Status of Women Committee on June 16th, 2026

[Anna Roberts, Conservative, King—Vaughan, ON]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you to the witnesses.

My first question is for Dr. Prévost.

Have any studies been conducted on the adverse consequences of medication interacting with other medication that a woman is taking?

[Anne-Patricia Prévost]

In fact, there are contraindications to treatment, such as if someone has had cancer.

The drug interactions are mainly seen with natural products. We don't always know what additives are in these products. Otherwise, in addition to hormone therapy, there are other treatments for menopause-related symptoms. There may be contraindications regarding the use of certain medications. These are things that are documented in the guidelines.

[Anna Roberts, Conservative, King—Vaughan, ON]

Hormone therapy improves the quality of life for many women. A documentary report in Quebec helped make bioidentical hormones accessible to anyone who wants them.

What is the current situation in the rest of Canada?

Dr. Prévost, do you know?

[Anne-Patricia Prévost]

Can you repeat the question?

[Anna Roberts, Conservative, King—Vaughan, ON]

Sure.

Hormone therapy improves the quality of life for many women. We heard that from the previous panel as well. A documentary report in Quebec helped make bioidentical hormones accessible to anyone who wants them.

What is the current situation in the rest of Canada? Is that applied across all provinces or just in Quebec?

[Anne-Patricia Prévost]

I couldn't tell you. I'm aware of what's going on in Quebec, but I can't tell you what's going on elsewhere in Canada. I'm sorry.

[Anna Roberts, Conservative, King—Vaughan, ON]

Okay.

As a frontline family physician, are you seeing an increase in women seeking care for menopause-related symptoms? Are there sufficient health care resources available to meet the demand?

[Anne-Patricia Prévost]

There is an increasing number of appointments for menopause-related symptoms. We see it on the ground. People have questions, and they come to us.

As to whether access is adequate, I can say that there is a shortage of family doctors, but we are really trying to get privileged access when it comes to women's health. There are women's health clinics. In our clinics, we are accessible. We have care pathways. Women can get appointments for their symptoms.

[Anna Roberts, Conservative, King—Vaughan, ON]

In Ontario and in my riding of King—Vaughan, we hear a lot about the fact that people are on wait-lists for family physicians and we have a shortage of family physicians. As a matter of fact, York University is building a school specifically for family physicians next to the Cortellucci hospital.

What advice would you give this government to include, advance or assist with the practice? A lot of our young students have to go abroad because there's no room here in Canada for them to take that course. What advice would you provide this government to ensure we have enough family doctors for the population of 40 million-plus people?

Would anybody like to take a stab at that?

[Anne-Patricia Prévost]

Is your concern related to the fact that doctors are less well trained in menopause?

[Anna Roberts, Conservative, King—Vaughan, ON]

Do we have a lack of family physicians? That is my question, because I'm hearing that.

[Anne-Patricia Prévost]

Yes. There's a shortage of family doctors, of course.

[Anna Roberts, Conservative, King—Vaughan, ON]

Okay.

I have a question for Evelyn Huntjens.

Do you agree we need to advance so we can ensure the population mandate for family doctors is sufficient?

[Evelyn Huntjens]

I know there is an incredible shortage of doctors. We are seeing that especially within the disability community and the work that we do around having access to doctors. When it comes to issues that could be chronic or episodic, and when you don't have—

[The Chair, Conservative, Dominique Vien]

Thank you. The time is already up.

Ms. Gladu, you have the floor for five minutes.

[Marilyn Gladu, Liberal, Sarnia—Lambton—Bkejwanong, ON]

Thank you, Chair.

Thank you to the witnesses for being here today.

I'm going to start off by saying I come from the perspective of having been a chemical engineer for over 32 years in a very male-dominated world, where there was zero opportunity to show any kind of weakness, so I'm really happy to hear the conversation we're having today and to see we're making some progress.

I'm going to start with Dr. Prévost.

You mentioned three aspects to better inform, better support and better care. What kind of accommodations do you expect will be needed?

[Anne-Patricia Prévost]

Work accommodations could involve schedules, telework and temperature. Different types of accommodation, depending on the symptoms experienced, could make things easier for women.

[Marilyn Gladu, Liberal, Sarnia—Lambton—Bkejwanong, ON]

Excellent. Thank you so much.

Ms. Huntjens, we know there's a variety of symptoms of menopause and there are gaps in service everywhere, but are there gaps that are worse for disabled and marginalized groups or ones that perhaps impact them more?

[Evelyn Huntjens]

Often, with perimenopause and menopause, the symptoms can exacerbate other symptoms and go unnoticed and ignored, so I think there is a need for more flexibility in workplaces to allow for hybrid work options and to allow for rest and wellness support, temperature control, inclusive leave policies, and sensory and environmental accommodations in the workforce.

[Marilyn Gladu, Liberal, Sarnia—Lambton—Bkejwanong, ON]

Excellent. Thank you.

Ms. Brunot, this is a really tough question. We've talked about sleep deprivation, fatigue, chronic stress, brain fog—all the things that can happen. You mentioned that we need to change perspectives.

How do we do that?

[Élise Brunot]

I'm not going to lie to you. This will clearly not happen in two seconds.

The focus right now is on what's scary, what goes wrong and how it's a weakness. We need to move away from that perspective a little bit. Once we feel that it is legitimate to experience these changes as a part of life, it already greatly changes the way people see themselves and the way they feel.

The way we are raised and how we get the knowledge will directly influence our experience of things. Fortunately, all of this is now documented, much more so in terms of menstruation than menopause, by the way. I apologize, because I talk a lot about menstruation.

We know that how we learn about menstruation matters. If it's taught positively, if we value it, women's experiences will be much less painful and difficult than if our first contact with blood in our underwear, at eight or nine years old, makes us think we're going to die. I would point out that girls are getting their first periods at a younger and younger age now. This perspective has a lasting impact on the relationship we have with our menstruation. It sounds silly, but it does. Now, it is documented.

As a result, I would tend to say that it would take a collective effort to overcome the stereotypes surrounding menopause. In addition, regarding the lack of studies, it's important to know that the few that exist also point to the positive side of menopause. They talk about a certain amount of freedom, emotional control and evolving cognitive activities.

Basically, it's really a matter of upbringing. It starts young, in the perception of the way women experience our bodies, of what we will potentially experience. It can be tough, but it can also be a great adventure.

Please note that I am not here to minimize tough experiences. It may seem so, but I'm not. I'm here to remind you that everyone's experience is different and that we really need to learn from each other on this.

[Marilyn Gladu, Liberal, Sarnia—Lambton—Bkejwanong, ON]

Thank you.

It looks to me like we've heard from many witnesses on the need for awareness and education. I think the type of education that Dr. Prévost is providing to physicians who are learning under her.... If we leveraged something like that virtually, it would be great.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dominique Vien]

I'm sorry, Ms. Gladu. I have to cut you off there.

[Marilyn Gladu, Liberal, Sarnia—Lambton—Bkejwanong, ON]

Thank you so much.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dominique Vien]

Thank you.

Ms. Larouche, you have the floor for two and a half minutes.