, and Ratna Omidvar; and Kareem El-Assal. Unsplash photograph by National Cancer Institute

Holding the Kremlin’s Canadian influencers to account

  • Canadian authorities must fully investigate these activities, and the broader web of academics, activists, and columnists who engage with Russian state media and think
Opinion | BY ISG SENATOR STANLEY KUTCHER, MARCUS KOLGA, CSG SENATOR PAMELA WALLIN | September 23, 2024
Two staff from Russia's state propaganda platform RT were indicted in the United States for paying $10-million to a Canadian-owned firm to create and amplify Kremlin-aligned content in Canada and the U.S. Image courtesy of RT

Holding the Kremlin’s Canadian influencers to account

Opinion | BY ISG SENATOR STANLEY KUTCHER, MARCUS KOLGA, CSG SENATOR PAMELA WALLIN | September 23, 2024
  • Canadian authorities must fully investigate these activities, and the broader web of academics, activists, and columnists who engage with Russian state media and think

Holding the Kremlin’s Canadian influencers to account

Opinion | BY ISG SENATOR STANLEY KUTCHER, MARCUS KOLGA, CSG SENATOR PAMELA WALLIN | September 23, 2024
  • Canadian authorities must fully investigate these activities, and the broader web of academics, activists, and columnists who engage with Russian state media and think
Two staff from Russia's state propaganda platform RT were indicted in the United States for paying $10-million to a Canadian-owned firm to create and amplify Kremlin-aligned content in Canada and the U.S. Image courtesy of RT

Wake up, Canada: there’s no health or wealth without proper funding of health research

  • Canada provides significantly more in annual subsidies for the fossil fuel industry than it does to conduct the research that underpins the health and
Opinion | BY ABRAHAM FUKS, JOHN BERGERON, ISG SENATOR STANLEY KUTCHER | September 11, 2024
Minister of Health Mark Holland makes an announcement about the Canadian Dental Care Program at Dentistry at Bank St in Ottawa on Aug. 7, 2024.
Minister of Health Mark Holland makes an announcement about the Canadian Dental Care Program at Dentistry at Bank St in Ottawa on Aug. 7, 2024.
Health Minister Mark Holland. Funding for investigator-driven health research is the water that is necessary to produce the fruits of health and wealth for Canadians, write Abraham Fuks, John Bergeron, and Senator Stanley Kutcher. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Wake up, Canada: there’s no health or wealth without proper funding of health research

Opinion | BY ABRAHAM FUKS, JOHN BERGERON, ISG SENATOR STANLEY KUTCHER | September 11, 2024
  • Canada provides significantly more in annual subsidies for the fossil fuel industry than it does to conduct the research that underpins the health and

Wake up, Canada: there’s no health or wealth without proper funding of health research

Opinion | BY ABRAHAM FUKS, JOHN BERGERON, ISG SENATOR STANLEY KUTCHER | September 11, 2024
  • Canada provides significantly more in annual subsidies for the fossil fuel industry than it does to conduct the research that underpins the health and
Minister of Health Mark Holland makes an announcement about the Canadian Dental Care Program at Dentistry at Bank St in Ottawa on Aug. 7, 2024.
Health Minister Mark Holland. Funding for investigator-driven health research is the water that is necessary to produce the fruits of health and wealth for Canadians, write Abraham Fuks, John Bergeron, and Senator Stanley Kutcher. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada must expel Russian diplomats, declare Russia a terrorist state

  • The deliberate targeting of young patients and their families is a callous protraction of Russia’s broader attack against the children of Ukraine.
Opinion | BY ISG SENATOR STANLEY KUTCHER, MARCUS KOLGA | July 24, 2024
As far as we know, no one has summoned Russian Ambassador to Canada Oleg Stepanov to address this latest atrocity, write Sen. Stanley Kutcher and Marcus Kolga. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

Canada must expel Russian diplomats, declare Russia a terrorist state

Opinion | BY ISG SENATOR STANLEY KUTCHER, MARCUS KOLGA | July 24, 2024
  • The deliberate targeting of young patients and their families is a callous protraction of Russia’s broader attack against the children of Ukraine.

Canada must expel Russian diplomats, declare Russia a terrorist state

Opinion | BY ISG SENATOR STANLEY KUTCHER, MARCUS KOLGA | July 24, 2024
  • The deliberate targeting of young patients and their families is a callous protraction of Russia’s broader attack against the children of Ukraine.
As far as we know, no one has summoned Russian Ambassador to Canada Oleg Stepanov to address this latest atrocity, write Sen. Stanley Kutcher and Marcus Kolga. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

Building a mental health-literate Canada now

  • Recent federal actions to support mental health care are a welcome start, but will only lead to better outcomes if there is a parallel
Opinion | BY ISG SENATOR STANLEY KUTCHER, YIFENG WEI | July 3, 2024
Ya'ara Saks
Ya'ara Saks
Under the authority of Mental Health and Addictions Minister Ya’ara Saks, the federal government could support the research necessary to develop new mental health literacy applications to fill any gaps, write Sen. Stanley Kutcher and Dr. Yifeng Wei. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Building a mental health-literate Canada now

Opinion | BY ISG SENATOR STANLEY KUTCHER, YIFENG WEI | July 3, 2024
  • Recent federal actions to support mental health care are a welcome start, but will only lead to better outcomes if there is a parallel

Building a mental health-literate Canada now

Opinion | BY ISG SENATOR STANLEY KUTCHER, YIFENG WEI | July 3, 2024
  • Recent federal actions to support mental health care are a welcome start, but will only lead to better outcomes if there is a parallel
Ya'ara Saks
Under the authority of Mental Health and Addictions Minister Ya’ara Saks, the federal government could support the research necessary to develop new mental health literacy applications to fill any gaps, write Sen. Stanley Kutcher and Dr. Yifeng Wei. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Speech is free, but lies cost: misinformation and health systems reform

  • As federal, provincial/territorial discussions on health care proceed over the next months, it is necessary that they include how to effectively identify and address
Opinion | BY ISG SENATOR STANLEY KUTCHER | February 6, 2023
Canada must rapidly create, develop and deploy a politically independent and trusted pan-Canadian health information authority 'that has been informed by our infodemic health misinformation experience,' writes Senator Stan Kutcher. Photograph courtesy of Pixabay

Speech is free, but lies cost: misinformation and health systems reform

Opinion | BY ISG SENATOR STANLEY KUTCHER | February 6, 2023
  • As federal, provincial/territorial discussions on health care proceed over the next months, it is necessary that they include how to effectively identify and address

Speech is free, but lies cost: misinformation and health systems reform

Opinion | BY ISG SENATOR STANLEY KUTCHER | February 6, 2023
  • As federal, provincial/territorial discussions on health care proceed over the next months, it is necessary that they include how to effectively identify and address
Canada must rapidly create, develop and deploy a politically independent and trusted pan-Canadian health information authority 'that has been informed by our infodemic health misinformation experience,' writes Senator Stan Kutcher. Photograph courtesy of Pixabay

Investing in human resources is necessary for improving mental health care

  • Of the thousands of pages written about mental health and COVID, few address one of the key issues that underlies the inability for Canadians
Opinion | BY ISG SENATOR STANLEY KUTCHER | September 29, 2022
Without adequate numbers of qualified mental health-care providers integrated into primary, secondary, and tertiary sectors, nowhere in Canada can people’s needs for rapid access to high quality care be met, writes ISG Senator Stan Kutcher. Image courtesy of Pixabay

Investing in human resources is necessary for improving mental health care

Opinion | BY ISG SENATOR STANLEY KUTCHER | September 29, 2022
  • Of the thousands of pages written about mental health and COVID, few address one of the key issues that underlies the inability for Canadians

Investing in human resources is necessary for improving mental health care

Opinion | BY ISG SENATOR STANLEY KUTCHER | September 29, 2022
  • Of the thousands of pages written about mental health and COVID, few address one of the key issues that underlies the inability for Canadians
Without adequate numbers of qualified mental health-care providers integrated into primary, secondary, and tertiary sectors, nowhere in Canada can people’s needs for rapid access to high quality care be met, writes ISG Senator Stan Kutcher. Image courtesy of Pixabay

Post-election requires thoughtful mental health action

  • Mental health was addressed in most platforms of Canadian political parties during the recent election. The Liberals proposed a “Canada Mental Health Transfer” and
Opinion | BY ISG SENATOR STANLEY KUTCHER | September 29, 2021
Better and more comprehensive data is needed. Developing effective mental health interventions for populations requires valid longitudinal data that separates situationally appropriate distress from challenges that require provision of services, writes Sen. Stan Kutcher. Image courtesy of Pixabay

Post-election requires thoughtful mental health action

Opinion | BY ISG SENATOR STANLEY KUTCHER | September 29, 2021
  • Mental health was addressed in most platforms of Canadian political parties during the recent election. The Liberals proposed a “Canada Mental Health Transfer” and

Post-election requires thoughtful mental health action

Opinion | BY ISG SENATOR STANLEY KUTCHER | September 29, 2021
  • Mental health was addressed in most platforms of Canadian political parties during the recent election. The Liberals proposed a “Canada Mental Health Transfer” and
Better and more comprehensive data is needed. Developing effective mental health interventions for populations requires valid longitudinal data that separates situationally appropriate distress from challenges that require provision of services, writes Sen. Stan Kutcher. Image courtesy of Pixabay

Learning from the mental health challenges of the pandemic

  • The COVID-19 pandemic has led to concerns about potential mental health impacts globally. In Canada, various interventions have been implemented by the federal government intending
Opinion | BY ISG SENATOR STANLEY KUTCHER | April 19, 2021
The lesson to be learned from these predictions is that we must be careful not to extrapolate from historic situations to this pandemic experience. Data, not emotions are needed to help guide policy. Photograph courtesy of Pixabay

Learning from the mental health challenges of the pandemic

Opinion | BY ISG SENATOR STANLEY KUTCHER | April 19, 2021
  • The COVID-19 pandemic has led to concerns about potential mental health impacts globally. In Canada, various interventions have been implemented by the federal government intending

Learning from the mental health challenges of the pandemic

Opinion | BY ISG SENATOR STANLEY KUTCHER | April 19, 2021
  • The COVID-19 pandemic has led to concerns about potential mental health impacts globally. In Canada, various interventions have been implemented by the federal government intending
The lesson to be learned from these predictions is that we must be careful not to extrapolate from historic situations to this pandemic experience. Data, not emotions are needed to help guide policy. Photograph courtesy of Pixabay

Addressing mental illness: what is to be done for our youth?

  • Mental Illness Awareness Week is a time to reflect on achievements in improving outcomes for young people experiencing a mental illness and committing to
Opinion | BY ISG SENATOR STANLEY KUTCHER | October 1, 2020
Mental Illness Awareness Week is a time to reflect on achievements in improving outcomes for young people experiencing a mental illness and committing to improvements yet to be done, writes Senator Stan Kutcher. Photograph courtesy of Pixabay

Addressing mental illness: what is to be done for our youth?

Opinion | BY ISG SENATOR STANLEY KUTCHER | October 1, 2020
  • Mental Illness Awareness Week is a time to reflect on achievements in improving outcomes for young people experiencing a mental illness and committing to

Addressing mental illness: what is to be done for our youth?

Opinion | BY ISG SENATOR STANLEY KUTCHER | October 1, 2020
  • Mental Illness Awareness Week is a time to reflect on achievements in improving outcomes for young people experiencing a mental illness and committing to
Mental Illness Awareness Week is a time to reflect on achievements in improving outcomes for young people experiencing a mental illness and committing to improvements yet to be done, writes Senator Stan Kutcher. Photograph courtesy of Pixabay

Doing what is not known to be effective is not the way forward on suicide prevention

  • In Canada and globally, we will soon be marking suicide prevention day. And while there will be scores of events, gallons of ink used
Opinion | BY ISG SENATOR STANLEY KUTCHER | September 9, 2019
Suicide is a concerning public health and clinical care challenge. We owe it to all people, including those who grieve for loved ones and others who have lost their lives to suicide to put into place interventions that been robustly demonstrated to show positive impact in decreasing rates of suicide, interventions that we know save lives, writes ISG Senator Stanley Kutcher who is also a psychiatrist. Image courtesy of Pixabay

Doing what is not known to be effective is not the way forward on suicide prevention

Opinion | BY ISG SENATOR STANLEY KUTCHER | September 9, 2019
  • In Canada and globally, we will soon be marking suicide prevention day. And while there will be scores of events, gallons of ink used

Doing what is not known to be effective is not the way forward on suicide prevention

Opinion | BY ISG SENATOR STANLEY KUTCHER | September 9, 2019
  • In Canada and globally, we will soon be marking suicide prevention day. And while there will be scores of events, gallons of ink used
Suicide is a concerning public health and clinical care challenge. We owe it to all people, including those who grieve for loved ones and others who have lost their lives to suicide to put into place interventions that been robustly demonstrated to show positive impact in decreasing rates of suicide, interventions that we know save lives, writes ISG Senator Stanley Kutcher who is also a psychiatrist. Image courtesy of Pixabay
More Stories

News

Get free news updates

Opinion

Submit a guest opinion article

resources

Follow us

Advertise

get help

Subscribe
CloseMenu