Welcome public health care advocates and experts, health care workers and patients to the Canadian Health Coalition’s Health & Hope Lobby on Parliament Hill.
Over three days, February 12-14, lobby participants will hear from experts, meet with MPs and Senators, rally and strategize for pharmacare for all, safer long-term care and an end to profit-making in health care.
This year’s lobby is happening at the Delta Hotel in Ottawa (101 Lyon St. N) in Ballroom A. Registration opens on Monday, February 12 at 12:00 PM.
Important documents for the Health & Hope Lobby –
- The 3-day agenda
- The team directory with information about your teammates and all lobby participants
- The meeting directory with information on the teams’ meeting times
- The briefing note we have prepared for MPs and Senators
- Map of meeting locations
AGENDA
Day 1 – Monday, February 12
12:00 PM Health & Hope Lobby registration opens
Policy Conference
1:00 PM Welcome from Pauline Worsfold, RN, Chair of the Canadian Health Coalition
Remarks by Don Davies, MP (Vancouver Kingsway), NDP Health Critic
2:00 PM Panel: Stopping the Profitization of Care
Speakers:
- Pat Armstrong, Distinguished Researcher Emeritus from York University who has conducted decades of research on health care in Canada and abroad
- Marc-André Gagnon, researcher on the political economy of the pharmaceutical sector, on “Mettre fin à la rentabilisation des soins” (French only)
- Comment réformer l’assurance-médicaments
- Dr. Bernard Ho, emergency medicine physician and Vice-Chair of Canadian Doctors for Medicare, on Demystifying Privatization
Hosted by Anne Lagacé Dowson, Media Director of the Canadian Health Coalition
3:30 PM Coffee & refreshments break
3:45 PM Remarks by Terry Sheehan, MP (Sault Ste. Marie), Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Labour and Seniors
Dinner
5:00 PM Dinner provided
Lobby Training
6:00 PM Meet your team members and learn how to advocate for our issues.
Trainers:
Steven Staples, National Director of Policy and Advocacy, Canadian Health Coalition
Emily Watkins, Executive Assistant of the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions
7:30 PM Wrap-up
Day 2 – Tuesday, February 13
Hill Day
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM Meetings with MPs and Senators on Parliament Hill
Drop by Lobby Headquarters at the Delta Ballroom A from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM for refreshments and meeting space. Meet your group to fill out your meeting report, together.
Rally on the Hill
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Meet at the Terry Fox Statue (Wellington/Metcalfe) then march to Parliament Hill for Profit Doesn’t Care Rally
Question Period (Optional)
1:15 PM – 3:30 PM Register at the Parliament Hill Visitors Centre for access to the Gallery to watch Question Period in the chamber.
Special Event (RSVP required)
4:30 PM – 6:30 PM – All-party reception with Greg Fergus, MP (Hull—Aylmer), Canada’s first Black Speaker of the House, marking Black History Month and honouring the late Nell Toussaint, a Black champion for universal health care in the Speakers’ Lounge on Parliament Hill. Space is limited. Stay tuned for RSVP instructions. Sign-in at the Parliament Hill Visitors Centre.
Reception (Optional)
7:30 PM Appetizers and cocktails at Three Brewers, 240 Sparks St.
Day 3 – Wednesday, February 14
Lobby Debrief and Strategizing Session
Delta Hotel, Ballroom A
9:00 AM Share your experiences meeting with Parliamentarians, join in the discussions on next steps, and contribute to the joint calendar-planning session.
Facilitators:
Tracy Glynn, National Director of Operations and Projects of the Canadian Health Coalition
Steven Staples, National Director of Policy and Advocacy of the Canadian Health Coalition
12:00 PM Adjournment until next time
For more information, contact Tracy at tglynn@healthcoalition.ca.