The crises in health care brought about by years of austerity have created the opportunity to build back better. However, this has also created the opportunity for those searching for profit in all corners of care, from dental offices to home care, telehealth, colonoscopies, and vaccinations. Now more than ever we have to make the distinction between private and profit clear.

It is no accident that health care is Canada’s best-loved social program, even though it has become increasingly meaner and leaner. But we have failed to learn from its success and have so far fallen short in our efforts to build a universal public system for today. We need a new national plan that goes beyond hospitals to include pharmacare, homecare, dental and long-term residential care.