Cara Smusiak (she/her)
@carasmusiak.bsky.social
Copywriter & strategist . Former journalist
Board Member & Communications Chair @cancovsoc.bsky.social
Opinions are my own
Interests: Covid/long Covid, human rights, women's issues, BIPOC & 2SLGBTQIA+ support, ADHD, disability, climate change, GBV
Board Member & Communications Chair @cancovsoc.bsky.social
Opinions are my own
Interests: Covid/long Covid, human rights, women's issues, BIPOC & 2SLGBTQIA+ support, ADHD, disability, climate change, GBV
Reposted by Cara Smusiak (she/her)
Normand Meunier is a Canadian man with quadriplegia who accessed MAiD (Medical Assistance in Dying) after being left for 96 hours on a stretcher in the ER.
His requests for a specialized mattress were denied.
He wasn't turned regularly.
He developed bed sores so bad, he opted to end his life.
His requests for a specialized mattress were denied.
He wasn't turned regularly.
He developed bed sores so bad, he opted to end his life.
November 25, 2025 at 10:23 PM
Normand Meunier is a Canadian man with quadriplegia who accessed MAiD (Medical Assistance in Dying) after being left for 96 hours on a stretcher in the ER.
His requests for a specialized mattress were denied.
He wasn't turned regularly.
He developed bed sores so bad, he opted to end his life.
His requests for a specialized mattress were denied.
He wasn't turned regularly.
He developed bed sores so bad, he opted to end his life.
The @heartandstroke.bsky.social commercial where a researcher is surprised by a coffee shop full of people whose lives were saved by her work makes me cry every time. It’s so powerful.
November 15, 2025 at 11:09 PM
The @heartandstroke.bsky.social commercial where a researcher is surprised by a coffee shop full of people whose lives were saved by her work makes me cry every time. It’s so powerful.
Reposted by Cara Smusiak (she/her)
WTF NB Power - why are you allowing a US company to do this? 🤬
A proposed data centre in the Lorneville area of #SaintJohnNB would gobble up the equivalent of almost half the electricity N.B. Power will get from a controversial natural gas plant in the Tantramar area.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
A proposed data centre in the Lorneville area of #SaintJohnNB would gobble up the equivalent of almost half the electricity N.B. Power will get from a controversial natural gas plant in the Tantramar area.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Proposed data centre would need almost half of Tantramar gas plant’s power | CBC News
A proposed data centre in the Lorneville area of Saint John would gobble up the equivalent of almost half the electricity N.B. Power will get from a controversial natural gas plant in the Tantramar ar...
www.cbc.ca
November 12, 2025 at 1:40 PM
WTF NB Power - why are you allowing a US company to do this? 🤬
A proposed data centre in the Lorneville area of #SaintJohnNB would gobble up the equivalent of almost half the electricity N.B. Power will get from a controversial natural gas plant in the Tantramar area.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
A proposed data centre in the Lorneville area of #SaintJohnNB would gobble up the equivalent of almost half the electricity N.B. Power will get from a controversial natural gas plant in the Tantramar area.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
It's the time of year when the berries on the tree out front ferment, and the birds get drunk, lose their shit, and inevitably bang into our front windows. They're usually moving a bit slow and don't end up unaliving themselves, thankfully. But the sound is more than a little unnerving.
November 11, 2025 at 5:33 PM
It's the time of year when the berries on the tree out front ferment, and the birds get drunk, lose their shit, and inevitably bang into our front windows. They're usually moving a bit slow and don't end up unaliving themselves, thankfully. But the sound is more than a little unnerving.
Reposted by Cara Smusiak (she/her)
From article:
- prov provided 78% of operating revenues for Ont universities in 1987-88
- by 2001 was 36%; in 2022 <25%
- result: lowest per-student funding of any prov in Canada
- prov provided 78% of operating revenues for Ont universities in 1987-88
- by 2001 was 36%; in 2022 <25%
- result: lowest per-student funding of any prov in Canada
"For my fellow graduate students and faculty, it felt absurd to be spending hundreds of millions on a shiny new building so far from the city when we were learning and teaching in crowded classrooms in buildings that felt like they were falling apart."
How York University Lost the Trust of Its Community | The Local
After program closures, questionable major capital projects, and increasingly fractious labour relations, what is the future of York University?
thelocal.to
November 9, 2025 at 8:44 PM
From article:
- prov provided 78% of operating revenues for Ont universities in 1987-88
- by 2001 was 36%; in 2022 <25%
- result: lowest per-student funding of any prov in Canada
- prov provided 78% of operating revenues for Ont universities in 1987-88
- by 2001 was 36%; in 2022 <25%
- result: lowest per-student funding of any prov in Canada
Reposted by Cara Smusiak (she/her)
Canada loses Measles elimination status, as does the entire Americas region.
Clinics here have signs warning about Measles but no masks in healthcare
www.statnews.com/2025/11/10/m...
Clinics here have signs warning about Measles but no masks in healthcare
www.statnews.com/2025/11/10/m...
Canada loses measles elimination status — as does the entire Americas region
Canada has formally lost its measles elimination status, the country’s public health agency announced, triggering the loss of that status throughout all of the Americas.
www.statnews.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Canada loses Measles elimination status, as does the entire Americas region.
Clinics here have signs warning about Measles but no masks in healthcare
www.statnews.com/2025/11/10/m...
Clinics here have signs warning about Measles but no masks in healthcare
www.statnews.com/2025/11/10/m...
Reposted by Cara Smusiak (she/her)
I was a coms staffer at PSAC when the Harper government slashed the public service — a miserable time for everyone. All it led to was layoffs, followed by the fed govt hiring more temps and expensive consultants. And then eventually hiring back even more people. It takes humans to run a country 🤷♀️
November 4, 2025 at 10:15 PM
I was a coms staffer at PSAC when the Harper government slashed the public service — a miserable time for everyone. All it led to was layoffs, followed by the fed govt hiring more temps and expensive consultants. And then eventually hiring back even more people. It takes humans to run a country 🤷♀️
Reposted by Cara Smusiak (she/her)
Canada is leading in safety with the new draft of the CSA standard on respirators.
@dickzoutman.bsky.social, @juliamwright.bsky.social, @mark-ungrin.bsky.social, and I explain key updates that bring protections up to date with the evidence on respirator use against airborne disease transmission.
@dickzoutman.bsky.social, @juliamwright.bsky.social, @mark-ungrin.bsky.social, and I explain key updates that bring protections up to date with the evidence on respirator use against airborne disease transmission.
The CSA’s revised standard on respirators should help us all breathe easier
New draft standards for respirator use recognize the importance of protecting workers and patients in health-care settings, where there is a higher risk of pathogen exposure
theconversation.com
November 3, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Canada is leading in safety with the new draft of the CSA standard on respirators.
@dickzoutman.bsky.social, @juliamwright.bsky.social, @mark-ungrin.bsky.social, and I explain key updates that bring protections up to date with the evidence on respirator use against airborne disease transmission.
@dickzoutman.bsky.social, @juliamwright.bsky.social, @mark-ungrin.bsky.social, and I explain key updates that bring protections up to date with the evidence on respirator use against airborne disease transmission.
This is a huge shame. @teenvogue.com has been doing excellent work — raising the bar for the legacy media outlets that should be (but sadly aren’t) doing this critical work. Those involved in this decision deserve deep scorn.
I was laid off from Teen Vogue today along with multiple other staffers, and today is my last day.
certainly more to come from me when the dust has settled more, but to my knowledge, after today, there will be no politics staffers at Teen Vogue.
certainly more to come from me when the dust has settled more, but to my knowledge, after today, there will be no politics staffers at Teen Vogue.
November 3, 2025 at 11:07 PM
This is a huge shame. @teenvogue.com has been doing excellent work — raising the bar for the legacy media outlets that should be (but sadly aren’t) doing this critical work. Those involved in this decision deserve deep scorn.
Reposted by Cara Smusiak (she/her)
The USDA is the fail safe for SNAP.
They have a contingency fund to ensure it’s covered in the event of a shutdown.
They’re refusing.
Grocery stores stepped up to try and help by offering discounts to any SNAP recipients and the USDA told them they had to stop.
Starvation as a policy choice.
They have a contingency fund to ensure it’s covered in the event of a shutdown.
They’re refusing.
Grocery stores stepped up to try and help by offering discounts to any SNAP recipients and the USDA told them they had to stop.
Starvation as a policy choice.
November 3, 2025 at 8:08 AM
The USDA is the fail safe for SNAP.
They have a contingency fund to ensure it’s covered in the event of a shutdown.
They’re refusing.
Grocery stores stepped up to try and help by offering discounts to any SNAP recipients and the USDA told them they had to stop.
Starvation as a policy choice.
They have a contingency fund to ensure it’s covered in the event of a shutdown.
They’re refusing.
Grocery stores stepped up to try and help by offering discounts to any SNAP recipients and the USDA told them they had to stop.
Starvation as a policy choice.
Reposted by Cara Smusiak (she/her)
This ‘minor’ bird flu strain has potential to spark human pandemic
Experiments suggests H9N2 has adapted to human cells but cases of person-to-person transmission haven’t been reported yet.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Experiments suggests H9N2 has adapted to human cells but cases of person-to-person transmission haven’t been reported yet.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
This ‘minor’ bird flu strain has potential to spark human pandemic
Experiments suggests H9N2 has adapted to human cells but cases of person-to-person transmission haven’t been reported yet.
www.nature.com
October 28, 2025 at 4:10 PM
This ‘minor’ bird flu strain has potential to spark human pandemic
Experiments suggests H9N2 has adapted to human cells but cases of person-to-person transmission haven’t been reported yet.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Experiments suggests H9N2 has adapted to human cells but cases of person-to-person transmission haven’t been reported yet.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
On the plus side, a lot of the Blue Jays’ best players will be better rested than the Dodgers’ best for tomorrow’s game.
October 28, 2025 at 6:54 AM
On the plus side, a lot of the Blue Jays’ best players will be better rested than the Dodgers’ best for tomorrow’s game.
Something that probably needs to be talked about tomorrow (er, today? but after we’ve all had some damn sleep), is the inconsistency in calls from the home plate umpire. There have been quite a few balls that are called strikes and strikes that are called balls. #worldseries
October 28, 2025 at 6:12 AM
Something that probably needs to be talked about tomorrow (er, today? but after we’ve all had some damn sleep), is the inconsistency in calls from the home plate umpire. There have been quite a few balls that are called strikes and strikes that are called balls. #worldseries
Reposted by Cara Smusiak (she/her)
Toronto food banks saw more than 4 million visits in the last year, including from those working multiple jobs
Toronto food banks saw more than 4 million visits in the last year, including from those working multiple jobs
Residents working multiple jobs and even those with post-secondary degrees are struggling to make ends meet, according to report by the Daily Bread Food Bank and North York Harvest Food Bank.
www.thestar.com
October 27, 2025 at 10:02 AM
Toronto food banks saw more than 4 million visits in the last year, including from those working multiple jobs
Reposted by Cara Smusiak (she/her)
The Walton family (who own Walmart) are worth over $400 billion, yet many of their employees are on SNAP.
Bezos is worth over $400 billion, many Amazon employees require SNAP.
The people who need help are not the problem.
It’s corporate greed. It’s an unwillingness to pay a living wage.
Bezos is worth over $400 billion, many Amazon employees require SNAP.
The people who need help are not the problem.
It’s corporate greed. It’s an unwillingness to pay a living wage.
October 27, 2025 at 9:08 PM
The Walton family (who own Walmart) are worth over $400 billion, yet many of their employees are on SNAP.
Bezos is worth over $400 billion, many Amazon employees require SNAP.
The people who need help are not the problem.
It’s corporate greed. It’s an unwillingness to pay a living wage.
Bezos is worth over $400 billion, many Amazon employees require SNAP.
The people who need help are not the problem.
It’s corporate greed. It’s an unwillingness to pay a living wage.
And I want to recognize the @mariners.com. They came to compete every game and played with such sportsmanship. And they deserve the utmost respect for a great season.
October 21, 2025 at 3:37 AM
And I want to recognize the @mariners.com. They came to compete every game and played with such sportsmanship. And they deserve the utmost respect for a great season.
As an ’80s baby, I’m THRILLED to see the @bluejays.com going back to the World Series!! 💙 Let’s GOOOOOO!!!
a blue jays player stands on the field during a game
ALT: a blue jays player stands on the field during a game
media.tenor.com
October 21, 2025 at 3:35 AM
As an ’80s baby, I’m THRILLED to see the @bluejays.com going back to the World Series!! 💙 Let’s GOOOOOO!!!
Reposted by Cara Smusiak (she/her)
🚨 This is inexplicable news to share. If in Alberta and you want flu and covid shots for NEXT year (2026-2027), you have only until December 15 of THIS year to order them.
This is not incompetence. It’s a deliberate choice to prevent as many people ..
bookvaccine.alberta.ca/vaccine/s/pr...
1/2
This is not incompetence. It’s a deliberate choice to prevent as many people ..
bookvaccine.alberta.ca/vaccine/s/pr...
1/2
bookvaccine.alberta.ca
October 18, 2025 at 4:54 PM
🚨 This is inexplicable news to share. If in Alberta and you want flu and covid shots for NEXT year (2026-2027), you have only until December 15 of THIS year to order them.
This is not incompetence. It’s a deliberate choice to prevent as many people ..
bookvaccine.alberta.ca/vaccine/s/pr...
1/2
This is not incompetence. It’s a deliberate choice to prevent as many people ..
bookvaccine.alberta.ca/vaccine/s/pr...
1/2
Reposted by Cara Smusiak (she/her)
NEW: David Piccini, the minister whose office picks Skills Development Fund recipients, was in Paris this weekend at the wedding of a lobbyist whose clients received millions from that fund.
From me and @charliepinkerton.bsky.social.
www.thetrillium.ca/news/politic...
From me and @charliepinkerton.bsky.social.
www.thetrillium.ca/news/politic...
Ontario labour minister attended lobbyist’s wedding after granting his clients millions in training funds
Two clients of lobbyist Michael Rudderham have received more than $8.5 million in Skills Development Fund grants, records show
www.thetrillium.ca
October 8, 2025 at 11:00 AM
NEW: David Piccini, the minister whose office picks Skills Development Fund recipients, was in Paris this weekend at the wedding of a lobbyist whose clients received millions from that fund.
From me and @charliepinkerton.bsky.social.
www.thetrillium.ca/news/politic...
From me and @charliepinkerton.bsky.social.
www.thetrillium.ca/news/politic...
Reposted by Cara Smusiak (she/her)
Woman with Long Covid who works for the province suing over denial of long-term disability. One of the *many* ways that there is absolutely no help available for the millions of people disabled by Covid.
cbc.ca/1.7648843
cbc.ca/1.7648843
Manitoba government employee sues province, Canada Life over denial of long-term disability | CBC News
A Manitoba government employee who was diagnosed with long COVID and another ailment is suing the province and Canada Life after her request for long-term disability payments was denied by the insuran...
www.cbc.ca
October 2, 2025 at 11:40 AM
Woman with Long Covid who works for the province suing over denial of long-term disability. One of the *many* ways that there is absolutely no help available for the millions of people disabled by Covid.
cbc.ca/1.7648843
cbc.ca/1.7648843
Reposted by Cara Smusiak (she/her)
ADVOCACY OPPORTUNITY: WorkSafeBC is revising some regulations, including its standard on respirators! However, it plans to use an outdated edition on N95s.
Background and how you can help 🧵:
Background and how you can help 🧵:
September 15, 2025 at 12:24 PM
ADVOCACY OPPORTUNITY: WorkSafeBC is revising some regulations, including its standard on respirators! However, it plans to use an outdated edition on N95s.
Background and how you can help 🧵:
Background and how you can help 🧵:
Reposted by Cara Smusiak (she/her)
In Kingston, there's a trial happening that's getting barely any attention. Even I just heard of it!
40yr old tech entrepreneur Michael Haaima is facing *98* charges for sexual assault and related offences committed against *28 women and girls* between '07 and '22.
MAJOR content warning.
40yr old tech entrepreneur Michael Haaima is facing *98* charges for sexual assault and related offences committed against *28 women and girls* between '07 and '22.
MAJOR content warning.
'It's like Bernardo,' officer says as Haaima trial resumes – Kingston News
(Kingston, Ontario) The "mega trial" of Michael Mark Haaima resumed Tuesday, Sep. 2, 2025, after a two-week summer hiatus, with testimony from the boyfriend of one of Haaima's alleged victims.
www.kingstonist.com
September 9, 2025 at 4:26 PM
In Kingston, there's a trial happening that's getting barely any attention. Even I just heard of it!
40yr old tech entrepreneur Michael Haaima is facing *98* charges for sexual assault and related offences committed against *28 women and girls* between '07 and '22.
MAJOR content warning.
40yr old tech entrepreneur Michael Haaima is facing *98* charges for sexual assault and related offences committed against *28 women and girls* between '07 and '22.
MAJOR content warning.
This is great news!! 🎉 But the work doesn’t stop here. Next task: Advocating for Novavax access across Canada. Many immunocompromised people and those who’ve reacted to Pfizer/Moderna need the protein-based vax.
I mentioned to a couple of people that I had a surprise waiting to be shared when Moderna got approval for its updated COVID-19 vaccine. It’s approved, and the big news??? Completely produced domestically!!!!! 🥳🤩
Approved as usual for all aged 6mo+!
Approved as usual for all aged 6mo+!
August 23, 2025 at 2:38 PM
This is great news!! 🎉 But the work doesn’t stop here. Next task: Advocating for Novavax access across Canada. Many immunocompromised people and those who’ve reacted to Pfizer/Moderna need the protein-based vax.
Reminder: The complaint was filed in 2007 & the CHRT issued its decision in 2016.
It found the Canadian government discriminated against 165,000 First Nations kids by providing less funding for child welfare services on reserves than off, and by incentivizing removal of children.
It found the Canadian government discriminated against 165,000 First Nations kids by providing less funding for child welfare services on reserves than off, and by incentivizing removal of children.
The CHRT is ordering Canada back to the negotiation table on long-term reform of the child welfare system.
Talks have been at an impasse since chiefs in assembly voted down a $47.8-billion proposal from Canada in October of 2024.
Talks have been at an impasse since chiefs in assembly voted down a $47.8-billion proposal from Canada in October of 2024.
The CHRT orders Canada to negotiate long-term child welfare reform | APTN News
YouTube video by APTN News
youtu.be
August 21, 2025 at 11:04 PM
Reminder: The complaint was filed in 2007 & the CHRT issued its decision in 2016.
It found the Canadian government discriminated against 165,000 First Nations kids by providing less funding for child welfare services on reserves than off, and by incentivizing removal of children.
It found the Canadian government discriminated against 165,000 First Nations kids by providing less funding for child welfare services on reserves than off, and by incentivizing removal of children.