Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn

ARTICLE · 19 MAY 2016

The Shifting Policy Perspective: Transparency

Torys
Torys
Contributor
Torys

Torys

Torys LLP is an international business law firm that works with clients who expect the best advice...

View firm profile
Explore more from Torys

Associate Sarah Whitmore has authored "The Shifting Policy Perspective: Transparency," an article for FDLI's magazine Update.

CanadaFood, Drugs, Healthcare, Life Sciences
Omar Wakil
Omar Wakil
Author LinkedIn connections

Associate Sarah Whitmore has authored "The Shifting Policy Perspective: Transparency," an article for FDLI's magazine Update. In the article, Sarah discusses Health Canada's move toward transparency and in particular with respect to Bill C-17, otherwise known as Vanessa's Law, a law intended to give Health Canada more power to safeguard Canadians from unsafe medications. Sarah also expands on the impact of Vanessa's Law on the pharmaceutical regulatory landscape.

To read the PDF of the article, click here.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

View source

Related Articles

Legal Intelligence Newsletters

Read more about

Related Comparative Guides

See more popular content from

Article

More Than Skin Deep: Ontario Considers A Makeover Of Cosmetic Injection Rules

A regulatory shift now under consideration in Ontario could reshape how the province’s medical aesthetic clinics operate. The proposal, which would change how nurses are authorized to administer medical aesthetic services, invites a broader look at how Ontario currently regulates cosmetic injections and how the proposed changes would align the province more closely with the regulatory frameworks already in place elsewhere in Canada. While these procedures are often marketed as routine “spa” services, they remain medical acts that involve prescription products and carry clinical risks.
CanadaFood, Drugs, Healthcare, Life Sciences
Fasken
Fasken
Article

Life Sciences-Health Canada Takes Action Against Unauthorized Peptide Sales

On July 29, 2026, Health Canada announced that it had obtained a permanent injunction against a Québec-based company in connection with the sale of unauthorized injectable peptides in Canada. The announcement reflects Health Canada’s continued focus on peptide products and serves as a reminder that injectable peptides intended for human use are regulated as prescription drugs and are subject to Canada's drug regulatory framework.
CanadaFood, Drugs, Healthcare, Life Sciences
Fasken
Fasken
Article

Pharmaceutical And Life Sciences Sector Task Force Submits Final Report To The Ministers Of Health And Industry

The Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences Sector Task Force has released its final report addressing Canada's challenges in medication access, regulatory processes, and life sciences competitiveness. The report examines structural issues including lengthy reimbursement pathways, underperforming clinical trial environments, and erosion of domestic investment, while proposing 39 recommendation areas to strengthen Canada's health sovereignty and industrial strategy.
CanadaFood, Drugs, Healthcare, Life Sciences
Smart & Biggar
Smart & Biggar
Article

Health Canada Launches Clinical Trial Search Portal And Registration And Results Disclosure Guidance

While not currently legally binding, the guidance sets clear expectations for clinical trial registration and results disclosure and signals Health Canada’s broader push for transparency in clinical research. Health Canada describes this policy-first approach as a way to allow sponsors to adapt before potential regulatory requirements are introduced. For sponsors conducting clinical trials in Canada, the announcement therefore represents more than the launch of a new public-facing tool, it provides an indication of the direction of Canada’s evolving clinical trial framework.
CanadaFood, Drugs, Healthcare, Life Sciences
Fasken
Fasken
Article

Government Of Canada Makes Significant Changes To Energy Project Approvals Process

On September 3, the Government of Canada published amendments removing seven types of energy projects from the Physical Activities Regulations (the Project List) under the Impact Assessment Act (IAA). As a result, these types of projects will no longer be subject to the IAA but will continue to be regulated by the Canada Energy Regulator Act (CER Act) or applicable provincial environmental assessment regimes.
CanadaEnergy and Natural Resources
Torys
Torys
Article

Blockchain Powered Payments: How Stablecoins, Tokenized Deposits, And Digital Payment Instruments Can Reshape The Canadian Payments Landscape

Fiat-backed stablecoins are rapidly emerging as viable payment alternatives, but without a clear Canadian regulatory framework, domestic digital payments risk being overshadowed by foreign-issued stablecoins. This discussion explores the regulatory, economic, and policy considerations necessary for Canada to establish a competitive blockchain-based payment system that maintains domestic control while harnessing the full potential of digital currency innovation.
CanadaTechnology
Torys
Torys
Article

Do Canadian Manufacturers Owe A Duty To Develop Safer Alternatives?

The British Columbia Court of Appeal has left open the possibility that pharmaceutical manufacturers may owe a duty of care to develop safer alternatives to their existing products, even when those products are properly approved and labeled. This decision in Gilead Sciences, Inc. v. I.F. contrasts sharply with a recent California Supreme Court ruling that rejected such a "duty to innovate," potentially setting Canada on a divergent path in product liability law.
CanadaLitigation, Mediation & Arbitration
Torys
Torys
Article

New Flight Path: Canada Seeks Private Investment In Airports Through Long-term Concession Arrangements

Canada has announced plans to attract private investment through long-term concessions to operate its four largest airports: Toronto-Pearson, Vancouver International, Montréal-Trudeau, and Calgary International. The federal government will retain ownership of the underlying airport land and assets while seeking tens of billions of dollars in private capital to be reinvested in regional airports and local transport infrastructure. Key details regarding the scope of private operational involvement, award
CanadaGovernment, Public Sector
Torys
Torys
Article

Canada To Adopt International Financial Reporting Standards: An Update

Earlier this year, the Canadian Accounting Standards Board confirmed January 1, 2011 as the date that International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) will replace Canadian generally accepted accounting principles (Canadian GAAP) for all Canadian publicly traded companies as well as for non-listed financial institutions, securities dealers and many cooperative enterprises that qualify as “publicly accountable enterprises.”
CanadaAccounting and Audit
Torys
Torys