Hands off our health care. Premiers to hear they must do more to stop privatization of health care
While the premiers are expected to be preoccupied by trade and Trump’s tariffs, health coalitions plan to make public health care an issue for them when they gather in the Muskoka region of Ontario next week. Last week, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced he would also be convening a First Ministers’ meeting at the Council of Federation meeting in Huntsville.
The Ontario Health Coalition has organized a Shadow Summit, Car Cavalcades and Rallies for Health Care with support from the Canadian Health Coalition and the Ontario Federation of Labour.
Update: On Thursday, July 17, provincial health coalitions and the Canadian Health Coalition released the joint statement in advance of the Council of Federation and First Ministers’ meetings, “Any governments across Canada that claim to prioritize the economy while dismantling our public health care have lost their moral compass.”
The Canadian Health Coalition will have a strong presence at the events next week.
At the Shadow Summit on July 21, Anne Lagacé Dowson, the Canadian Health Coalition’s Media Director, will be sharing the latest on health care in Quebec, where she resides. She will also act as a French media spokesperson.
Steven Staples, National Director of Policy and Advocacy of the Canadian Health Coalition, will be speaking on a panel on the fight to implement and expand public pharmacare across Canada.
Tracy Glynn, National Director of Projects and Operations of the Canadian Health Coalition, will be speaking on a panel about efforts to secure health care as a human right, including for migrant workers and people denied health care due to their immigration status.
Other panels will explore evidence from across Canada on the impact of for-profit clinics on public hospitals, the status of efforts to improve the conditions of work in long-term care, best models for home care, and getting privatized health care back in the public system.
On July 22, hundreds are expected to join a roadside action on Highway 60 and rally for public health care outside the meeting of the premiers. Various leaders of health care worker unions in Canada and patients who have direct experience with Canada’s health care system will speak at the rally.
Canadian Health Coalition Chair Jason MacLean and Ontario Health Coalition Executive Director Natalie Mehra will host the rally.
To register for the Shadow Summit, complete this registration form and return it to the Ontario Health Coalition at info@ontariohc.ca.
Cover photo from the Kingston & District Labour Council.
