Health advocates arrive in Ottawa to call on MPs to defend and strengthen Medicare

Media Release
For immediate release
March 28, 2023

Ottawa – The Canadian Health Coalition is urging Members of Parliament to protect Medicare from further reckless, for-profit privatization and instead strengthen the system to provide comprehensive health services to all.

That message will be delivered this week by 100 health workers, policy experts, and Medicare advocates in meetings with ministers, MPs, senators and senior staff.

“We are witnessing an existential threat to Medicare,” said Pauline Worsfold, RN and Chairperson of the coalition. “Public hospital CEOs are partnering with private, for-profit corporations to do surgeries, patients are at increasing risk of user fees, and health workers are being caught in the middle.

“Canadians need our leaders to act now to prevent the dismantling of a system that took generations to build.”

In addition to placing stronger conditions on federal health transfers to the provinces, the coalition calls on the federal government to enforce the principles of the Canada Health Act, while beefing-up investigation and monitoring of prohibited practices such as user fees.

Preserving Medicare requires not just defending, but strengthening, said Worsfold.

Health and Hope 2025 is the Canadian Health Coalition’s campaign in support of four health care commitments: public investment (including frontline care); national universal pharmacare; public dental care; and safe long-term care.

“Access to quality health care for all, is not just a principle of Medicare, it is an intrinsic Canadian value,” said Worsfold. “It is essential parliamentarians demonstrate they are committed to it.”

Learn more about the Health and Hope 2025 Campaign