SOS Medicare 3.0 Conference is a once-in-a-generation event
The SOS Medicare 3.0 Conference is set to take place in Ottawa next week, and over 250 people will come together to hear keynote speakers, activists, and front-line health care workers address the challenges facing public health care.
Featured speakers include Health Minister Mark Holland, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, and Manitoba Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara.
SOS Medicare, 1979
This conference is the third in a series of SOS Medicare events going back to 1979 in Ottawa. Convened by the Canadian Labour Congress, it was the founding meeting of the Canadian Health Coalition.
Former Saskatchewan Premier and NDP Leader Tommy Douglas, known as the father of Medicare, said, “I’m glad you’re having this conference and I congratulate the CLC in sponsoring it. I’m concerned as many people are about Medicare. Not with its fundamental principles, but the problems which we knew would arise.”
“I hope from time to time we can gather together as we are gathering now to the end that we may be able to build in Canada the program that will provide the maximum amount of good help and enable people to enjoy good health, provide them with remedial services, when that good health is no longer present. And to do that without any fear of the financial burdens which have crippled so many people in other places and in other times,” he added.
SOS Medicare 2, 2007
Watch the full opening session from SOS Medicare 2
As Tommy Douglas imagined, public health care activists joined together once again in 2007 in the birthplace of Medicare; Regina, Saskatchewan.
Former federal Health Minister Monique Bégin recounted how, in the years following the 1979 SOS Medicare conference, Parliament adopted the landmark Canada Health Act.
“After another four long painful years and often bitter years, the Canada Health Act 1984 was unanimously passed, by the House of Commons. Why did it pass? For a very simple reason: because the public wanted it,” said Bégin. “And thanks also to the support of groups like the Canadian Health Coalition, the Friends of Medicare, and organized nursing. I’ll never underline enough, organized nursing!”
Tommy Douglas’s daughter, the award-winning actress Shirley Douglas, who was also a staunch defender of public health care, gave an inspirational speech in Regina.
“All of you have come here for a reason. And the reason is we believe in something bigger than ourselves. And that we’re willing to go and see that health care is not destroyed in this country,” she said to great applause.
SOS Medicare 3.0, 2025
Next week’s conference comes at another time of crisis for public health care. Along with the presentations and networking opportunities, the two-day conference, which is in both official languages and is free admission, includes political action training by the Canadian Labour Congress.
It is co-sponsored by the Canadian Health Coalition, Canadian Labour Congress, Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions (CFNU), the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE), Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) and Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC).
It’s not too late to register for SOS Medicare 3.0. Join us in the struggle to defend and expand public health care in Canada.
