
SOS Medicare 3.0 Conference + Political Action Training
Join health care workers, advocates and experts this February in Ottawa
as we gear up to mobilize for public health care before the federal election.
February 24-25, 2025
The Westin Ottawa
11 Colonel By Drive
Governor General Ballroom Level 4
FREE ADMISSION
The SOS Medicare 3.0 conference aims to ensure that defending and expanding Medicare is on the 2025 election agenda. The conference builds on past SOS Medicare conferences held in 1979 and 2007 and would continue to amplify a vision for the future of Medicare.

Speakers

Jason MacLean
Chair of Canadian Health Coalition

Linda Silas
President, Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions

Siobhán Vipond
VP, Canadian Labour Congress

Jagmeet Singh
NDP Leader

Mark Holland
Minister of Health

Uzoma Asagwara
Minister of Health for Manitoba
Other speakers include
- Pat Armstrong
- Dr. Isabelle LeBlanc
- Ivy Bourgeault
- Dr. Brandon Doucet
- Fae Johnstone
- Y.Y. Chen
- Frédérique Chabot
- DJ Larkin
- Greg Marchildon
- Janice Willier
- Françoise Ramel
- Tyler Downey
- + more!
Schedule
Download as PDF – updated Feb 5th.
Day 1 – February 24, 2025
SOS Medicare 3.0 Conference
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- Welcome by Jason MacLean, Chair, Canadian Health Coalition and Linda Silas, President, Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions
- Hon. Mark Holland, Minister of Health
- Jagmeet Singh, NDP Leader
- Uzoma Asagwara, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, Seniors and Long-term Care of Manitoba
- Frédérique Chabot, Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights
- Pat Armstrong, Distinguished Research Professor in Sociology, York University
- Dr. Brandon Doucet, Coalition for Dental Care
12:00 – 1:00 PM
Lunch provided
1:00 – 5:00 PM
- Greg Marchildon, author of Tommy Douglas and the Quest for Medicare in Canada
- Ivy Bourgeault, Canadian Health Workforce Network
- Jo Voisin, Assistant Deputy Minister, Health Policy Branch, Health Canada
- Dr. Isabelle LeBlanc, Médecins québécois pour le régime public
- Janice Willier, Sucker Creek First Nation, Treaty 8
- Fae Johnstone, 2SLGBTQIA+ and mental health advocate
- Y.Y. Chen, migrant health scholar, University of Ottawa
- DJ Larkin, Canadian Drug Policy Coalition
- Nell Toussaint Award Announcement
5:00 – 7:00 PM
Reception
Day 2 – February 25, 2025
Workers Together: Canadian Labour Congress Political Action Training
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
The Canadian Labour Congress Political Action Training will help you get ready to fight for public health care in the lead up to the federal election. You will develop skills and build winning plans for public health care. Lunch is provided.
- The Working Together campaign
- The political landscape and opinion polling
- Health care stories from front-line workers
With Siobhán Vipond, Vice-President, Canadian Labour Congress.