Health Coalition shocked to learn health care left out of national leaders’ debate
The Canadian Health Coalition is expressing dismay to reports that leaders will not be asked how they will improve health care at the national leaders’ debates. The debates are being organized by the Leaders’ Debates Commission for April 16 (French) and April 17 (English).
“Excluding health care in the national leaders’ debate is a shocking case of ‘malpractice’ by the debate organizers. We hope that the Commission will reconsider and ensure leaders are pressed to explain their plans for public health care as it is high on the list of voters’ concerns,” said Steven Staples, National Director of Policy and Advocacy of the Canadian Health Coalition.
Today, Staples and Anne Lagacé Dowson, Media Director of the Canadian Health Coalition, joined Dr. Amanda Black with the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada and Frédérique Chabot of Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights at a press conference on Parliament Hill. They called on parties running in the federal election to explain their plans to defend and improve Medicare.
The organizations asked for parties to support universal pharmacare, public dental care, and the enforcement of the Canada Health Act.
Watch the press conference here:
Also, today, labour leaders and frontline workers outside the Nanaimo Hospital in British Columbia decried the political inaction that is putting Canada’s public health care system in critical condition.
“Our public health care system is on life support,” said Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress. “Staffing shortages have reached a dangerous tipping point. Wait times for surgeries span months or even years. Millions of Canadians are living without access to a family doctor, and far too many must choose between paying for medication and covering basic needs.”
Barb Nederpel is President of the Hospital Employees’ Union, representing more than 60,000 health care workers in British Columbia. She said, “Canada’s health care system was built on the principle that everyone deserves care based on need, not ability to pay,” said “Our members are exhausted. They were called heroes during the pandemic, and now they’re working in a broken, overburdened system, without the support they need.”
Canada’s unions are calling on all political parties to commit to:
- A national health workforce strategy that recruits, retains, and properly compensates health care workers
- A full, universal, single-payer Pharmacare program—no more delays or half-measures
- Reinvestment in public health, long-term care, and home care to meet the needs of an aging population
- An end to growing privatization that leaves patients behind and profits corporations.
Canada’s labour leaders are also denouncing the decision to leave health care out of the federal leaders’ debate, calling it “an astonishing omission and a missed opportunity to address one of the most urgent issues facing Canadians today.”
The debate consortium has cut health care from the leaders’ debate.
— Bea Bruske, CLC President (@PresidentCLC) April 14, 2025
It’s a staggering disservice to Canadians—and proof they’re out of touch. Health care is a top priority across the country. Cutting it out is indefensible. @Debates_Can #cdnpoli #Debates2025
The Leaders’ Debates Commission can be contacted at info@debates-debats.ca and asked to reconsider and include health care as a priority topic in the debates. People across the country are increasingly alarmed by the rise of private, for-profit health care. Voters deserve to hear where each party stands on the future of our public health care system.
The Canadian Health Coalition will continue to champion the protection and expansion of public health care in Canada during the election period.
Today, the Coalition released an online video ad as part of its push to make health care a top issue in the 2025 federal election.
Tomorrow, April 15 at 12:00 PM EST, Dr. Danielle Martin will join Canadian Health Coalition’s Anne Lagacé Dowson for an online conversation on federal leadership opportunities to address Canada’s health care challenges. Register for the Zoom link here.
All are encouraged to visit our vote for health care hub for ideas on how you can turn up the dial for public health care with candidates seeking to represent us in the House of Commons.
