International Business

American-owned Quest Diagnostics purchased LifeLabs in August 2024 from OMERS, a jointly owned pension fund company, for CDN $1.35 billion. LifeLabs’ B.C. workers, who have been without a contract since last April, have been on strike since Feb. 16.

Dealing with a bully—especially one as duplicitous and manipulative as U.S. President Donald Trump—requires a strong foundation of mental resilience, strategic thinking and collective action.

Medical researchers and lawyers say our rocky relationship with the U.S. creates an urgent need to protect a critical Canadian resource: patient health information that can be used to train artificial intelligence.

Even though Canada isn't the biggest supplier of drugs to the U.S., tariffs would have massive impact, affecting international supply chains.

Loblaw is also adding maple leaf symbols to products that were prepared in Canada with domestic and/or imported ingredients, said Thomas.

If the U.S. goes ahead with its tariffs, we can expect tariffs on drugs and Canada to retaliate with similar measures, warns pharmacy industry expert Bertrand Bolduc.

Expanded tariffs spell drug shortages and higher prices for Canadians.