The West Block – Episode 19, Season 13

THE WEST BLOCK
Episode 19, Season 13
Sunday, January 21, 2024

Host: Eric Sorensen

Guest:
Mark Holland, Health Minister

Location:
Ajax, ON (Zoom)

Political Panel:
Jonathan Madison, Republican Strategist—San Francisco
Sarada Peri, Former Obama Senior Speechwriter—Silver Spring, MD.

Location:
Ottawa Studio

Eric Sorensen: Overcrowded hospitals, long wait times, not enough staff. What’s the solution to Canada’s health care crisis?

I’m Eric Sorensen, sitting in for Mercedes Stephenson. The West Block starts now.

A year ago, the federal Liberals announced billions of dollars in health care spending for the provinces. So why are doctors and patients saying the system is getting worse?
Ahead of the Liberal cabinet retreat, we asked the federal health minister.

And, after a resounding victory in Iowa, can anyone stop Donald Trump’s momentum? As primary season gets underway, we dig into the Republic race for president and the implications for Canada.

The prime minister is meeting with his cabinet in Montreal for the next two days. It’s a chance for the Liberals to reset the agenda ahead of next week’s return to Parliament. It comes at a time when they’re struggling in the polls against Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre and the Conservatives on the agenda, housing affordability, and improving health care, and that’s our focus today.

Last week, we heard from two doctors who described the crisis hitting emergency rooms and hospitals right now.

Dr. Trevor Jain, Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians: “You talk to any emergency department. We can stand being busy. We don’t mind being busy, but overcrowding kills and that’s what we’re starting to see.”

Dr. Kathleen Ross, CMA President: “We’ve gotten very good at naming the problem. We’ve