Experts: Drop in Canada-U.S. tourism
Figures from Statistics Canada show that in April and May 2025, tourist travel by car and air between the U.S. and Canada continued to decline in both directions compared to 2024 levels.
These McGill experts are available to comment on this subject:
Expert: Preventing measles in pregnancy
As measles cases surge in Canada, six babies have been born with congenital measles to unvaccinated mothers in Ontario since last fall. The MMR vaccine isn’t safe during pregnancy, so doctors urge anyone who could become pregnant to check their immunity now. In addition to being dangerous to newborns, measles can cause pneumonia, miscarriage and other life-threatening complications for expectant mothers.
Expert: Canadian government commits to increased military spending
Prime Minister Mark Carney announced on Monday that the government of Canada will be spending 2 per cent of its GDP on defence by the end of the current fiscal year in March –meeting the NATO target – and will take various steps to strengthen Canada’s military capabilities.
This McGill expert can provide insights:
Experts: Canadian wildfires
As wildfires continue to burn across Western Canada, thick smoke is triggering widespread air quality alerts and raising concerns about health, infrastructure and environmental impacts, including in neighbouring provinces and parts of the United States. McGill University experts are available to provide insights on these topics.
Expert: Quebec summer forecast
Quebec is in for a hot and humid summer, with above-normal temperatures, muggy nights and a heightened risk of violent storms, all resulting from a forecast “heat dome” over central North America, according to MétéoMédia.
Expert: Montreal police adopt new street check policy
The Montreal Police (SPVM) announced Monday that a new policy has been put in place for police street checks: Police must clearly inform people they stop that, unless they are being detained, they have no obligation to identify themselves and are free to leave.
This McGill expert can provide insight into the matter:
Expert: Lyme disease
Tick season returns each spring, bringing a renewed risk of Lyme disease. In Quebec, the number of reported cases has been rising in recent years.
Expert: Mental health care access in Canada
More than half of Canadian girls and young women ages 15 to 29 with a mental health or substance use disorder received formal supports in 2022, but many are deterred by wait times and cost, according to a new Statistics Canada report. The report highlights a need to improve care, especially for racialized youth, who were less likely to find the support helpful.
Expert: Fires linked to lithium-ion batteries
Montreal has seen a threefold increase in fires caused by lithium-ion batteries in just two years, according to the city’s latest fire department report. E-bikes and e-scooters are the main culprits, but the batteries that power everything from cellphones to power tools are increasingly being flagged as fire hazards.
Expert: Urban gardening and climate-resilient food systems
As climate change and urbanization reshape how we grow food, a McGill University horticulture expert is available to discuss a wide range of topics related to innovative, sustainable gardening practices.
Expert: The potential impact of wildfire smoke and heat on people’s immune systems
As wildfires and heatwaves become more frequent in Canada, a McGill University researcher is investigating whether they play a role in triggering autoimmune diseases like lupus.
Expert: Hudson’s Bay auction of art and artifacts
The Hudson’s Bay recently received permission to auction off its collection of over 4,000 artifacts and pieces of art to help pay its creditors. However, the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples is now joining with the Assembly of First Nations, the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs and Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak in calling on Hudson’s Bay to halt the sale of Indigenous artifacts, which may include sacred items.
This McGill expert can provide insight into the situation:
Expert: India-Pakistan conflict
Earlier today India launched a series of military strikes on Pakistan and the Pakistan-administered part of Kashmir that have killed at least 20 people. The strikes come after gunmen last month opened fire in the Indian-administered part of Kashmir, killing 26 people, mostly Indian tourists. India blamed Pakistan for that attack. Kashmir has long been a source of dispute between the two countries; both claim it as their own.
Expert: Invasive aquatic plants in Quebec
With the arrival of boating season, biologists are raising alarms about the rapid spread of invasive aquatic plants in Quebec’s lakes and rivers. Species like water chestnut and Eurasian watermilfoil are threatening biodiversity around the Montreal archipelago by choking out native flora and fauna, blocking light and depleting oxygen.
Experts: Prime Minister Carney visits President Trump
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is in Washington D.C. to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump today.
These McGill experts can share their insights into some of the subjects that are likely to be discussed during that meeting:
