20 March 2013 by Ethan Clow
(Note – this is crossed posted to Radio Freethinker) It’s been a busy month for skeptical activists in Vancouver. I wanted to write about some of the recent news regarding an anti-vaccination conference that was held at the Simon Fraser University, here in Vancouver. The anti-vaccination conference was organized by this group: the Vaccine Resistance [...]
Posted in British Columbia, Canada, Health, Vaccines5 Comments
20 March 2013 by John Underhay
Regulation and licensing of businesses is considered a normal part of government bureaucracy. Some libertarians may disagree with any form of government interference in commercial activities, however, it is generally accepted that regulation is a proper government function, even if the type or level of regulation is controversial. One area that has created some discussion [...]
Posted in Paranormal, Pseudoscience, Skepticism10 Comments
27 February 2013 by Bart Farkas
In the last few years it appears that the number of clinics offering “Laser Therapy” for pain relief, arthritis, hair loss (or to remove hair) and a bevy of other health benefits. Billboard ads, radio spots, even flyers in alternative medicine offices (Chiropractors, naturopaths etc.) seem subjectively to be increasing. It got me thinking about [...]
Posted in Alt-Med or Alt-Menace?, Alternative Medicine, Health, Medicinal Advertising, Skepticism16 Comments
16 February 2013 by Michael Kruse
This article cross-posted from the Huffington Post Canada I believe in personal autonomy, a cornerstone of the consent process in the health care system. Each person has the inherent right to decide what to put in their body, what treatment to have, or to refuse any treatment they are offered by their chosen healer. That [...]
Posted in Alternative Medicine, Canada, Health Policy, Skepticism1 Comment
13 February 2013 by Sara E. Mayhew
This week we celebrated the scientific contributions of Charles Darwin, born on February 12th, with Darwin Day. I put my manga skills to work to create hand-drawn ink illustrations of Drawin for those who support my work by making a donation of any amount they choose. It was really popular; I’m still drawing dozens of [...]
Posted in SkepticismComments Off
13 February 2013 by Michael Kruse
This is cross-posted from the Huffington Post Canada In his new play The De Chardin Project, playwright Adam Seybold has the Jesuit priest and paleontologist Father Teilard De Chardin describe his witnessing of a terrible natural event whereby he arose from his cabin aboard a steamer on route to China to find a fire raging [...]
Posted in Canada, Culture, Evolution, Skepticism1 Comment
05 February 2013 by Scott Gavura
Ben Goldacre, author of the excellent books Bad Science and Bad Pharma, is coming to North America. If you read this blog, you’re probably familiar with Goldacre and his work. A physician by training, Goldacre started writing for The Guardian several years ago, eventually writing Bad Science, and most recently, Bad Pharma. Here are some [...]
Posted in AnnouncementsComments Off
29 January 2013 by Dianne Sousa
Last week, an editorial in the National Post by Tim Caulfield ruffled a few homeopathic feathers. In it, Caulfield argues that when provinces grant regulatory status to alternative practitioners like naturopathy, they are legitimizing rank quackery. This is the case because naturopathy relies heavily on homeopathy, which Caulfield correctly describes as “bogus”. Canadian supporters of [...]
Posted in Alternative Medicine, Canada, Health15 Comments
18 January 2013 by Michael Kruse
This is a repost of an article that appeared on the Huffington Post Canada blog site on January 17 2013. There is a slowly rising tide of uncertainty in Canada over the necessity and safety of vaccines for childhood infectious disease. While the safety and efficacy of vaccines is very well established, doubt continues to be [...]
Posted in Alternative Medicine, Health Policy, Skepticism, Vaccines1 Comment
17 January 2013 by Erik Davis
The following is a guest post by Jeremy Petch, health policy researcher and Opinions Editor at healthydebate.ca. Follow Jeremy on Twitter @JeremyPetch. Dr. Oz has become a ubiquitous television icon. His daily talk show, broadcast in Canada on CTV (owned by Bell Media), rules the daytime TV ratings. In real life, Dr. Oz is a [...]
Posted in Alternative Medicine, Canada, Featured, Guest Post, Health Policy, Skepticism24 Comments
More consequences of calling sugar pills “safe and effective”
Crack Your Back instead of a Vial of Vaccine?
Toronto Media, false balance, and the lack of evidence for claims about MIA vet John Hartley Robertson
How Western journalists in Vietnam and POW NGOs were not fooled by tales of MIA Vet back from the dead
Did a Canadian filmmaker find a left behind Vietnam vet or did credulous Toronto media give new life to an old scam?
How I cured my gout without medication
When Immunizing, Don’t Accept Alternatives
The Cross Canada Skeptical Smackdown Pub Quiz is Back!
Stop Nosodes Campaign Launched Today
Legislated Alchemy Continues in Ontario
Scott Gavura: @Oliver:
Looks like you're assuming that any obser...
Oliver Dowding: Diane, yes they did, and yes we did repeat this ti...
Tom Stoneburner: Karl,
Thanks for the 3-part series. What jumpe...
Steve: WhiteTurtle, I'm a vegetarian that suffered from g...
Dianne Sousa: Oliver,
That's the wrong question to ask. I wou...
