Fighting for public health care in Canada

With unprecedented attacks on Canada’s public health care system, hear from frontline defenders of public health care in Ontario, Quebec, Alberta and B.C. who are using various strategies to protect Canada’s universal public health care system. From going to court to filing complaints, mobilizing experts and local activists, these champions of public health care are leading the charge for better Medicare.

Natalie Mehra, Chris Gallaway, Ayendri Riddell and Cory Werbauwhede joined the Canadian Health Coalition’s Anne Lagacé Dowson on Monday, December 8, 2025 for a conversation about strategies to protect and expand public health care in Canada.
Natalie Mehra is the Executive Director work of the Ontario Health Coalition. She has built the Health Coalition into the largest and broadest public interest group on health care in the province, representing more than half-a-million Ontarians in its network of more than 400 member organizations and more than 50 local chapters.

Chris Gallaway is the Executive Director of the Friends of Medicare in Alberta. He is an experienced community organizer and advocate for public health care. 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.

Ayendri Riddell is Director of Policy and Campaigns at the BC Health Coalition, a community educator and campaigner who has worked with research-based advocacy organizations, including Amnesty International, the Ontario Public Interest Research Group, and the UBC Centre for Community Engaged Learning.

Cory Werbauwhede is a Montreal-based lawyer, professor of health care and social services law at l'École nationale d'administration publique (ENAP), and co-founder and former member of the board of Médecins québécois pour le régime public (MQRP).

Upcoming webinars

Monday, Dec. 15 at 12:00 PM ET: Towards better long-term care with Pat Armstrong and Hugh Armstrong. Register for the Zoom link here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regis...

Webinars are recorded for later viewing on the Canadian Health Coalition’s youtube channel.

For more information, contact Tracy at [email protected].