Alanna Smith
@alannasmith.bsky.social
National health reporter with The Globe and Mail. Based in Calgary. Formerly with the Canadian Press, Calgary Herald. DM for Signal/Whatsapp or email alannasmith@globeandmail.com
🔗: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/authors/alanna-smith/
🔗: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/authors/alanna-smith/
Reposted by Alanna Smith
2025 was a year of breakthroughs in health and medicine. Here are five www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic... @kkirkup.bsky.social @alannasmith.bsky.social
𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀 ⇢ CanadaHealthwatch.ca 🍁
𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀 ⇢ CanadaHealthwatch.ca 🍁
December 25, 2025 at 7:06 PM
2025 was a year of breakthroughs in health and medicine. Here are five www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic... @kkirkup.bsky.social @alannasmith.bsky.social
𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀 ⇢ CanadaHealthwatch.ca 🍁
𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀 ⇢ CanadaHealthwatch.ca 🍁
A postcard from my recent trip to Ireland for @theglobeandmail.com's travel section. Nollaig Shona!
December 24, 2025 at 6:10 PM
A postcard from my recent trip to Ireland for @theglobeandmail.com's travel section. Nollaig Shona!
Alberta’s top court has ruled that the province’s requirement for prospective lawyers to swear an oath to the King in order to practise law is unconstitutional and should be either removed or amended. #ableg @theglobeandmail.com
Requiring lawyers to swear oath to King is unconstitutional, Alberta’s top court rules
Sikh lawyer argued the requirement violated his religious freedoms
www.theglobeandmail.com
December 17, 2025 at 3:42 AM
Alberta’s top court has ruled that the province’s requirement for prospective lawyers to swear an oath to the King in order to practise law is unconstitutional and should be either removed or amended. #ableg @theglobeandmail.com
Reposted by Alanna Smith
Reposted by Alanna Smith
#BREAKING 🚨 Police have now confirmed at least 12 people are dead and 29 others injured after a mass shooting on Bondi Beach, which has been declared a terrorist attack
NSW premier Chris Minns says the shooting targeted the Jewish community at a Hanukkah celebration
NSW premier Chris Minns says the shooting targeted the Jewish community at a Hanukkah celebration
December 14, 2025 at 11:12 AM
#BREAKING 🚨 Police have now confirmed at least 12 people are dead and 29 others injured after a mass shooting on Bondi Beach, which has been declared a terrorist attack
NSW premier Chris Minns says the shooting targeted the Jewish community at a Hanukkah celebration
NSW premier Chris Minns says the shooting targeted the Jewish community at a Hanukkah celebration
Alberta rejected expert advice to expand public reporting of measles to include probable cases, despite the measure being supported by local and provincial public health officials, documents obtained by @theglobeandmail.com show. #ableg #abpoli
Alberta government rejected expert advice to report probable measles cases, documents show
New data show at least 450 probable cases were identified in the province, bringing the total to nearly 2,500 since the outbreak began last spring
www.theglobeandmail.com
December 6, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Alberta rejected expert advice to expand public reporting of measles to include probable cases, despite the measure being supported by local and provincial public health officials, documents obtained by @theglobeandmail.com show. #ableg #abpoli
Alberta’s health agency has cancelled negotiations with two companies owned in part by Sam Mraiche, the Edmonton businessman at the centre of the province’s procurement controversy. By @carrietait.bsky.social #ableg #abpoli
Alberta ends procurement talks with two firms tied to businessman at centre of health care controversy
The two companies owned in part by Sam Mraiche were in negotiations to build private surgical facilities
www.theglobeandmail.com
December 3, 2025 at 3:13 AM
Alberta’s health agency has cancelled negotiations with two companies owned in part by Sam Mraiche, the Edmonton businessman at the centre of the province’s procurement controversy. By @carrietait.bsky.social #ableg #abpoli
Reposted by Alanna Smith
Reposted by Alanna Smith
As DULF's compassion club was forced to close, its operators worked to get its 43 members legal Rx alternatives, successfully transitioning only 2 or 3 – a point that piqued the interest of the judge, who asked about the barriers to safer supply programs
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...
Legal safer supply programs inaccessible to most, B.C court hears
Jeremy Kalicum and Eris Nyx were convicted of trafficking earlier this month for having operated an illicit-drug compassion club
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 26, 2025 at 7:28 PM
As DULF's compassion club was forced to close, its operators worked to get its 43 members legal Rx alternatives, successfully transitioning only 2 or 3 – a point that piqued the interest of the judge, who asked about the barriers to safer supply programs
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...
Reposted by Alanna Smith
Sounds familiar
Is there fentanyl on the boats from Venezuela the Trump administration is blowing up? No. I explain and discuss @nytimes.com www.nytimes.com/2025/11/19/u...
Venezuela Doesn’t Produce Fentanyl. Trump Is Targeting It Anyway.
www.nytimes.com
November 20, 2025 at 12:33 AM
Sounds familiar
Reposted by Alanna Smith
Reposted by Alanna Smith
'Jordan Peterson law': Alberta seeks to protect professionals from discipline for off-duty conduct
edmontonjournal.com/news/local-n...
edmontonjournal.com/news/local-n...
'Jordan Peterson law': Alberta seeks to protect professionals from discipline for off-duty conduct
The so-called Jordan Peterson law would restrict professional regulatory bodies from disciplining their members for off-duty conduct.
edmontonjournal.com
November 20, 2025 at 10:09 PM
'Jordan Peterson law': Alberta seeks to protect professionals from discipline for off-duty conduct
edmontonjournal.com/news/local-n...
edmontonjournal.com/news/local-n...
Reposted by Alanna Smith
Surgeons will be focus of Alberta’s public-private health care model, Smith says. Dual practice model will decrease wait-lists for surgeries and retain doctors in province, Alberta Premier claims, by @alannasmith.bsky.social www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic... via @theglobeandmail.com
Surgeons will be focus of Alberta’s public-private health care model, Smith says
Hybrid model will decrease wait-lists for surgeries and retain doctors in province, Alberta Premier says
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 20, 2025 at 3:07 AM
Surgeons will be focus of Alberta’s public-private health care model, Smith says. Dual practice model will decrease wait-lists for surgeries and retain doctors in province, Alberta Premier claims, by @alannasmith.bsky.social www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic... via @theglobeandmail.com
Reposted by Alanna Smith
Reposted by Alanna Smith
SCOOP: Alberta intends to allow doctors working in the public health care system to simultaneously offers services in a parallel private market, according to draft amendments obtained by The Globe and Mail
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/alber...
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/alber...
Alberta plans to allow doctors to deliver public and private services
Draft legislation would establish a model for medicine unlike any other in Canada
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 18, 2025 at 2:20 PM
SCOOP: Alberta intends to allow doctors working in the public health care system to simultaneously offers services in a parallel private market, according to draft amendments obtained by The Globe and Mail
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/alber...
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/alber...
Reposted by Alanna Smith
My latest investigation for @thetyee.ca details what the UCP government doesn't want the public to know about their private surgery push.
Insiders Detail Ways Alberta's For-Profit Surgery Push Is Failing via @thetyee.ca thetyee.ca/News/2025/11...
Insiders Detail Ways Alberta's For-Profit Surgery Push Is Failing via @thetyee.ca thetyee.ca/News/2025/11...
Insiders Detail Ways Alberta’s For-Profit Surgery Push Is Failing | The Tyee
The shift strong-arms doctors but hasn’t saved money or shortened waits for critical operations, sources say. A Tyee investigation.
thetyee.ca
November 17, 2025 at 5:18 AM
My latest investigation for @thetyee.ca details what the UCP government doesn't want the public to know about their private surgery push.
Insiders Detail Ways Alberta's For-Profit Surgery Push Is Failing via @thetyee.ca thetyee.ca/News/2025/11...
Insiders Detail Ways Alberta's For-Profit Surgery Push Is Failing via @thetyee.ca thetyee.ca/News/2025/11...
Residents of some B.C. long-term care homes are missing showers, eating meals alone and reporting missed medications after the province ended pandemic-era pay supplements to cover overtime and contract workers. By @andreawoo.bsky.social
COVID-era money for B.C. long-term care aides runs out, leaving elderly residents in worsening conditions
Family members have reported their loved ones missing showers or left to eat alone in their rooms
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 17, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Residents of some B.C. long-term care homes are missing showers, eating meals alone and reporting missed medications after the province ended pandemic-era pay supplements to cover overtime and contract workers. By @andreawoo.bsky.social
Alberta’s United Conservative Party has filed a lawsuit against two of its former MLAs, alleging they have conspired to damage the party’s reputation by using the Progressive Conservative name. #ableg #abpoli @carrietait.bsky.social @theglobeandmail.com
Alberta UCP launches lawsuit against former caucus members
United Conservative Party alleges Peter Guthrie, Scott Sinclair conspired to damage party’s reputation by using Progressive Conservative name
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 17, 2025 at 1:30 AM
Alberta’s United Conservative Party has filed a lawsuit against two of its former MLAs, alleging they have conspired to damage the party’s reputation by using the Progressive Conservative name. #ableg #abpoli @carrietait.bsky.social @theglobeandmail.com
Reposted by Alanna Smith
SCOOP: Alberta's UCP is suing two MLAs it kicked out of caucus in order to keep the Progressive Conservative brand outta their hands.
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/alber...
By @alannasmith.bsky.social and helper
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/alber...
By @alannasmith.bsky.social and helper
Alberta UCP launches lawsuit against former caucus members
United Conservative Party alleges Peter Guthrie, Scott Sinclair conspired to damage party’s reputation by using Progressive Conservative name
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 17, 2025 at 12:51 AM
SCOOP: Alberta's UCP is suing two MLAs it kicked out of caucus in order to keep the Progressive Conservative brand outta their hands.
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/alber...
By @alannasmith.bsky.social and helper
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/alber...
By @alannasmith.bsky.social and helper
Researchers are asking thousands of Canadians to clip their toenails and store them in small, plastic bags for shipping to a Calgary laboratory. Here’s why: www.theglobeandmail.com/life/article... #health #cdnhealth @theglobeandmail.com
Why lung cancer researchers want your toenail clippings
University of Calgary researchers are attempting to prove toenails can provide crucial data about radon exposure, a leading cause of cancer among non-smokers
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 15, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Researchers are asking thousands of Canadians to clip their toenails and store them in small, plastic bags for shipping to a Calgary laboratory. Here’s why: www.theglobeandmail.com/life/article... #health #cdnhealth @theglobeandmail.com
Reposted by Alanna Smith
For months, I’ve been following a Canadian ostrich farm ordered to cull its flock after a bird flu outbreak. It was a cause célèbre for MAHA activists, a MAGA billionaire, and, of course, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The trucker convoy with birds ended last night. They lost. www.msnbc.com/news/news-an...
Why the conspiratorial right rallied around a flock of ostriches
The anti-vaccine, anti-government crusade to save "the miracle cure birds" is over — and the fringe activists lost.
www.msnbc.com
November 7, 2025 at 6:28 PM
For months, I’ve been following a Canadian ostrich farm ordered to cull its flock after a bird flu outbreak. It was a cause célèbre for MAHA activists, a MAGA billionaire, and, of course, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The trucker convoy with birds ended last night. They lost. www.msnbc.com/news/news-an...
Canada has been stripped of its measles elimination status after failing to interrupt transmission within one year of an outbreak that continues to spread in parts of the country. @kkirkup.bsky.social @theglobeandmail.com #cdnpoli
Canada officially loses its measles elimination status
The return of measles has been largely attributed to lower childhood vaccination rates
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Canada has been stripped of its measles elimination status after failing to interrupt transmission within one year of an outbreak that continues to spread in parts of the country. @kkirkup.bsky.social @theglobeandmail.com #cdnpoli
Reposted by Alanna Smith
What does a new study on #COVID19 tell us about the risks to children after infection? Q+A w/ Dr. Angela Wood by @alannasmith.bsky.social www.theglobeandmail.com/life/wellnes... via @theglobeandmail.com #LongCOVID
Q&A: What does a new study on COVID-19 tell us about the risks to children after infection?
Angela Wood, a professor of biostatistics at the University of Cambridge, took The Globe and Mail through the findings
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 5, 2025 at 5:12 AM
What does a new study on #COVID19 tell us about the risks to children after infection? Q+A w/ Dr. Angela Wood by @alannasmith.bsky.social www.theglobeandmail.com/life/wellnes... via @theglobeandmail.com #LongCOVID
Reposted by Alanna Smith
I got experimental brain surgery. www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti...
Opinion: Could a device implanted in my brain cure my depression? I was ready to find out
Over the past 14 years, I’ve often fantasized about some scan revealing the locus of my mood disorder. Now, we were as close as we’d likely ever get
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 1, 2025 at 2:46 PM
I got experimental brain surgery. www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti...