Livi McElrea
Press Secretary and Senior Communications Advisor
Office of the Honourable Mandy Gull-Masty
Minister of Indigenous Services
olivia.mcelrea@sac-isc.gc.ca
ISC Media Relations
media@sac-isc.gc.ca
Tunde Oyateru
Communications Manager
Prairies Economic Development Canada
babatunde.oyateru@prairiescan.gc.ca
639-382-3753
Soraya Lemur
Press Secretary
Office of the Hon. Eleanor Olszewski, Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada
soraya.lemur@ps-sp.gc.ca
343-574-6781
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July 15, 2026 | Ottawa, Ontario | Health Canada
Canadians expect timely access to safe and effective drugs and medical devices. Health Canada is taking practical steps to modernize and improve the efficiency of its regulatory processes, while maintaining its high standards for safety, efficacy, and quality.
Over the last three months, Health Canada has approved 537 new drugs and medical devices to help Canadians manage and treat a range of health issues. This includes three generic versions of semaglutide, the first G7 country to do so.
In addition, to help bring more medications and treatments to Canada sooner, Health Canada has published a Ministerial Reliance Order. The Order allows the department to review certain parts of drug submissions faster by using decisions or documents produced by select foreign regulators. This approach maintains Canada’s requirements for safety, efficacy and quality, while reducing unnecessary duplication. A more efficient process will also encourage manufacturers to bring products to Canada. The first classes of drugs that will be accepted by Health Canada under the Order include drugs for pediatric use and veterinary drugs.
At the same time, Health Canada is seeking feedback on a proposed approach to prioritize the review of certain generic drug submissions that involve Canadian manufacturing. Supporting Canada’s generic pharmaceutical and life sciences sector will play a key role in enhancing the security of the drug supply and preventing harmful shortages that could negatively impact the health of Canadians.
Complementing Health Canada’s regulatory modernization efforts, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) continues to support health research and clinical trials that generate the evidence needed to evaluate new drugs, medical devices and other health products, helping strengthen Canada’s life sciences ecosystem and improve access to innovative treatments for Canadians.
These initiatives are helping build a more modern and efficient regulatory system—one that supports faster and expanded access to drugs for Canadians, without compromising Canada’s high standards for safety, efficacy and quality.
July 2026
From April 1 to June 30, 2026, Health Canada approved 15 new drug submissions (8 pharmaceuticals, 7 biologics) and 481 new medical devices, including 22 Class IV medical devices, which present the greatest potential risk. During this period, Health Canada also approved 31 generic drugs and 10 biosimilar drugs.
| Date | Drug | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| June 26, 2026 | Vimkunya | Vaccine for Chikungunya |
| June 22, 2026 | Boey | Muscle relaxants |
| June 15, 2026 | Exdensur | Drugs for obstructive airway diseases |
| June 12, 2026 | Pimjetmi | Antineoplastic agents |
| June 10, 2026 | Lupin-Glugacon | Pancreatic hormones |
| June 3, 2026 | Idvynso | Antivirals for systemic use |
| May 29, 2026 | Loargys | Other alimentary tract and metabolism products |
| May 15, 2026 | Thyconvi | Thyroid therapy |
| May 14, 2026 | Iheezo | Ophthalmologicals |
| April 30, 2026 | Kisunla | Psychoanaleptics |
| April 16, 2026 | Tevimbra | Antineoplastic agents |
| April 10, 2026 | Lunsumio SC | Antineoplastic agents |
| April 10, 2026 | Vueway | Contrast media |
| April 9, 2026 | Yeytuo | Antivirals for systemic use |
| April 9, 2026 | neffy | Drugs for obstructive airway diseases |
| Date | Medical Device | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Visualase V2 MRI-guided laser ablation system | Tool for neurosurgery |
| June 29. 2026 | Epic Elite/Epic Supra G3 stented porcine tissue valve and sizers | Replacement of heart valve |
| June 29, 2026 | Alinity S CMV IGG qualitative assay | Diagnostic and screening test kit for cytomegalovirus |
| June 24, 2026 | SGTi-flex COVID-19 & flu A/B Ag Combo | Point of care testing kit for COVID-19 and flu |
| June 10, 2026 | cobas Respiratory flex | Test to help in the diagnosis of respiratory infections |
| June 4, 2026 | Seprafilm adhesion barrier | For use in surgery to reduce internal organ adhesions |
| June 3, 2026 | Affera ablation system | Mapping and treatment of an abnormal heart beat |
| June 2, 2026 | Shockwave intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) system with shockwave C2 aero coronary IVL catheter | Treatment of heart disease |
| May 29, 2026 | Jade plus PTA balloon dilatation catheter | Treatment of heart disease |
| May 27, 2026 | COVID-19 & Influenza A/B&RSV Antigen Pen Home Test | Home testing kit for COVID-19, flu and RSV |
| May 26, 2026 | Procleix Babesia Assay | Test kit for screening blood, organ and tissue donors for Babesia |
| May 26, 2026 | iVascular iCover, ballon expandable covered peripheral stent system | Treatment of blood vessel diseases |
| May 26, 2026 | cobas Microbial Inactivation Solution | Preparation of testing specimens |
| May 26, 2026 | Automated external defibrillator | Automated external defibrillator for public use |
| May 6, 2026 | Alinity i Anti-HCV Next Assay | Test kit to help in diagnosis and donor screening for Hepatitis C |
| May 5, 2026 | Simplexa COVID-19/flu A/B & RSV direct assay | Testing kit to help in diagnosis of COVID-19, flu and RSV infections |
| May 4, 2026 | iStatis Hepatitis B Surface Antigent (HBsAg) Test/iStatis Hepatitis B Surface Antigent (HBsAg) Test Controls | Point of care test kit to help in diagnosis of Hepatitis B infections |
| April 27, 2026 | NUVISION ultrasound catheter | Imaging of heart or blood vessels |
| April 24, 2026 | Supraflex sirolimus eluting stent system | Treatment of heart disease |
| April 16, 2026 | Scoreflex TRIO Balloon Dilatation Catheter | Treatment of narrowing in heart arteries to improve blood flow |
| April 15, 2026 | Cobas liat system | Testing kit to help in diagnosis of COVID-19, flu and RSV infections |
| April 1, 2026 | Volt PFA catheter, sensor enabled | Treatment of heart disease |
For more information on these and other drug and medical device approvals, consult:
July 13, 2026 – Drumheller, Alberta – Correctional Service Canada
On July 8, 2026, as a result of the vigilance of staff members, packages containing contraband and unauthorized items were seized at Drumheller Institution.
The contraband and unauthorized items seized included methamphetamine, chargers as well as vaping devices and accessories. The total estimated institutional value of this seizure is $944,860.
The police have been notified and the institution is investigating.
The Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) uses a number of tools to prevent drugs from entering its institutions. These tools include ion scanners and drug-detector dogs to search buildings, personal property, inmates, and visitors.
CSC is heightening measures to prevent contraband from entering its institutions in order to help ensure a safe and secure environment for everyone. CSC also works in partnership with the police to take action against those who attempt to introduce contraband into correctional institutions.
CSC has also set up a telephone tip line for all federal institutions so that it may receive additional information about activities relating to security at CSC institutions. These activities may be related to drug use or trafficking that may threaten the safety and security of visitors, inmates, and staff members working at CSC institutions.
The toll-free number, 1‑866‑780‑3784, helps ensure that the information shared is protected and that callers remain anonymous.
PrairiesCan investment helping Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park maximize the economic, operational and environmental benefits of solar energy so the site can continue to reliably deliver Indigenous experiences
July 13, 2026 – Siksika, AB – PrairiesCan
The heritage, resilience and determination of Indigenous Peoples are vital to Canada’s identity. It is more important now than ever before that we protect and present the history of how Canada came to be and who we are today. Recognizing the importance of cultural preservation and Indigenous tourism, the Government of Canada is making targeted investments to help share authentic Indigenous stories and support economic reconciliation while enabling rural prosperity.
Today, MP Duguid, MP for Winnipeg South, on behalf of the Honourable Eleanor Olszewski, Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan), toured Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park (Blackfoot Crossing). As part of this tour, MP Duguid announced a $93,000 federal investment to help Blackfoot Crossing undertake community engagements and investigate potential site options for a new solar energy development. This project will ensure the Siksika community is meaningfully engaged in this solar energy development so that economic, operational and environmental benefits can be fully realized.
Funding announced today is delivered by PrairiesCan through the Alberta Indigenous Clean Energy Initiative, a Strategic Partnerships Initiative (SPI). SPI projects are led by Indigenous Services Canada to help create new partnerships and strengthen the federal government’s role in supporting Indigenous economic growth.
This project will ensure that Blackfoot Crossing can continue delivering economic contributions for the people of the Siksika Nation and will enable activities that share the resilience of Indigenous Peoples from this National Heritage Site for generations to come.