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Introduction Methods Results Discussion and Conclusions This study aimed to assess the impact of the implementation of legally sanctioned supervised consumption sites (SCS) in the Canadian province of Ontario on opioid‐related deaths, emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalisations at the public health unit (PHU) level.Monthly rates per 100,000 population of opioid‐related deaths, ED visits and hospitalisations for PHUs in Ontario between December 2013 and March 2022 were collected. Aggregated and individual analyses of PHUs with one or more SCS were conducted, with PHUs that instituted an SCS being matched to control units that did not. Autoregressive integrated moving average models were used to estimate the impact of SCS implementation on opioid‐related deaths, ED visits and hospitalisations.Twenty‐one legally sanctioned SCS were implemented across nine PHUs in Ontario during the study period. Interrupted time series analyses showed no statistically significant changes in opioid‐related death rates in aggregated analyses of intervention PHUs (increase of 0.02 deaths/100,000 population/month; p = 0.27). Control PHUs saw a significant increase of 0.38 deaths/100,000 population/month; p < 0.001. No statistically significant changes were observed in the rates of opioid‐related ED visits in intervention PHUs (decrease of 0.61 visits/100,000 population/month; p = 0.39) or controls (increase of 0.403 visits; p = 0.76). No statistically significant changes to the rates of opioid‐related hospitalisations were observed in intervention PHUs (0 hospitalisations/100,000 population/month; p = 0.98) or controls (decrease of 0.05 hospitalisations; p = 0.95).This study did not find significant mortality or morbidity effects associated with SCS availability at the population level in Ontario. In the context of a highly toxic drug supply, additional interventions will be required to reduce opioid‐related harms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This pan-Canadian study examines the information practices of STEM-trained immigrant women to Canada as they navigate workfinding and workplace integration. Our study focuses on a population of highly skilled immigrant women from across Canada and uses an information practice lens to examine their lived experiences of migration and labour market integration. As highly trained STEM professionals in pursuit of employment, our participants have specific needs and challenges, and as we explore these, we consider the intersection of their information practices with government policies, settlement services and the hiring practices of STEM employers. Design/methodology/approach: We conducted a qualitative study using in-depth interviews with 74 immigrant women across 13 Canadian provinces and territories to understand the nature of their engagement with employment-seeking in STEM sectors. This article reports the findings related to the settlement and information experiences of the immigrant women as they navigate new information landscapes. Findings: As immigrants, as women and as STEM professionals, the experiences of the 74 participants reflect both marginality and privilege. The reality of their intersectional identities is that these women may not be well-served by broader settlement resources targeting newcomers, but neither are the specific conventions of networking and job-seeking in the STEM sectors in Canada fully apparent or accessible to them. The findings also point to the broader systemic and contextual factors that participants have to navigate and that shape in a major way their workfinding journeys. Originality/value: The findings of this pan-Canadian study have theoretical and practical implications for policy and research. Through interviews with these STEM professionals, we highlight the barriers and challenges of an under-studied category of migrants (the highly skilled and "desirable" type of immigrants). We provide a critical discussion of their settlement experiences and expose the idiosyncrasies of a system that claims to value skilled talent while structurally making it very difficult to deliver on its promises to recruit and retain highly qualified personnel. Our findings point to specific aspects of these skilled professionals' experiences, as well as the broader systemic and contextual factors that shape their workfinding journey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of national boundaries has been employed extensively in the social sciences, with most research focusing on the host society's perspective. This study innovates by measuring immigrants’ perceptions of how boundaries of their host nation are drawn and examining how such perceptions impact their national identifications in a multinational context, more specifically in the province of Quebec in Canada. It relies on a stratified sample of first- (n = 1129) and second-generation immigrants (n = 1286) as well as non-immigrants (n = 1472). We show that boundary perceptions impact the availability and attractiveness of different identity options, including identification with Quebec, the country of origin, and Canada. First, while perceptions of ascriptive boundaries to Quebec push first- and second-generation immigrants away from Quebec identity, the reactive effect of strengthening identification with the country of origin and Canada is limited. Second, although the second generation perceives Quebec boundaries as more ascriptive than the first generation, it is not more strongly impacted by their boundary perceptions in their identifications. Third, perceptions of attainable boundaries promote all three national identifications, but only for the first generation. Finally, we demonstrate that attention to boundary perceptions adds important explanatory leverage beyond the impact that discrimination has on national identifications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The orange wheat blossom midge, Sitodiplosis mosellana (Géhin) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), is a significant wheat pest in the Prairie Provinces of Canada and northern regions of the USA. Wheat phenology plays a critical role in wheat midge oviposition. We hypothesized that S. mosellana oviposition behaviour is influenced by volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by wheat at two adjacent wheat growth stages: preanthesis and postanthesis. A higher number of S. mosellana eggs laid on preanthesis than postanthesis spikes in an oviposition choice experiment using the susceptible spring wheat cultivar 'Roblin'. In preanthesis, wheat emitted higher amounts of Z-3-hexenyl acetate (Z3-06:OAc) than at the postanthesis stage. Higher amounts of methyl ketones such as 2-tridecanone, 2-pentadecanone, and 2-undecanone were emitted by wheat in the postanthesis stage and these VOCs were sensitive to S. mosellana antennae used in the Gas Chromatography-Electroantennographic Detection. Females were attracted to synthetic Z3-06:OAc but were deterred by 2-tridecanone relative to the solvent control in the vertical Y-tube olfactometer. 2-Undecanone and 2-pentadecanone did not show any attractiveness or deterrence. In a no-choice oviposition experiment, fewer eggs were laid in preanthesis wheat exposed to a synthetic VOC blend of Z3-06:OAc, 2-undecanone, 2-tridecanone, and 2-pentadecanone at the concentrations released by postanthesis spikes. This study shows that the reduction of Z3-06:OAc, in the VOC mix, and possibly the increase in 2-tridecanone, are likely responsible for the reduction in oviposition on postanthesis wheat. These results elucidate for the first time the role of specific VOCs mediating S. mosellana oviposition in preanthesis and postanthesis wheat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infertility is a common diagnosis: in its original, heteronormative definition, it is known to impact about 1 in 6 couples worldwide. Governments across Canada and beyond have been increasingly providing support for those undergoing fertility treatment, and BC is the most recent province to announce funding, beginning in 2025. As the amount of proposed funding is not sufficient to cover treatment for all who seek it, we look to examples from other provinces and countries to guide us in forming criteria that balance fair access with likelihood of successful treatment. A majority of Canadian provinces currently provide publicly funded fertility care, albeit with highly variable models. Quebec previously introduced a model with generous coverage, including up to three cycles of in vitro fertilization (IVF), along with medications, associated procedures, and embryo transfers for each live birth. Due to high costs, this funding was removed and reintroduced in 2021 with a more restrictive model, as well as age cutoffs for IVF and embryo transfers. In Ontario, the current funding model was introduced in 2015 and covers intrauterine insemination cycles and one cycle of IVF in patients younger than 43 years of age. Other provinces have offered a fertility treatment tax credit. While the BC announcement stated that one cycle of IVF with medications will be covered, the details on how this finite resource will be distributed are still unclear. We hope BC will consider the lessons learned from other provinces and countries and implement a program that is fair and accessible to those who need it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Canadian E-waste recycling data from 2012 to 2020 are systematically assessed. • Regression and Mann-Kendall analyses are used to quantify the temporal trends. • Both collection points and stewardship organizations have grown exponentially. • The role of public awareness on e-waste recycling varied between provinces. • Operational expenditure and revenue on stewardship resilience should be monitored. Electronic waste recycling companies have proliferated in many countries due to valuable materials present in end-of-life electronic and electrical equipment. This article examined the business characteristics and management performance of Electronic Products Recycling Association (EPRA), a Canadian nationwide electronic product stewardship organization. The organization's annual performance reports, from 2012 to 2020, for nine Canadian provinces in which it currently operates were aggregated and analyzed. Temporal analysis using regression and Mann-Kendall tests were employed, and five characteristics of EPRA's business were analyzed, including e-waste products collected, number of drop-off locations, efforts to build public awareness, operating expenses, and growth of e-waste stewardship. Results show a decline in the amount of e-waste collected across the provinces, except in New Brunswick, which started its program in 2017. The Mann-Kendall test revealed declining temporal trends in most provinces. Although the collection/drop off sites and stewardship organizations increased astronomically over the study period in Canada, the amounts of e-waste collected decreased. We found that public awareness generally did not increase the amount of e-waste collected, and these campaigns only appeared to be effective in jurisdictions with good accessibility of e-waste recycling. Processing cost accounted for the majority of the e-waste management budget in Canada, and different factors affected the financial success of the stewards differently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The use of osimertinib in the first-line (1L) setting is an effective treatment option for sensitizing EGFR-mutations (EGFRm+) and has significantly altered the standard of care practice for EGFRm+ disease in Canada. Unfortunately, acquired resistance to osimertinib is almost universal, and outcomes are disparate. Post-progression treatment patterns and the outcome of real-world Canadian EGFRm+ patients receiving 1L osimertinib were the focus of this retrospective review. Methods: The Glans-Look Lung Cancer Research database was used to identify and collect demographic, clinical, treatment, and outcome data on EGFRm+ patients who received 1L osimertinib in the Canadian province of Alberta between 2018 and 2022. Results: A total of 150 patients receiving 1L osimertinib were identified. In total, 86 developed progressive disease, with 56 (65%) continuing systemic therapy, 73% continuing osimertinib, and 27% switching to second-line (2L) systemic therapy. Patients were similar both in clinical characteristics at 1L osimertinib initiation and patterns of treatment failure at progression; those continuing 1L osimertinib post-progression had a longer time to progression (13.5 vs. 8.8 months, p = 0.05) and subsequent post-osimertinib initiation survival (34.7 vs. 22.8 months, p = 0.11). Conclusions: The continuation of osimertinib post-progression is an effective disease management strategy for select real-world EGFRm+ patients, providing continued clinical benefit, potentially due to different underlying disease pathogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Venetoclax is a first-in-class B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2) inhibitor approved as continuous monotherapy and in combination with rituximab as fixed-treatment duration for relapsed and refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (R/R CLL). DEVOTE was a 24-week, multicenter observational study (NCT03310190) evaluating the safety, healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients initiating venetoclax for R/R CLL in Canada. Overall, 89 patients received 1 dose of venetoclax; 80% had prior exposure (42% resistant) to ibrutinib. Biochemical tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) occurred in five patients. We observed differences in hospitalization across Canadian provinces including in patients at low risk for TLS with no clear impact on TLS incidence. Additionally, a rapid and sustained improvement in several domains of HRQoL was observed during venetoclax initiation. Early adoption of venetoclax was mainly for R/R CLL patients with few treatment options; nonetheless, acceptable toxicity and a positive impact on HRQoL were observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The drug toxicity crisis continues to accelerate across Canada, with rapid increases in opioid-related harms following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. We sought to describe trends in the burden of opioid-related deaths across Canada throughout the pandemic, comparing these trends by province or territory, age, and sex. Methods: We conducted a repeated cross-sectional analysis of accidental opioid-related deaths between Jan. 1, 2019, and Dec. 31, 2021, across 9 Canadian provinces and territories using aggregated national data. Our primary measure was the burden of premature opioid-related death, measured by potential years of life lost. Our secondary measure was the proportion of all deaths attributable to opioids; we used the Cochrane–Armitage test for trend to compare proportions. Results: Between 2019 and 2021, the annual number of opioid-related deaths increased from 3007 to 6222 and years of life lost increased from 126 115 to 256 336 (from 3.5 to 7.0 yr of life lost per 1000 population). In 2021, the highest number of years of life lost was among males (181 525 yr) and people aged 30–39 years (87 045 yr). In 2019, we found that 1.7% of all deaths among those younger than 85 years were related to opioids, rising to 3.2% in 2021. Significant increases in the proportion of deaths related to opioids were observed across all age groups (p < 0.001), representing 29.3% and 29.0% of deaths among people aged 20–29 and 30–39 years in 2021, respectively. Interpretation: Across Canada, the burden of premature opioid-related deaths doubled between 2019 and 2021, representing more than one-quarter of deaths among younger adults. The disproportionate loss of life in this demographic group highlights the critical need for targeted prevention efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Slave Province in Canada is an Archean granite–supracrustal terrane at the northwestern corner of the Canadian Shield. It is bordered by the Thelon–Taltson orogen (2.0 to 1.9 Ga) to the southeast and the Wopmay orogen (1.9 to 1.8 Ga) to the west. Acasta gneisses, exposed in the westernmost Slave Province, and the Wopmay rocks, located close to the gneisses, were systematically collected for K–Ar and laser step-heating 40Ar/39Ar single-crystal analyses of the biotite and amphibole. The K–Ar biotite ages of the four Wopmay samples range from 1816 ± 18 Ma to 1854 ± 26 Ma. The 40Ar/39Ar biotite analyses of the three Wopmay samples yield plateau ages of 1826 ± 21 Ma, 1886 ± 13 Ma, and 1870 ± 18 Ma. These ages fall within the reported U–Pb zircon age range of the Wopmay orogen. The K–Ar biotite ages of the fifteen Acasta gneisses range from 1779 ± 25 Ma to 1877 ± 26 Ma, except for one younger sample (1711 ± 25 Ma). The 40Ar/39Ar analyses of the biotite crystals from three samples give the plateau ages of 1877 ± 8 Ma, 1935 ± 14 Ma, and 1951 ± 11 Ma. The K–Ar amphibole ages from twelve samples range from 1949 ± 19 Ma to 1685 ± 25 Ma. Two samples of them give ages older than the zircon U-Pb age of Hepburn plutons. The 40Ar/39Ar analyses of the amphibole crystals show varied age relations. The two samples give plateau ages of 1814 ± 22 Ma and 1964 ± 12 Ma. Some samples exhibit apparent old ages of ~2000 Ma in the middle temperature fractions. These old fractions result from the amphibole crystals, originally formed in the Archean, being affected by the thermal events during the Wopmay orogeny but not fully resetting. These observations suggest that the K–Ar system ages of the biotite and amphibole in the Archean Acasta gneiss were rejuvenated during the Paleoproterozoic ages. The Discussion explores the possibility that the heat source rejuvenating the K–Ar system ages may have arisen due to asthenospheric extrusion into the wedge mantle, a process likely triggered by subduction rollback. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the ubiquity of the concept of the complete community or neighborhood in Canadian planning practice and the recent spread of the idea in the United States, few scholars have examined the idea's development and implications. Based on a content and thematic analysis of 102 plans and policies representing all Canadian provinces and territories, along with 205 planner interviews, I argue that the complete community represents an integrative, scalable, and flexible planning theory originating from practice. Borrowing principles from other theories (such as smart growth and sustainable development), practitioners built the complete community idea bottom-up, as a persuasive rhetorical vehicle for describing planning intentions and justifying higher densities in positive ways. Contemporary planning values increasing urban densities, mix, and walkability. Here I illustrate how planners adapted to community resistance to ideas generated by external experts—and to efforts to increase growth and densities—by articulating a socially and politically positive option for urban transformation. The complete community concept places a halo over density, promising vibrancy and livability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:Child and youth mental health problems represent a substantial burden of illness in Canada, with appropriate services only inconsistently available. Charitable organizations, such as Kids Help Phone (KHP), are, therefore, crucial to filling system gaps by offering 24/7 phone, chat, texting, and peer-to-peer services. Methods:We describe the services provided by KHP, the volume of use for each service, and compare usage across Canada's provinces and territories for a 5-year period from January 2018 to December 2022. Trends seen during the COVID-19 pandemic are highlighted. Results:More than 1.5 million total number of conversations were held across texting, chat, and phone services over 5 years. Considerable growth is demonstrated between 2018 and 2022, and many of the highest peaks in volume occurred in March or April of 2020, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The highest proportional volumes were consistently from the northern territories. Discussion:KHP cannot provide specialized or repeat services, nor can it alone meet the scale of unmet youth mental health needs across the country. Nonetheless, KHP plays a pivotal role in the Canadian mental health system. Efforts to understand the role that KHP and other e-mental health services like it play within the national mental health landscape should be intensified to aid in understanding unmet needs, identify system gaps, and make needed enhancements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The spread of SARS-CoV-2 has been studied at unprecedented levels worldwide. In jurisdictions where molecular analysis was performed on large scales, the emergence and competition of numerous SARS-CoV-2lineages have been observed in near real-time. Lineage identification, traditionally performed from clinical samples, can also be determined by sampling wastewater from sewersheds serving populations of interest. Variants of concern (VOCs) and SARS-CoV-2 lineages associated with increased transmissibility and/or severity are of particular interest. Method: Here, we consider clinical and wastewater data sources to assess the emergence and spread of VOCs in Canada retrospectively. Results: We show that, overall, wastewater-based VOC identification provides similar insights to the surveillance based on clinical samples. Based on clinical data, we observed synchrony in VOC introduction as well as similar emergence speeds across most Canadian provinces despite the large geographical size of the country and differences in provincial public health measures. Conclusion: In particular, it took approximately four months for VOC Alpha and Delta to contribute to half of the incidence. In contrast, VOC Omicron achieved the same contribution in less than one month. This study provides significant benchmarks to enhance planning for future VOCs, and to some extent for future pandemics caused by other pathogens, by quantifying the rate of SARS-CoV-2 VOCs invasion in Canada. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Canadian provinces are required to regulate their power sectors using carbon pricing systems that meet national minimum stringency standards, which are set by the federal government. A diverse set of systems has emerged as a result. However, there has been limited assessment of how different pricing mechanisms impact the evolution of Canada's electricity system. To address this gap, we use an electricity system planning model called COPPER and a scenario-based approach to assess if, and to what extent, different policy regimes impact power sector greenhouse gas emissions and costs. Our results show that carbon pricing systems currently in place lead to significant carbon reductions over the long term, provided that free emissions allocations are reduced. However, the cost-optimal pathway for the power sector differs across provinces depending on the carbon pricing mechanism. Some provinces achieve least-cost emissions reductions by switching from high-carbon technologies to renewables, while others are better served by replacing high-carbon technologies with low-carbon fossil fuel alternatives. Further, provinces that implement cap-and-trade systems may affect the transitions of interconnected jurisdictions. Power sector climate policy design should reflect the heterogeneity of available assets, resources, and neighbouring approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With limited phosphorus (P) supplies, increasing P demand, and issues with P runoff and pollution, developing an ability to reuse the large amounts of residual P stored in agricultural soils is increasingly important. In this study, we investigated the potential for residual soil P to maintain crop yields while reducing P applications and losses in Canada. Using a P cycling model coupled with a soil P dynamics model, we analyzed soil P dynamics over 110 years across Canada's provinces. We found that using soil residual P may reduce mineral P demand as large as 132 Gg P year−1 (29%) in Canada, with the highest potential for reducing P applications in the Atlantic provinces, Quebec, Ontario, and British Columbia. Using residual soil P would result in a 21% increase in Canada's cropland P use efficiency. We expected that the Atlantic provinces and Quebec would have the greatest runoff P loss reduction with use of residual soil P, with the average P loss rate decreasing from 4.24 and 1.69 kg ha−1 to 3.45 and 1.38 kg ha−1, respectively. Ontario, Manitoba, and British Columbia would experience relatively lower reductions in P loss through use of residual soil P, with the average runoff P loss rate decreasing from 0.44, 0.36, and 4.33 kg ha−1 to 0.19, 0.26, and 4.14 kg ha−1, respectively. Our study highlights the importance of considering residual soil P as a valuable resource and its potential for reducing P pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The package PbIso is a free and open R toolbox for commonly used calculations and plots of Pb–Pb isotope data and for generating Pb evolution models. In this paper, we review Pb isotope systematics and the calculations that are commonly used, such as model age, model source μ (238U/204Pb), time-integrated κ (232Th/238U), and initial Pb isotope ratios. These equations are implemented into R functions in the package PbIso. In addition, functions are provided for generating Pb evolution models, paleoisochrons, and isochrons. This allows users to apply calculations to their data in a straightforward way while providing transparency and flexibility of the calculations used. We have implemented some basic features of the PbIso package into an online shiny R application (see https://shereearmistead.github.io/software/pbiso), which makes it easy for users without any R experience to use these calculations with their own data and to generate plots. We have provided a case study from the Superior Province in Canada, showing how different Pb evolution models can be generated in PbIso and compared to Pb isotope data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lyme disease cases reported in seven Canadian provinces from 2009 to 2019 through the Lyme Disease Enhanced Surveillance System are described herein by demographic, geography, time and season. The proportion of males was greater than females. Bimodal peaks in incidence were observed in children and older adults (≥60 years of age) for all clinical signs except cardiac manifestations, which were more evenly distributed across age groups. Proportions of disease stages varied between provinces: Atlantic provinces reported mainly early Lyme disease, while Ontario reported equal proportions of early and late-stage Lyme disease. Early Lyme disease cases were mainly reported between May through November, whereas late Lyme disease were reported in December through April. Increased awareness over time may have contributed to a decrease in the proportion of cases reporting late disseminated Lyme disease. These analyses help better describe clinical features of reported Lyme disease cases in Canada. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elementary physical and health education (PHE) teachers play key roles in establishing inclusive learning environments. However, how they attend to inclusive pedagogy are not fully highlighted in the research literature. This study examined how elementary PHE teachers understand their roles in inclusion and how they attend to day-to-day inclusive pedagogy. Overall, 11 elementary PHE teachers from a province in Eastern Canada were invited to participate in an exploratory qualitative research study. Data were collected through one-on-one interviews and analysed thematically. Participants highlighted four areas where they attend day-to-day to enhance inclusiveness in their teaching: (1) plan universally from the beginning; (2) share ownership with students by providing students with leadership roles, responsibilities, and choices in learning; (3) create positive relationships and partnerships with students and co-educators; and (4) be responsive and reflexive in teaching. This study highlighted the experiences and insights of Canadian elementary PHE teachers in pursuing and enacting inclusive pedagogy. The findings will provide other in-service and pre-service elementary PHE teachers with pragmatic ideas of ensuring and/or strengthening inclusive PHE. The acquired empirical knowledge may also inform teachers in other disciplines, as well as school administrators, policy-makers, and stakeholders when developing/implementing future policies and actions concerning inclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The whitemarked tussock moth is a pest of balsam fir in the Maritime provinces of Canada, and also poses a threat to human health because the hairs on the larvae are urticating (i.e., they irritate the skin). In this manuscript, we improve a known lure, based on the pheromone of this insect, with the aim to use it as a widespread monitoring/detection method. Because the female-produced sex pheromone of this moth is unstable, lures containing this pheromone only last a day or two in the field; however, our detection method takes advantage of a synthetic propheromone, or pheromone precursor, that is converted to the pheromone by acid within the lure and releases it over time, circumventing the problem of its instability. We found that our lure formulation and pheromone delivery method is more effective as a lure for whitemarked tussock moth than the control treatments in our field study. The whitemarked tussock moth (WMTM), Orgyia leucostigma (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Erebidae), is an economic pest in Nova Scotia, Canada, where it undergoes periodic outbreaks defoliating several tree species of economic value, including balsam fir, Abies balsamea (L.) Miller (Pinaceae). Herein is described a releasing device for the WMTM sex pheromone (Z,Z)-6, 9-heneicosadien-11-one based on a rubber septum, which converts pheromone precursors, such as acetals, namely (Z,Z)-11,11-dimethoxy-6,9-heneicosadiene and (Z,Z)-6,9-heneicosadien-11-one ethylene ketal, to the pheromone itself by the action of acetic acid and releases it over time. The pheromone is unstable in nature and, consequently, lures made with this compound will only attract WMTM for a day or two. The two pheromone precursors, however, are more stable, and are converted slowly into the pheromone by acetic acid impregnated in the releasing device, or by acidic conditions in the environment. The two pheromone precursors were synthesized in 2019 using a modified, previously published approach. Field trapping studies conducted from 2019–22 showed that traps baited with rubber septa loaded with either (Z,Z)-11,11-dimethoxy-6,9-heneicosadiene by itself or (Z,Z)-6,9-heneicosadien-11-one ethylene ketal plus acetic acid consistently caught significantly more WMTM than traps baited with blank septa in most experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Comprehensiveness of primary care has been declining, and much of the blame has been placed on early-career family physicians and their practice choices. To better understand early-career family physicians' practice choices in Canada, we sought to identify the factors that most influence their decisions about how to practice. Methods: We conducted a qualitative study using framework analysis. Family physicians in their first 10 years of practice were recruited from three Canadian provinces: British Columbia, Ontario, and Nova Scotia. Interview data were coded inductively and then charted onto a matrix in which each participant's data were summarized by code. Results: Of the 63 participants that were interviewed, 24 worked solely in community-based practice, 7 worked solely in focused practice, and 32 worked in both settings. We identified four practice characteristics that were influenced (scope of practice, practice type and model, location of practice, and practice schedule and work volume) and three categories of influential factors (training, professional, and personal). Conclusions: This study demonstrates the complex set of factors that influence practice choices by early-career physicians, some of which may be modifiable by policymakers (e.g., policies and regulations) while others are less so (e.g., family responsibilities). Participants described individual influences from family considerations to payment models to meeting community needs. These findings have implications for both educators and policymakers who seek to support and expand comprehensive care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 19A is a highly diverse, often antimicrobial-resistant Gram-positive bacterium which can cause invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD). In 2021, public health authorities in the Canadian province of Québec observed an increase of serotype 19A IPD in children <5 years. The purpose of this study was to determine the clonal composition of serotype 19A isolates collected from this age group in Québec, from 2016 to 2021. Forty-one and 37 IPD isolates from children <5 years from Québec and the remainder of Canada, respectively, were sequenced using the Illumina NextSeq platform. Phylogenetic analysis using SNVPhyl identified three clusters, corresponding to three common clones of serotype 19A: CC199, CC320 and ST695. CC199, predominantly represented by ST416, accounted for similar proportions of serotype 19A isolates collected from children in Québec (19.5 %) and other Canadian jurisdictions (OCJs, 21.6 %), with significant presence of ermB (62.5 % and 60 % of ST416 isolates, respectively). CC320 was more commonly identified from OCJs in comparison to Québec (18.9 % vs. 7.3 %, respectively), but were highly antimicrobial-resistant regardless of region. ST695 was the most common clone of serotype 19A collected in Québec from children <5 years, representing 65.9 % of isolates collected over the study period (40.5 % of isolates collected in OCJs). Phylogenetic analysis identified geographical differences in ST695 across Canada; including a large clade specific to Québec (with both susceptible and macrolide-resistant [ ermB ] subclades), and a separate macrolide-resistant (mefA) clade associated with OCJs. The Québec-specific ermB -ST695 clone represented 48.1 % of ST695 collected from the province. Continued genomic surveillance of S. pneumoniae serotype 19A is required to: i) track the prevalence and clonal composition of serotype 19A in Québec in future years; ii) characterize the clonal distribution of serotype 19A in adult populations; and iii) monitor whether the currently geographically restricted ermB -ST695 clone observed in Québec expands to OCJs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged traditional vaccine guidance infrastructure. • NACI made many strategic adaptations to facilitate timely vaccine advice in Canada. • The pandemic highlighted critical roles for NITAGs in vaccine program design. • Learning from COVID-19 pandemic adaptations, we see a roadmap for future pandemics. The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged traditional vaccine guidance infrastructure and frameworks, and added urgency and complexity to the operation of National Immunization Technical Advisory Groups (NITAGs). Canada's National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) provides immunization guidance to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) who publicly shares expert and evidence-informed guidance with Canadian provinces and territories. Throughout the pandemic, NACI and PHAC implemented many adaptations to meet urgent needs for pandemic vaccine guidance. In this paper, we describe: structural adaptations in response to the accelerated pace and amount of work required to issue recommendations that were timed around product authorizations and dynamic epidemiology; technical adaptations in response to rapidly evolving evidence of variable quality which required close monitoring, and which promoted reliance on basic vaccine principles due to incomplete direct evidence; the need to provide nimble advice (e.g., off-label recommendations, preferential recommendations); communications adaptations (e.g. identify sustainable spokespeople for the committee, receive stakeholder feedback, and ensure urgent nuanced advice was communicated to a diverse audience); and research adaptations focussing on solutions to constrained supply (e.g. prioritisation, extended intervals, and heterologous schedules). The early pandemic vaccine experience has created a roadmap of lessons and adaptations that should be leveraged in future pandemic vaccine programs, and has highlighted the essential role of NITAGs to complement regulatory structures during pandemics to ensure timely, impactful, and evidence-informed public health vaccine guidance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The selective use of potato crop models is a key factor in increasing potato production. This requires a better understanding of the synergies and trade-off of crop management while accounting for the controlling effects of potato genetic and agro-climatic factors. Over the years, crop modeling for potato has relied on historical data and traditional management approaches. Improved modeling techniques have recently been exploited to target specific yield goals based on historical climatic records, future climate uncertainties and weather forecasts. However, climate change and new sources of information motivate better modeling strategies that might take advantage of the vast sources of information in the spectrum of actual, optimal and potential yield and potato management methodologies in a more systematic way. In this connection, two questions warrant interest: (i) how to deal with the variability of crop models relevant to their structure, data requirement and crop-soil-environmental factors, (ii) how to provide robustness to the selection process of a model for specific applications under unexpected change of their structure, data requirement and climatic factors. In this review, the different stages of potato model development are described. Thirty-three crop growth models are reviewed and their usage and characteristics are summarized. An overview of the literature is given, and a specific example is worked out for illustration purposes to identity key models suitable for potato management in the Atlantic provinces of Canada. Based on a categorical principal component analysis (CatPCA) procedure three potato models representing three principal components (PCs) were identified which will be useful for future potato production and yield simulation in this geographic area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the greater visibility of sexual and gender minorities, due to data limitations, the quantitative literature on their citizenship outcomes is very limited. Using a large original survey of Canadian sexual and gender minorities and the Canadian General Social Survey, this article first examines the extent of political inclusion of sexual and gender minorities, as measured by sense of belonging to Canada and the province of residence, likelihood of voting, and confidence in the police and the justice system. Sexual and gender minorities are generally found to have a markedly weaker sense of belonging to Canada and confidence in its institutions. Next, these patterns are re‐examined accounting for the degree of outness. The results indicate considerable discrepancies across sexual and gender minorities in how outness affects their citizenship outcomes. In particular, it seems that the sociopolitical profile of these groups plays an important mediating role in the effects of outness on their citizenship outcomes. Related Articles: Burnett, Craig M., and Aaron S. King. 2015. "The Personal Politics of Same‐Sex Marriage." Politics & Policy 43(4): 586–610. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12126. Lewis, Gregory B., Marc A. Rogers, and Kenneth Sherrill. 2011. "Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Voters in the 2000 US Presidential Election." Politics & Policy 39(5): 655–77. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1747‐1346.2011.00315.x. Winburn, Jonathan, and Amanda Winburn. 2020. "The Role of Political Ideology in Public Opinion toward Enumerated Antibullying Policies in Public Schools." Politics & Policy 48(3): 442–63. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12355. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unlike other high-income countries, Canada has no national policy for drugs treating rare diseases (orphan drugs). Nevertheless, in 2022, the Canadian government committed to creating a national strategy to make access to these drugs more consistent. Our aim was to study whether recommendations made by the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technology in Health (CADTH) translated into coverage decisions for orphan drugs in Ontario, the largest Canadian province. This study is the first to look at this question for orphan drugs, which are at the center of policy attention. We included 155 orphan drug-indication pairs approved and marketed in Canada between October 2002 and April 2022. Cohen's kappa was used to test the agreement across health technology assessment (HTA) recommendations and coverage decisions in Ontario. Logistic regression was used to test which factors, relevant to decision-makers, might be associated with funding in Ontario. We found only fair agreement between CADTH's recommendations and coverage decisions in Ontario. Although a positive and statistically significant association between favorable HTA recommendations and coverage was found, more than half of the drugs with a negative HTA recommendation were available in Ontario, predominately through specialized funds. Successful pan-Canadian pricing negotiations were a strong predictor of coverage in Ontario. Despite efforts to harmonize access to drugs across Canada, considerable room for improvement remains. Introducing a national strategy for orphan drugs could help increase transparency, consistency, promote collaborations, and make access to orphan drugs a national priority. • Recommendations by the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technology in Health do not always translate to provincial coverage decisions for new drugs. • We explored whether Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technology in Health's recommendations are aligned with coverage decisions for orphan drugs in Ontario. • Negative health technology assessment recommendations did not necessarily translate to no pan-Canadian pricing negotiations. • More than half the drugs with negative health technology assessment recommendations were available in Ontario through specialized funds. • A national strategy for orphan drugs could prioritize access to these treatments at a national level and harmonize access, at least to some extent, across Canada. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a procedural treatment that is potentially life-saving for some patients with severe psychiatric illness. At the start of the global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, ECT practice was remarkably disrupted, putting vulnerable individuals at increased risk of symptom exacerbation and death by suicide. This study aimed to capture the self-reported experiences of psychiatrists based at healthcare facilities across Canadian provinces who were delivering ECT treatments during the first phase of the COVID-19 pandemic (i.e., from mid-March 2020 to mid-May 2020). Methods: A multidisciplinary team of experts developed a survey focusing on five domains: ECT unit operations, decision-making, hospital resources, ECT procedure, and mitigating patient impact. Responses were collected from psychiatrists providing ECT at 67 ECT centres in Canada, grouped by four geographical regions (Ontario, Quebec, Atlantic Canada, and Western Canada). Results: Clinical operations of ECT programs were disrupted across all four regions – however, centres in Atlantic Canada were able to best preserve outpatient and maintenance care, while centres in Western Canada were able to best preserve inpatient and acute care. Similarly, Atlantic and Western Canada demonstrated the best decision-making practices of involving the ECT team and clinical ethicists in the development of pandemic-related guidelines. Across all four regions, ECT practice was affected by the redeployment of professionals, the shortage of personal protective equipment, and the need to enforce social distancing. Attempts to introduce modifications to the ECT delivery room and minimize bag-valve-mask ventilation were consistently reported. All four regions developed a new patient prioritization framework, and Western Canada, notably, aimed to provide ECT to only the most severe cases. Conclusions: The results suggest that ECT provision was disproportionately affected across different parts of Canada. Possible factors that could explain these interregional differences include population, distribution of urban vs. rural areas, pre-pandemic barriers in access to ECT, number of cases, ability to control the spread of infection, and the general reduction in physicians' activities across different areas of health care. Studying these factors in the future will inform how medical centres should respond to public health emergencies and pandemic-related circumstances in the context of procedural treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2021, the ten provinces in Canada enacted COVID-19 vaccine mandates that restricted access to non-essential businesses and services to those that could provide proof of full vaccination to decrease the risk of transmission and provide an incentive for vaccination. This analysis aims to examine the effects of vaccine mandate announcements on vaccine uptake over time by age group and province. Aggregated data from the Canadian COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage Surveillance System (CCVCSS) were used to measure vaccine uptake (defined as the weekly proportion of individuals who received at least one dose) among those 12 years and older following the announcement of vaccination requirements. We performed an interrupted time series analysis using a quasi-binomial autoregressive model adjusted for the weekly number of new COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths to model the effect of mandate announcements on vaccine uptake. Additionally, counterfactuals were produced for each province and age group to estimate vaccine uptake without mandate implementation. The times series models demonstrated significant increases in vaccine uptake following mandate announcement in BC, AB, SK, MB, NS, and NL. No trends in the effect of mandate announcements were observed by age group. In AB and SK, counterfactual analysis showed that announcement were followed by 8 % and 7 % (310,890 and 71,711 people, respectively) increases in vaccination coverage over the following 10 weeks. In MB, NS, and NL, there was at least a 5 % (63,936, 44,054, and 29,814 people, respectively) increase in coverage. Lastly, BC announcements were followed by a 4 % (203,300 people) increase in coverage. Vaccine mandate announcements could have increased vaccine uptake. However, it is difficult to interpret this effect within the larger epidemiological context. Effectiveness of the mandates can be affected by pre-existing levels of uptake, hesitancy, timing of announcements and local COVID-19 activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Case management is one of the most frequently performed interventions to mitigate the negative effects of high healthcare use on patients, primary care providers and the healthcare system. Reviews have addressed factors influencing case management interventions (CMI) implementation and reported common themes related to the case manager role and activities, collaboration with other primary care providers, CMI training and relationships with the patients. However, the heterogeneity of the settings in which CMI have been implemented may impair the transferability of the findings. Moreover, the underlying factors influencing the first steps of CMI implementation need to be further assessed. This study aimed to evaluate facilitators and barriers of the first implementation steps of a CMI by primary care nurses for people with complex care needs who frequently use healthcare services. Methods: A qualitative multiple case study was conducted including six primary care clinics across four provinces in Canada. In-depth interviews and focus groups with nurse case managers, health services managers, and other primary care providers were conducted. Field notes also formed part of the data. A mixed thematic analysis, deductive and inductive, was carried out. Results: Leadership of the primary care providers and managers facilitated the first steps of the of CMI implementation, as did the experience and skills of the nurse case managers and capacity development within the teams. The time required to establish CMI was a barrier at the beginning of the CMI implementation. Most nurse case managers expressed apprehension about developing an "individualized services plan" with multiple health professionals and the patient. Clinic team meetings and a nurse case managers community of practice created opportunities to address primary care providers' concerns. Participants generally perceived the CMI as a comprehensive, adaptable, and organized approach to care, providing more resources and support for patients and better coordination in primary care. Conclusion: Results of this study will be useful for decision makers, care providers, patients and researchers who are considering the implementation of CMI in primary care. Providing knowledge about first steps of CMI implementation will also help inform policies and best practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The implementation of school reforms to advance reconciliation with Indigenous peoples provides an opportunity to explore what Canadians think is important in framing their identities and values. This paper draws on data from a survey of public perspectives on education for reconciliation activities in two Canadian provinces, Alberta and Saskatchewan. We consider the broader community context within which schools are located. By examining public perspectives, we are able to assess how curricular initiatives related to reconciliation are understood by community members, both as a priority in itself and in relation to other key curricular areas. Informed by critical race theory, our findings suggest that reconciliation is restricted to activities that do not involve extensive change to existing curricular and ideational frameworks. These perspectives exist alongside extensive opposition to reconciliation justified by claims that Indigenous experiences and perspectives are receiving undue attention relative to more pressing educational priorities. Our findings suggest that aims to transform dominant understandings about Canadian history and identity remain far from being fulfilled. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The Brain Tumor Registry of Canada was established in 2016 to enhance infrastructure for surveillance and clinical research on Central Nervous System (CNS) tumors. We present information on primary CNS tumors diagnosed among residents of Canada from 2010 to 2015. Methods Data from 4 provincial cancer registries were analyzed representing approximately 67% of the Canadian population. Age-standardized incidence rates (ASIR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using the 2011 Canadian population age distribution. Net survival was estimated using the Pohar-Perme method. Results A total of 31 644 primary tumors were identified for an ASIR of 22.8 per 100 000 person-years. Nonmalignant tumors made up 47.1% of all classified tumors, with mixed behaviors present in over half of histology groupings. Unclassified were 19.5% of all tumors. The most common histological subtypes are meningiomas (ASIR = 5.5 per 100 000 person-years); followed by glioblastomas (ASIR 4.0 per 100 000 person-years). The overall 5-year net survival rate for CNS tumors was 65.5%; females 70.2% and males 60.4%. GBMs continue to be the most lethal CNS tumors for all sex and age groups. Conclusions The low annual frequency of most CNS tumor subtypes emphasizes the value of population-based data on all primary CNS tumors diagnosed among Canadians. The large number of histological categories including mixed behaviors and the proportion of unclassified tumors emphasizes the need for complete reporting. Variation in incidence and survival across histological groups by sex and age highlights the need for comprehensive and histology-specific reporting. These data can be used to better inform research and health system planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Earth's continental crust has evolved through a series of supercontinent cycles, resulting in a patchwork of Archean cores surrounded by terranes, fragments, and slivers of younger crustal additions. However, the dispersal (and/or stranding) of continental fragments during breakup is not well understood. Inherited structures from previous tectonic activity may explain the generation of continental terranes by controlling first-order deformation during rifting. Here, we explored the influence of lithospheric deformation related to ancient orogenesis, focusing on the impact of the Torngat orogen in the genesis of the Nain Province continental fragment in Eastern Canada. We present three-dimensional continental extension models in the presence of an inherited lithospheric structure and show that a narrow continental terrane could be separated and stranded by deep lithospheric scarring. The results show that continental terranes formed by this method would be limited to a width of 100-150 km, imposed by tectonic conditions during continental suturing. The findings have broad implications, demonstrating an original theory on the fundamental geologic problem of terrane generation and continent breakup. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe changes in the comprehensiveness of services delivered by family physicians in 4 Canadian provinces (British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Nova Scotia) during the periods 1999-2000 and 2017-2018 and explore if changes differ by years in practice. We measured comprehensiveness using province-wide billing data across 7 settings (home, long-term care, emergency department, hospital, obstetrics, surgical assistance, anesthesiology) and 7 service areas (pre/postnatal care, Papanicolaou [Pap] testing, mental health, substance use, cancer care, minor surgery, palliative home visits). Comprehensiveness declined in all provinces, with greater changes in number of service settings than service areas. Decreases were no greater among new-to-practice physicians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: With large volumes of longitudinal data in electronic medical records from diverse patients, primary care is primed for disruption by artificial intelligence (AI) technology. With AI applications in primary care still at an early stage in Canada and most countries, there is a unique opportunity to engage key stakeholders in exploring how AI would be used and what implementation would look like. Objective: To identify the barriers that patients, providers, and health leaders perceive in relation to implementing AI in primary care and strategies to overcome them. Design: 12 virtual deliberative dialogues. Dialogue data were thematically analyzed using a combination of rapid ethnographic assessment and interpretive description techniques. Setting: Virtual sessions. Participants: Participants from eight provinces in Canada, including 22 primary care service users, 21 interprofessional providers, and 5 health system leaders Results: The barriers that emerged from the deliberative dialogue sessions were grouped into four themes: (1) system and data readiness, (2) the potential for bias and inequity, (3) the regulation of AI and big data, and (4) the importance of people as technology enablers. Strategies to overcome the barriers in each of these themes were highlighted, where participatory co-design and iterative implementation were voiced most strongly by participants. Limitations: Only five health system leaders were included in the study and no self-identifying Indigenous people. This is a limitation as both groups may have provided unique perspectives to the study objective. Conclusions: These findings provide insight into the barriers and facilitators associated with implementing AI in primary care settings from different perspectives. This will be vital as decisions regarding the future of AI in this space is shaped. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: In 2018, the sale of non-medical cannabis was authorized in the province of Quebec in Canada, within a public monopoly under the Société Québécoise du Cannabis (SQDC). The objective of this study was to offer a description of the cannabis-using population regarding the sources of cannabis supply and to explore whether at-risk individuals are purchasing cannabis at SQDC. Method: We used data from a cross-sectional, representative population survey (age >18 years, n = 1799), the Enquête Québécoise sur le Cannabis, which was completed between February and June 2019. Analyses involved adjusted binary logistic regressions, incorporating population weights, to assess 7 potential indicators of harm. Results: The vulnerability profiles of SQDC consumers (47.8%) and those acquiring their cannabis elsewhere (52.2%) were similar in terms of frequency of cannabis use (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.46; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.12-1.67), motivation to use (aOR = 0.62; 95% CI = 0.16-2.46), concomitant consumption of other substances (aOR = 0.80; 95% CI = 0.14-4.75), cannabis-impaired driving behaviours (aOR = 0.93; 95% CI = 0.26-3.36), psychological distress (aOR = 0.99; 95% CI = 0.26-3.79), and problematic cannabis use (aOR = 0.46; 95% CI = 0.13-1.64). However, SQDC consumers were more likely to be aware of the cannabinoid content of the product purchased compared to those who acquired their cannabis from other sources (aOR = 4.12; 95% CI = 1.10-15.40). Conclusions: No association was detected between the source of cannabis supply and potential vulnerability indicators of cannabis-related harms, but SQDC consumers were more aware of the cannabinoid content of the products purchased. These results suggest that the regulated government supply in Quebec is reaching a substantial portion of those with potential high vulnerability to harm. Whether this knowledge translates into a reduction in the negative consequences related to consumption is still to be determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides insights into the little‐explored gendered perspective of the parenting practices of Somali immigrant mothers in a Canadian province (Alberta). We use a critical ethnographic methodology and a transnational feminist framework. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with ten Somali mothers aged 18 to 50. Mothers were interviewed about their parenting practices in a post‐migration context, including challenges. Our results show immigrant mothers combine their cultural values with new values from Canada that they find effective. We find gendered differences in how parenting experiences are perceived. Our results suggest the need for anti‐racist and culturally safe health, education, and child policies and practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Directly-funded home care (DF) provides government funds to people who need assistance with the activities of daily living, allowing them to arrange their own services. As programs expand globally, many allow DF clients to hire home care agencies to organize their services rather than finding their own workers. In Canada, half of the DF home care programs allow users to purchase agency services. The goal of this research is to describe the role of agency providers in DF home care in Canada and consider potential equity implications for service access from the perspectives of clients and families. Methods: Framed with intersectionality, the study included online focus groups with families and clients (n = 56) in the two Canadian provinces of Alberta and Manitoba between June 2021-April 2022. All transcripts underwent qualitative thematic analysis using open and axial coding techniques. Each transcript was analyzed by two of three possible independent coders using Dedoose qualitative analysis software. Results: The article presents five thematic findings. First, the focus groups document high rates of satisfaction with the care regardless of whether the client uses agency providers. Second, agency providers mediate some of the administrative barriers and emotional strain of using DF home care, and this is especially important for family caregivers who are working or have additional care responsibilities. Third, there are out-of-pocket expenses reported by most participants, with agency clients describing administrative fees despite lower pay for the frontline care workers. Fourth, agencies are not generally effective for linguistic and/or cultural matching between workers and families. Finally, we find that DF care programs cannot compensate for a limited informal support network. Conclusions: Clients and families often intentionally choose DF home care after negative experiences with other public service options, yet the results suggest that in some Canadian contexts, DF home care is a privilege only afforded to some. Given the growing inequalities that exist in Canadian society, all public home care options must be open to all who need it, irrespective of ability to pay, degree of social support, or competence in the English language. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some slug species are considered a nuisance in agriculture and horticulture worldwide, causing economic losses to growers. Phasmarhabditis is a genus of bacteria-feeding nematodes that can parasitize slugs and snails and thus potentially serve as a biological control agent. Canada had no record of Phasmarhabditis until a survey conducted in 2019 reported a Canadian strain of Phasmarhabditis californica from a single Arion rufus slug. To build on this discovery, we surveyed three major agricultural sites, ten greenhouses, and nurseries in Alberta from June to September 2021 to collect pest slug species and investigate their associated nematodes, specifically P. californica. Slugs were collected from the field and returned to the laboratory to check for emerging nematodes on White traps. We collected 1331 slugs belonging to nine species, with Deroceras reticulatum being the most common. Only 45 (3.38%) slug samples were positive for nematodes, and the majority were identified to species level: Alloionema appendiculatum, Caenorhabditis briggsae, Caenorhabditis elegans, Panagrolaimus subelongatus, and Mesorhabditis spiculigera. We did not isolate P. californica from any of the slugs collected from these survey sites, which included the original site where P. californica was discovered. However, four D. reticulatum slugs retrieved from a residential garden sample were infected with P. californica. These findings suggest the possibility of a fragmented distribution of P. californica across Alberta. Future research should focus on extensively surveying agriculture and horticulture sites and residential gardens in different provinces across Canada. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Telehealth has the potential to support the care of older adults and their desire to age at home by providing a videoconferencing connection to specialist geriatric care. However, more information is needed to determine how telehealth services affect the care of older adults, and how telehealth services for older adults compare to traditional in-person methods of care provision. The aim of this study was to compare telegeriatric and in-person geriatric consultation methods with respect to outcomes and costs.Methods: This was a retrospective chart analysis of consultation letters from patients' first follow-up appointment with a geriatric specialist during the 2017/2018 fiscal year (N = 95) in a health jurisdiction of a Western Canadian province.Results: Patients seen through telehealth and in person were similar in mean age (M = 79.1 and 78.1 years, respectively) and were predominately female. Telegeriatric consultations resulted in more requests for further testing and screening (p = 0.003), new diagnoses (p = 0.002), medication changes (p = 0.009) and requests for follow-up (p = 0.03) compared to in-person consultations. An average one-day clinic with one geriatric specialist providing consultations through telehealth cost Can$1684-$1859 less than an equivalent in-person clinic.Discussion: Although additional research is needed to explain the differences in outcomes further between telehealth and in-person consultations found in this work, telehealth consultations cost substantially less than in-person consultations and are a promising way to improve access to geriatric care for older adults in underserved areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lack of patient access to family physicians in Canada is a concern. The role of recent physician graduates in this problem of supply of primary care services has not been established. We sought to establish whether career stage or graduation cohort were related to family physician practice volume and continuity of care over time. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of family physician practice from 1997/98 to 2017/18. We collected administrative health and physician claims data in British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario and Nova Scotia. We included all physicians who registered with their respective provincial regulatory colleges as having a medical specialty of family practice or who had billed the provincial health insurance system for patient care as family physicians, or both. We used regression models to isolate the effects of 3-year categories of years in practice (at all career stages), time period and cohort on patient contacts and physician-level continuity of care. Results: Between 1997/98 and 2017/18, the median number of patient contacts per provider per year fell by between 515 and 1736 contacts in the 4 provinces examined. Median contacts peaked at 27–29 years in practice in all provinces, and median physician-level continuity of care increased until 30 or more years in practice. We found no association between graduation cohort and patient contacts or physician-level continuity of care. Interpretation: Recent cohorts of family physicians practise similarly to their predecessors in terms of practice volumes and continuity of care. Because family physicians of all career stages showed declining patient contacts, we suggest that system-wide solutions to recent challenges in the accessibility of primary care in Canada are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged health services and governments in Canada and around the world. Our research aims to evaluate the effect of domestic and international air travel patterns on the COVID-19 pandemic in Canadian provinces and territories. Methods Air travel data were obtained through licensed access to the 'BlueDot Intelligence Platform', BlueDot Inc. Daily provincial and territorial COVID-19 cases for Canada and global figures, including mortality, cases recovered and population data were downloaded from public datasets. The effects of domestic and international air travel and passenger volume on the number of local and non-local infected people in each Canadian province and territory were evaluated with a semi-Markov model. Provinces and territories are grouped into large (>100 000 confirmed COVID-19 cases and >1 000 000 inhabitants) and small jurisdictions (≤100 000 confirmed COVID-19 cases and ≤1 000 000 inhabitants). Results Our results show a clear decline in passenger volumes from March 2020 due to public health policies, interventions and other measures taken to limit or control the spread of COVID-19. As the measures were eased, some provinces and territories saw small increases in passenger volumes, although travel remained below pre-pandemic levels. During the early phase of disease introduction, the burden of illness is determined by the connectivity of jurisdictions. In provinces with a larger population and greater connectivity, the burden of illness is driven by case importation, although local transmission rapidly replaces imported cases as the most important driver of increasing new infections. In smaller jurisdictions, a steep increase in cases is seen after importation, leading to outbreaks within the community. Conclusions Historical travel volumes, combined with data on an emerging infection, are useful to understand the behaviour of an infectious agent in regions of Canada with different connectivity and population size. Historical travel information is important for public health planning and pandemic resource allocation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Janus Kinase (JAK) inhibitors have emerged as a novel category of medications to treat a variety of immune-mediated conditions. However, limited insight exists regarding the impact of safety concerns on their usage and prescribing practices. Therefore, the objective of this study was to describe the utilization of JAK-inhibitors in Canada, both nationally and within individual provinces. We used data from IQVIA's Compuscript database. We conducted a repeated cross-sectional study of all JAK-inhibitor units dispensed in retail pharmacies (tofacitinib, ruxolitinib, baricitinib, and upadacitinib) within the ten Canadian provinces from July 1, 2016, to June 30, 2022. Throughout Canada, outpatient pharmacies dispensed an estimated total of 26,126,409 JAK-inhibitor units between 2016 and 2022, averaging 9,431 units dispensed per 100,000 population. All provinces had increasing rates of JAK-inhibitor units dispensed over time, whereby between July 2021 to June 2022, New Brunswick exhibited the highest rates (27,696 units per 100,000), and Prince Edward Island demonstrated the lowest rates (10,065 units per 100,000). In this study, utilization of JAK-inhibitors increased in Canada over the study period, evident at both provincial and national levels. Variability in JAK-inhibitor utilization between provinces underscores the necessity for further investigations to ascertain appropriate usage practices.Key Points• From 2016 to 2022, an estimated total of 26,126,409 JAK-inhibitor units were dispensed in retail pharmacies across Canada, with an average rate of 9,431 units dispensed for every 100,000 people in the population.• Tofacitinib was the most dispensed JAK-inhibitor during the entire study period, making up 76% of all units dispensed. Ruxolitinib, upadacitinib, and baricitinib made up 16%, 7.9%, and 1.1% of the JAK-inhibitor units dispensed, respectively.• The variance in provincial adoption of JAK-inhibitors across Canada might be influenced by several factors, including drug coverage availability, disease prevalence, and physician prescribing patterns.Key Points• From 2016 to 2022, an estimated total of 26,126,409 JAK-inhibitor units were dispensed in retail pharmacies across Canada, with an average rate of 9,431 units dispensed for every 100,000 people in the population.• Tofacitinib was the most dispensed JAK-inhibitor during the entire study period, making up 76% of all units dispensed. Ruxolitinib, upadacitinib, and baricitinib made up 16%, 7.9%, and 1.1% of the JAK-inhibitor units dispensed, respectively.• The variance in provincial adoption of JAK-inhibitors across Canada might be influenced by several factors, including drug coverage availability, disease prevalence, and physician prescribing patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unions can increase the power of workers through both collective bargaining and political avenues, potentially creating less income inequality and poverty. However, this potential may not be realized. Drawing on power resource theory, this study uses panel data to investigate the connection between unionization and two measures of after-tax inequality – the income share of the top 1% and the Gini coefficient – and three measures of poverty – the percentage of the population below the low-income cut-off, the average income of the bottom decile, and the percent of the population below the low-income measure – between Canadian provinces from 2000 to 2020. We find that unionization is negatively associated with income inequality in Canada. This relationship is statistically significant. However, we do not find evidence of any statistical association between unionization and poverty in Canada. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Ca. 3.75 Ga gneiss developed a gneissosity prior to ca. 3.3 Ga. • Ferroan, calc-alkaline ca. 3.3 Ga granitoids formed by remelting of Eoarchean crust. • Ca. 3.3 Ga granitoids were intruded by ca. 2.7 granite and by 2.5 Ga granitic dyke. • The magmatic history of the Saglek Block is similar to that of the SW Greenland. The Saglek Block in the Nain Province of northeast Canada is part of the North Atlantic Craton. It comprises Archean gneisses that record magmatic and metamorphic ages between ca. 3.9 and 2.5 Ga. In this study, a grey banded gneiss from Maidmonts Island records an age of 3.72 Ga, which is equated with Uivak I gneisses reported from across the Saglek Block, and contains 3.8 Ga xenocrysts. These rocks were deformed and metamorphosed prior to the intrusion of augen gneiss protoliths on both Maidmonts and Mentzel islands that record U-Pb zircon ages of 3.33 Ga. These rocks are composed of ferroan calc-alkaline granite and granodiorite and were likely generated by partial melting of pre-existing quartzo-feldspathic crust, as attested by the presence of ca. 3.8 Ga xenocrysts. Such augen gneiss was previously classified as ca. 3.6 Ga 'Uivak II gneiss', a term we argue should now be abandoned. The final magmatic events recorded on Maidmonts and Mentzel islands took place in the Neoproterozoic with the emplacement of granitic stocks at ca. 2.72 Ga, and sills and dykes at ca. 2.57 Ga. This sequence of magmatic events from the Eoarchean to Neoarchean is very similar to that recorded in the Itsaq Gneiss Complex of southwest Greenland, where, based on the Hf signature, it has been suggested that a change in tectonic environment resulted from the initiation of subduction at ca. 3.2 Ga. Although Lu-Hf and Sm-Nd isotopic signatures from the ca. 3.33 Ga gneisses have been interpreted in the literature as due to partial melting of Hadean mafic crust, alternatively, they can be generated by partial melting of Eoarchean continental crust in a continental arc setting. We argue this is more consistent with the non-TTG geochemistry of the augen gneisses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rates of child removal by child protective services (CPS) in Manitoba are the highest in Canada with a profoundly disproportionate impact on First Nations families. Despite infants constituting the highest proportion of children affected, no research has examined population-level rates of infant contact with CPS. We examined the incidence of infant contact with different levels of CPS, including termination of parental rights (TPR), according to First Nations status. We identified 217,261 infants (47,416 First Nations; 169,845 non-First Nations) born between 1998 and 2014 in Manitoba, Canada and residing in the province until at least age 5. We used linked administrative data to calculate population-level rates of contact with different levels of CPS by First Nations status, including an open file before age 1, out-of-home placement before age 1, and TPR before age 5. Overall 35.8 % of First Nations infants had an open file, 8.5 % experienced out-of-home placement, and 5.4 % experienced TPR. Among other infants, 8.5 % had an open file, 1.3 % experienced out-of-home placement and 0.7 % experienced TPR. The rate of early-stage contact increased the fastest among First Nations infants, with a rise of 22.4 % in our study period, compared to a rise of 1.7 % among all other infants. CPS contact was exceptionally high among First Nations infants compared to other infants, with early-stage contact accelerating most dramatically over time. Findings support calls to greatly reduce the disruption of system contact in the lives of First Nations families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the consequences of the environmental transformations of the Laurentian Valley on the timber trade uniting the Province of Canada and the industrialization of Great Britain during the nineteenth century. The notion of ghost acres used to describe the ecological footprint of resource consumption from abroad is extended to accommodate landscape transformations and enrich our understanding of the environmental impacts of imperial trade. Moving beyond the mere calculation of a surface area to assess the ecological ghost acres of British industrialization, we reconstitute the exchange circuits of wood products, from the extraction sites of different forest areas of the Laurentian Valley to their final destination in the British market, to identify the environmental consequences resulting from the insertion of the colonial forest economy into imperial trade networks. We also explore the adaptation of the British market to the material differences of North American pine and spruce compared with the familiar timber from northern Europe and how this, in turn, shaped the geography of extraction. • British urban industrial growth altered the environment in the Laurentian Valley. • Extend the notion of ghost acres to account for the ecological impacts of trade. • The British market adapted to the material differences of Canadian timber. • Shifting geography of extraction shaped the supply of Canadian timber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crossfield is located in the province of Alberta in Canada and is one of the most well-known reservoirs of hydrocarbons. Since the 1950s, there has been continuous exploitation of more than 10 formations such as Cardium, Viking, Ellerslie, Elkton, Shunda, and Wabamun. Because of its location near the Foothills, the southwestern part of the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin, the Crossfield area has a complex geology and relatively deeper reservoirs, therefore requiring an in-depth examination of each formation. In this study, geological, technical, and economic analyses were performed on each formation within the 10 sections of the study lands in the Crossfield area. As the result of the study, there was potential for drilling 48 horizontal wells in the Cardium A zone and the Viking formation. In addition, it turned out to be economically feasible even at the WTI price of 60 dollars per barrel considering Alberta's Royalty Framework, which is determined by the production rate and the price of oil, and the Horizontal Oil New Well Royalty Rate feature. A further study is required to investigate the exploitation potential of the Cardium B zone, the Ellerslie, and the Elkton formations in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors report findings from a 15-month project that focused on the experiences of sex workers who live and work in an Eastern Canadian province. As part of a larger multi-phased study, 15 adults who identified as women, transgender, or non-binary, and received money or goods for sexual services, participated in photo-elicitation interviews. Drawing on a critical framing analysis, findings indicated supports—as identified and experienced by sex workers—encompassed three categories of care: self, community, and collective. These categories are described, with a particular focus on the latter two. Continuing with the care-based framework, recommendations to structure interventions draw on the role of accountability care in identifying how best to operationalize policies that promote health, well-being, and dignity of Canadian sex workers. The paper begins with a brief overview of the Canadian context and the role of supports. It follows with a discussion on the materials and methods and the results. It concludes with recommendations, limitations, and future considerations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The last decade has shown a remarkable increase in the rates of illicit opioid use in Canada and internationally, which is associated with large increases in opioid related morbidity and mortality. While the differences between methadone and buprenorphine/naloxone in terms of retention have been studied outside Canada, the unique location and design of this study, gives it a specific significance. Objectives: This study aims to describe the relative treatment retention rates for first episode opioid replacement treatment between methadone and buprenorphine/naloxone for patients receiving daily witnessed dispensed medications in Nova Scotia. Methods: A longitudinal retrospective descriptive study analyzing secondary data from the Nova Scotia Prescription Monitoring Program on patients 18 years of age and older who started first episode opioid agonist therapy with methadone or buprenorphine/naloxone for opioid use disorder in Nova Scotia between 2014 and 2018. Treatment episode was defined as date of initial opioid agonist prescription until there is a gap of greater than 6 days without receiving opioid agonist medication at a pharmacy. Results: One thousand eight hundred sixty-seven of whom were analyzed as they had at least 1 day in treatment. There was significant treatment dropout within the first 2 weeks of treatment, which did not show a significant difference between OAT medication (23.4% of buprenorphine/naloxone; 22.2% methadone). Median duration of retention in treatment was 58 days for those treated with buprenorphine/naloxone and 101 days for patients treated with methadone. Multivariate cox proportional hazards model showed that buprenorphine/naloxone use as compared to methadone lead to increased hazard of treatment dropout by 62% (HR = 1.62). Hazard rate of treatment dropout for patients below 25 years of age was calculated. (HR 1.53). Median duration of retention in treatment for this subgroup of patients younger than age 25 was 37.5 days for patients treated with buprenorphine/naloxone and 69 days for patients treated with methadone. Conclusions: Our data suggests that methadone is a numerically superior medication for opioid use disorder when the metric of treatment retention is viewed in isolation, for our population in Nova Scotia. However, the results should be interpreted carefully considering the number of limitations of this study. There are social/accessibility, pharmacologic/safety, and patient preference factors which are also key in decision making when prescribing opioid agonist therapy. These must all be considered when deciding on which medication to initiate for a patient beginning a new treatment episode with OAT for opioid use disorder. This study should stimulate further research into this important area in addiction medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pavement Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a comprehensive method to evaluate the environmental impacts of a pavement section. It employs a cradle-to-grave approach assessing critical stages of the pavement's life. Previous LCA case studies used a wide variety of different functional units and factors in order to achieve different goals and scopes. These inconsistent functional units and factors create confusion in understanding the complete picture of environmental impact during the initial construction. Therefore, a set of models of pavement LCA considering every factor of the pavement life cycle phases is needed. Canada is a very large country and the different provinces have different pavement construction practices. Therefore, the goal of this work is to develop a set of useful models for quantifying CO2 emission from pavement construction in Canada. A total of 141 Canadian road sections from the Long Term Pavement Performance (LTPP) database are considered to develop models using machine learning algorithms: multiple linear regression, polynomial regression, decision tree regression and support vector regression. These models determine the significant contributors and quantify the CO2 emission in material production, initial construction, maintenance and use phase. The study also reveals the contribution of Canadian provinces' CO2 emission involved in the life of a pavement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) was met with rapid development of robust molecular-based detection assays. Many SARS-CoV-2 molecular tests target multiple genetic regions of the virus to maximize detection and protect against diagnostic escape. Despite the relatively moderate mutational rate of SARS-CoV-2, numerous mutations with known negative impact on diagnostic assays have been identified. In early 2021, we identified four samples positive for SARS-CoV-2 with a nucleocapsid (N) gene drop out on Cepheid Xpert® Xpress SARS-CoV-2 assay. Sequencing revealed a single common mutation in the N gene C29200T. Spatiotemporal analysis showed that the mutation was found in at least six different Canadian provinces from May 2020 until May 2021. Phylogenetic analysis showed that this mutation arose multiple times in Canadian samples and is present in six different variants of interest and of concern. The Cepheid testing platform is commonly used in Canada including in remote regions. As such, the existence of N gene mutation dropouts required further investigation. While commercial SARS-CoV-2 molecular detection assays have contributed immensely to the response effort, many vendors are reluctant to make primer/probe sequences publicly available. Proprietary primer/probe sequences create diagnostic 'blind spots' for global SARS-CoV-2 sequence monitoring and limits the ability to detect and track the presence and prevalence of diagnostic escape mutations. We hope that our industry partners will seriously consider making primer/probe sequences available, so that diagnostic escape mutants can be identified promptly and responded to appropriately to maintain diagnostic accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]