Cara Smusiak (she/her)

I remember getting the catch-up measles booster in school in 1996. Public health/provincial governments saw a problem and took action to fix it, and we had measles eliminated status 2 years later. None of the leaders in the measles hotspots stepped up this time—and they should be ashamed of that.

From article:
- prov provided 78% of operating revenues for Ont universities in 1987-88
- by 2001 was 36%; in 2022 <25%
- result: lowest per-student funding of any prov in Canada

Canada loses measles elimination status — as does the entire Americas region Canada has formally lost its measles elimination status, the country’s public health agency announced, triggering the loss of that status throughout all of the Americas.

Canada loses Measles elimination status, as does the entire Americas region.

Clinics here have signs warning about Measles but no masks in healthcare

www.statnews.com/2025/11/10/m...

I’m a sample of one, but this has been my experience. Mine is in hyperdrive. Possible histamine issues. Allergy-like reactions to coconut & palm oil & their derivatives—which are in tons of food, medications/vitamins, dental/hair/skincare products, soaps, air purifier/water filter carbon filters…

I was a coms staffer at PSAC when the Harper government slashed the public service — a miserable time for everyone. All it led to was layoffs, followed by the fed govt hiring more temps and expensive consultants. And then eventually hiring back even more people. It takes humans to run a country 🤷‍♀️

The CSA’s revised standard on respirators should help us all breathe easier New draft standards for respirator use recognize the importance of protecting workers and patients in health-care settings, where there is a higher risk of pathogen exposure

Canada is leading in safety with the new draft of the CSA standard on respirators.

@dickzoutman.bsky.social, @juliamwright.bsky.social, @mark-ungrin.bsky.social, and I explain key updates that bring protections up to date with the evidence on respirator use against airborne disease transmission.

CSA Group is an independent, not-for-profit member association. They’re solutions-focused and led by science — which isn’t surprising considering it was originally founded as the Canadian Engineering Standards Association.

This is a huge shame. @teenvogue.com has been doing excellent work — raising the bar for the legacy media outlets that should be (but sadly aren’t) doing this critical work. Those involved in this decision deserve deep scorn.

Not at all. I love neighbourhoods with buildings of various sizes. But the 550m one-way side street I used to live on has four 28/29-storey condos going up—with many more around it. And IDK how planners think infrastructure (hospitals, roads, transit, etc.) is equipped for this.

The USDA is the fail safe for SNAP.

They have a contingency fund to ensure it’s covered in the event of a shutdown.

They’re refusing.

Grocery stores stepped up to try and help by offering discounts to any SNAP recipients and the USDA told them they had to stop.

Starvation as a policy choice.

This ‘minor’ bird flu strain has potential to spark human pandemic Experiments suggests H9N2 has adapted to human cells but cases of person-to-person transmission haven’t been reported yet.

This ‘minor’ bird flu strain has potential to spark human pandemic

Experiments suggests H9N2 has adapted to human cells but cases of person-to-person transmission haven’t been reported yet.

www.nature.com/articles/d41...

On the plus side, a lot of the Blue Jays’ best players will be better rested than the Dodgers’ best for tomorrow’s game.

Something that probably needs to be talked about tomorrow (er, today? but after we’ve all had some damn sleep), is the inconsistency in calls from the home plate umpire. There have been quite a few balls that are called strikes and strikes that are called balls. #worldseries

Toronto food banks saw more than 4 million visits in the last year, including from those working multiple jobs Residents working multiple jobs and even those with post-secondary degrees are struggling to make ends meet, according to report by the Daily Bread Food Bank and North York Harvest Food Bank.

Toronto food banks saw more than 4 million visits in the last year, including from those working multiple jobs

The Walton family (who own Walmart) are worth over $400 billion, yet many of their employees are on SNAP.

Bezos is worth over $400 billion, many Amazon employees require SNAP.

The people who need help are not the problem.

It’s corporate greed. It’s an unwillingness to pay a living wage.

And I want to recognize the @mariners.com. They came to compete every game and played with such sportsmanship. And they deserve the utmost respect for a great season.

a blue jays player stands on the field during a game ALT: a blue jays player stands on the field during a game

As an ’80s baby, I’m THRILLED to see the @bluejays.com going back to the World Series!! 💙 Let’s GOOOOOO!!!

🚨 This is inexplicable news to share. If in Alberta and you want flu and covid shots for NEXT year (2026-2027), you have only until December 15 of THIS year to order them.

This is not incompetence. It’s a deliberate choice to prevent as many people ..

bookvaccine.alberta.ca/vaccine/s/pr...

1/2

Rakhi Pancholi came out swinging on the Wyant Report and highlighted all of its flaws and shortcomings…

It’s worth remembering she’s a lawyer as she takes Danielle Smith’s spin apart.

#abpoli #ableg #cdnpoli

I’ve also got weird immune system issues (incl. a coconut & palm allergy—brutal as they’re in air purifier and Brita filters, toothpaste, medication & much more). And then there are the autonomic nervous system issues, vasospasm, and episodic double vision. “Nobody wants this” sums it up so well.

I’ve fared better than many people with LC. Even so, I went from challenging daily workouts (similar to crossfit) in Feb 2020 to now experiencing fatigue and headaches for 2-3 days after a 15km bike ride. I still have brain fog at times, though it’s a lot better than the first year.

Ontario labour minister attended lobbyist’s wedding after granting his clients millions in training funds Two clients of lobbyist Michael Rudderham have received more than $8.5 million in Skills Development Fund grants, records show

NEW: David Piccini, the minister whose office picks Skills Development Fund recipients, was in Paris this weekend at the wedding of a lobbyist whose clients received millions from that fund.

From me and @charliepinkerton.bsky.social.

www.thetrillium.ca/news/politic...

Manitoba government employee sues province, Canada Life over denial of long-term disability | CBC News A Manitoba government employee who was diagnosed with long COVID and another ailment is suing the province and Canada Life after her request for long-term disability payments was denied by the insuran...

Woman with Long Covid who works for the province suing over denial of long-term disability. One of the *many* ways that there is absolutely no help available for the millions of people disabled by Covid.

cbc.ca/1.7648843

An illustration of three masked workers. Text reads, "Tell WorkSafeBC to use the newest standard for N95s and other respirators. Give written feedback by September 26, 2025. Register for the virtual public hearings on Sept. 24." More info and talking points: DoNoHarmBC.ca

ADVOCACY OPPORTUNITY: WorkSafeBC is revising some regulations, including its standard on respirators! However, it plans to use an outdated edition on N95s.

Background and how you can help 🧵:

Joy Ann Reid should be on this list, too.

We also need to recognize that some people decline help because previous experiences with receiving “help” have been deeply traumatizing.

'It's like Bernardo,' officer says as Haaima trial resumes – Kingston News (Kingston, Ontario) The "mega trial" of Michael Mark Haaima resumed Tuesday, Sep. 2, 2025, after a two-week summer hiatus, with testimony from the boyfriend of one of Haaima's alleged victims.

In Kingston, there's a trial happening that's getting barely any attention. Even I just heard of it!

40yr old tech entrepreneur Michael Haaima is facing *98* charges for sexual assault and related offences committed against *28 women and girls* between '07 and '22.

MAJOR content warning.

The mRNAs tend to make my long COVID worse; Novavax has been fine. For other people, it’s the opposite — so it’s just really important to have a variety of vax options available.

This is great news!! 🎉 But the work doesn’t stop here. Next task: Advocating for Novavax access across Canada. Many immunocompromised people and those who’ve reacted to Pfizer/Moderna need the protein-based vax.

I love Elections Canada, but there are some senseless riding boundaries. e.g., My city is populous enough to be one riding, but it's split in two, with surrounding rural areas making up the balance of each riding. It's very difficult for an MP/MPP to effectively represent both urban and rural needs.