Fredericton Townhall: An urgent conversation on health care

Everyone deserves timely access to quality public health care in Canada. Yet, according to a recent Abacus poll commissioned by the Canadian Health Coalition, 91% of Canadians are concerned about the future of the public health care system.

The New Brunswick Health Coalition and Canadian Health Coalition are hosting an urgent conversation on health care with policy expert, Greg Marchildon, and Alberta’s Friends of Medicare’s Chris Gallaway. 

What is the status of Medicare in Canada today? Why does the government of Alberta’s two-tier health care reforms matter to New Brunswickers? We want to hear from you on what you are experiencing in our health care system. We want to discuss real solutions to our health care challenges.

When: Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at 7:00 – 9:00 PM AT

Where: Cathedral Memorial Hall, 168 Church St., Fredericton

Greg Marchildon is a Professor Emeritus at the University of Toronto and the founding director of the North American Observatory on Health Systems and Politics. He has written extensively on Medicare and health politics and policy, and is the author of several journal articles and books, including Tommy Douglas and the Quest for Medicare in Canada (University of Toronto Press). He is a member of the Order of Canada and a fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences. From 2001-2002, he was executive director of a federal Royal Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada (the Romanow Commission).

Chris Gallaway is the Executive Director of Friends of Medicare. He is an experienced community organizer and advocate for public health care. Born and raised on a farm in rural Saskatchewan, he has since spent most of his adult life living on Treaty 6 territory, first in Saskatoon, and for the last decade living here in Edmonton. His past experience includes working for the Alberta Federation of Labour, in three provincial legislative assemblies, and for a variety of non-profit and community organizations. Outside of work Chris is an active volunteer and community member engaged in social justice and the arts.

Moderated by Norma Robinson, New Brunswick Health Coalition and President of the New Brunswick Council of Hospital Unions – CUPE Local 1252, and Tracy Glynn, Canadian Health Coalition.

Inspired by Friends of Medicare in Alberta, provincial health coalitions across Canada are organizing townhalls for patients, families, front-line health care workers and community members to come together to discuss protecting and building up Canada’s public health care system. Events are free and open to the public.

The New Brunswick Health Coalition and Canadian Health Coalition are made up of health care worker unions and community groups that support public health care.

For more information:

• Join NB Health Coalition’s Facebook page.
• Sign up to receive updates from the Canadian Health Coalition.
• Contact Tracy at tglynn@healthcoaltion.ca.