Health Coalition reports on its vital work protecting and expanding Medicare in 2021
The Canadian Health Coalition published its Report of Activities and Campaigns for 2021 this week. What follows is the introduction to the health coalition’s successful year of campaigns and activities by Chairperson Pauline Worsfold, RN.
Dear colleagues and friends,
The Canadian Health Coalition is a one-of-a-kind national collaboration between unions representing frontline workers, community groups, and experts who are dedicated to protecting, defending and expanding public health care.
In 2021, our Coalition played an especially important role for its members. As the pandemic dragged on into another year, we provided a space for our organizations to come together to share experiences, challenges and successes.
Together we developed common demands of governments to deliver on their promises and to put public health care at the top of the political agenda. The coalition educated, engaged, and mobilized many thousands of people to stand together and demand political leaders take action.
I am so proud our small organization reaches far beyond our resources, and is regularly sought out by journalists who want to include the expertise and front-line experience of our members in their health and political coverage.
Since its founding in 1979, the Coalition has been a leading campaign organization for public health care across Canada. If the Canadian Health Coalition did not exist today, we would certainly be trying to build one to address the many urgent issues facing our cherished public health care system.
As I write you this letter looking back at 2021, I can see how much progress we have made. The high level of commitment by our members and the richness of our discussions simply astounds me. I am so grateful for your support.
Following the federal election, in October our Board adopted an ambitious political agenda comprising five important objectives (unordered):
• Increase funding and enforcement of the Canada Health Act
• Implement pharmacare
• Legislate enforceable national standards for long-term care
• Stop privatization and remove for- profit from health care, including long-term care
• Eliminate systemic racism from health care
To achieve these objectives, we shall continue to welcome new members and supporters, increase our capacity, and engage our members deeply – because they are the source of our strength and our success.
I look forward to working with our members and supporters in 2022 as we continue to press for an expansion of our public system – including pharmacare, push back against the self-interested privatizers, and profiteers, and build a welcoming, responsive, and accountable health care system that meets the needs of everyone living in Canada.
I wish to thank our Board and Executive of the Canadian Health Coalition for your patience and trust to guide and support the coalition. A big “thank you” for sharing your wisdom, and talents so generously.
Respectfully submitted,
