After many years of success, EvidenceNetwork.ca is no longer in operation. We would like to thank everyone who has contributed to the organization over the past decade including our dedicated researchers, newspaper editors, readers and funders. However, now it is time to move onto new ways of looking at knowledge mobilization and policy. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact Shannon Sampert at s.sampert@uwinnipeg.ca.

Economics

It’s time to tear down the “welfare wall” for persons with disabilities

A federal disability benefit could be modelled on the GIS for seniors A version of this commentary appeared in the Toronto Star, the Winnipeg Free Press and the Huffington Post The talk of walls between nations garners significant attention. There is virtually no discussion, by contrast, of the walls that exist within nations.  In Canada, […]

What should we be paying for in our publicly funded health system?

A version of this commentary appeared in the Globe & Mail, the Canadian Healthcare Network and The Province As a recent Globe and Mail investigation has noted, some Canadians have had to pay extra for care that they thought would be fully covered. The investigation reveals how complex this set of issues can be. As many […]

To improve value and spur innovation, we need to change the way we pay for health care

A version of this commentary appeared in the Toronto Star, Huffington Post and Kelowna Daily Courier Health care costs the public sector about $160 billion a year in Canada, a higher per capita cost than most industrialized nations.  Yet Canadians are not markedly healthier nor do we receive better care. The Commonwealth Fund has ranked […]

Winners and losers in the changing world of the Canada Health Transfer

A version of this commentary appeared in the Hill Times, Huffington Post, and the Canadian Healthcare Network   The last few years have seen some dramatic changes to the Canada Health Transfer (CHT), which in 2017-18 will total $37.150 billion — no small figure. The Harper era saw the move to a full per capita funding formula without […]

Free medicines for rich kids is actually a fair and efficient policy

A version of this commentary appeared in the Ottawa Citizen, Windsor Star and the Huffington Post Ontario has been the site of dueling pharmacare proposals and Canadians are the victors.  At the end of April, the opposition NDP promised universal drug coverage for a list of essential medicines.  Not to be outdone, the ruling Liberal party […]

What Canada can learn from Australia on health care

A version of this commentary appeared in the Globe & Mail, the Huffington Post and the Victoria Times Colonist. Australia and Canada share many characteristics, but Canadians may not know one of them is that Australia’s universal health insurance scheme, Medicare, was modelled on Canada’s — albeit adapted to account for constitutional differences between the two countries. […]

Why Canada should invest in emergency care for children

Wide variation across the country can be catastrophic and costly A version of this commentary appeared in the Huffington Post, Winnipeg Free Press and Afro News When a child is sick or injured, our health system usually delivers excellent care.  That’s good news.  Yet the adage that “children are not small adults” — and have specific medical […]

Pharmacare for kids

From Ontario’s lips to the feds’ ears A version of this commentary appeared in the Hill Times and the Huffington Post. The Ontario government’s decision to invest in universal drug coverage for those under 25 is a long-needed policy commitment that will help ensure the health of our next generation. As a pediatric oncologist, I see children […]

What does Trump’s agenda mean for Canadian health care?

Trade policy with the United States puts Canadian medicare in the crosshairs A version of this commentary appeared in the Globe and Mail and the Canadian Health Network and Ottawa Life Magazine. America is facing a growing threat to the health of its citizens. Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to pass the American […]

Four reasons Canada needs universal pharmacare and what Canadians can do to make it happen now

A version of this commentary appeared in the Toronto Star Ontario has just announced that they will offer a publicly funded pharmacare system for children and youth in Ontario. This is a small step in the right direction, one that is arguably most important for its symbolism in a national debate. Why just a small […]