We've heard about the threat that United States tariffs pose to Canadian economic security. But a different kind of insecurity now looms with new leadership from our southern neighbors: insecurity in global health.

Every day, an estimated 400,000 people cross the Canada-U.S. border, the largest land border in the world. And there are about 800,000 Canadian citizens living in the United States. All this means the infectious disease threat could be even more pressing for Canadians.

Canada, with its reflexive opposition to anything Trump does — often for good reasons — should take a moment to consider that even a stopped clock is right twice a day. If Canada were to withdraw its hefty contribution to the WHO, $204 million in 2022-23, it might well be closing time for this broken and mismanaged institution.

Canada is currently experiencing an increase in measles with recent cases reported in Quebec and Ontario, Canada’s chief public health officer said Wednesday in a statement.

Pai says if there is a major disease outbreak and the U.S. isn't looped into the worldwide response, the virus would spread -- likely into Canada Author of the article: You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.

Dr. John Tuinema said the global health agency losing the large amount of funding the U.S. provides will mean low-income countries will have less capacity to respond to communicable disease, and middle- to high-income nations might have diminished communication structures, he said.

Canada’s chief public health officer, who became a household name during the pandemic, is set to finish her term in June

"The bottom line is that withdrawing from the WHO makes Americans and the world less safe," says Dr. Tom Frieden, president and CEO of the nonprofit health organization Resolve to Save Lives and former director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Germany said Tuesday it will try to dissuade U.S. President Donald Trump from pulling out from the World Health Organization as many global health experts fear the move could substantially weaken global health security.

Trump signed a slew of executive orders that initiated the US withdrawal from the Paris climate accords and WHO, ordered troops to the border with Mexico, pardoned about 1,500 January 6 rioters and restarted permitting for natural gas export terminals. He also rescinded 78 Biden-era directives.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is set to lose 18 per cent of its funding when the U.S. leaves the organization, putting global health funding at risk. Kyle Benning has the details and more in Health Matters for Jan.

On 30 January 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that Niger has been verified for eliminating the transmission of onchocerciasis, commonly