Inspectors from Health Canada recently seized ivermectin from a Kelowna, B.C., wellness clinic owned by Svetlana Rilkoff, a former nurse who claims the drug heals cancer.
Rilkoff shared video of the Oct. 30 seizure from Ezra Healing on social media, characterizing the incident as “stealing” by employees of “(death) Canada.”
“They want to take away all my ivermectin that’s healing cancer and vaccine injuries,” Rilkoff says in the recording. “This is our country. This is the state of our country.”
In a news release issued the day after the seizure, Ezra Healing claimed approximately C$200,000 in products had been taken from the business, and warned customers there could be delays in receiving their purchases.
The clinic’s website lists “Vitamin I”—also labelled “iver,” with no further description—at C$173 for 100 12-milligram tabs.
Claims that ivermectin can treat cancer prompted a public statement from the Canadian Cancer Society earlier this year, which noted such uses are “not scientifically proven.”
During Joe Rogan’s podcast on January 9, Mel Gibson promoted drugs that are not scientifically proven cancer treatments. Misinformation on cancer treatment is dangerous, cruel, irresponsible and gives false hope to people with cancer and their loved ones.
Researchers around the…
— Canadian Cancer Society (@cancersociety) January 10, 2025
The charity called any misinformation that can give false hope to cancer patients and their families “dangerous,” “cruel” and “irresponsible.”
In a statement to CTV News, Health Canada confirmed employees inspected Ezra Healing last week in response to allegations the clinic was violating the federal Food and Drugs Act.
Such violations can lead to increasing enforcement, including prosecution, a spokesperson said in an email.
“Selling unauthorized health products or making false or misleading claims to prevent, treat, or cure illnesses is illegal in Canada,” he said.
Staff ultimately seized “a range of unauthorized health products” from the business, the spokesperson added, including “unauthorized prescription drugs such as ivermectin, mebendazole, hydroxychloroquine, and azithromycin.”
Rilkoff, also known as Dalla Lana, previously said she was fired from a B.C. nursing job for refusing to get vaccinated during the COVID-19 pandemic.
On top of touting unapproved uses of ivermectin, Rilkoff has claimed chemotherapy and radiation are not effective cancer treatments.
CTV News reached out to a publicist for Rilkoff seeking comment Wednesday, but has not received a response.
Since last week’s seizure, an online fundraiser has been set up to support Ezra Healing with a donation goal of US$737,000. As of Wednesday afternoon, US$99 had been collected.
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