Citizens for Public Justice joins the Canadian Health Coalition

The Canadian Health Coalition is excited to announce that Citizens for Public Justice (CPJ) has joined us.

CPJ has been around for 60 years and is a national faith-based organization known for its social and environmental justice work. CPJ focuses on eradicating poverty in Canada, achieving climate justice, and protecting the rights of refugees.

Emilio Rodriguez represents Citizens for Public Justice on the board of the Canadian Health Coalition

Emilio Rodriguez is CPJ’s Policy Analyst on Refugee and Migrant Rights and will be representing the organization on the board of the Canadian Health Coalition.

In a letter to Chairperson Pauline Worsfold, RN, Rodriguez said that their justice-oriented members support the goals of the Canadian Health Coalition in its vital efforts to defend and expand Canada’s national public health care system.

Rodriguez recently completed a Master’s degree from the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University, and is working on book on Canadian immigration policy.

Last December, Rodriguez and the Canadian Health Coalition co-wrote the report, “Work, Study, Pay Taxes, But Don’t Get Sick: Barriers to Health Care Based on Immigration Status.” This report has been cited in discussions with policy makers including the UN Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Slavery and the Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology in their fact-finding missions on migrant workers in Canada this past September.

CPJ staff were also enthusiastic participants at this year’s Health and Hope Lobby on Parliament Hill. They met with MPs to push for universal pharmacare.

Natalie Appleyard is CPJ’s Socio-Economic Analyst. She is spearheading the “We Go Together” Network that attempts to bring together groups across the country that seek to eradicate poverty and create a more socially just and equal world. The Canadian Health Coalition is an active member of that coalition where we find support for implementing universal pharmacare and ending the privatization of health care.

Welcome CPJ!

Tracy Glynn is the National Director of Projects and Operations for the Canadian Health Coalition

Cover photo: CPJ’s Natalie Appleyard, Emilio Rodriguez and Willard Metzger at the Canadian Health Coalition’s Health and Hope Lobby Reception on March 26 on Parliament Hill. Photo by John Major.