2024 Festival:
October 21–27

69. Rebuilding Pillars of Society

69. Rebuilding Pillars of Society

The issues of healthcare and housing are always top of mind for Canadians, and key issues in this year’s provincial election. While our political identity has, for decades, included pride for a social safety net, excellent healthcare, and housing for all, these societal pillars are crumbling—and fast. In conversation with the Globe and Mail’s health reporter, André Picard, these two authors offer practical and politically savvy solutions to ensure these basic human rights are available to all. CBC host and author Gregor Craigie speaks to how we can restore social housing and affordable homes in Our Crumbling Foundation; widely respected medical expert and former Minister of Health, Jane Philpott, discusses the change we need to preserve our healthcare system in Health for All. Leave informed… and resolute. Moderated by André Picard.

This event will include ASL interpretation.

Presented thanks to the generous support of the Al Roadburg Foundation.

More information about the Festival:
Box Office | Accessibility | Venue Map

Event Participants:

Gregor Craigie

Gregor Craigie

GREGOR CRAIGIE has been a journalist for more than 25 years at the BBC World Service, CBC Radio, CBS Radio and Public Radio International. He has hosted On The Island on CBC Radio One in Victoria, BC, since 2007. His first book, On Borrowed Time: North America’s Next Big Quake, was a finalist for both the Balsillie Prize for Public Policy and the City of Victoria Book Prize, and was a Globe and Mail Top 100 book in 2021. His first novel, Radio Jet Lag, was published in 2023.

Jane Philpott

Jane Philpott

JANE PHILPOTT is Dean of Health Sciences at Queen's University, a family medicine doctor, and former Member of Parliament who served as Canada's Minister of Health, Minister of Indigenous Services, President of the Treasury Board and Minister of Digital Government.

André Picard

André Picard

ANDRÉ PICARD is the health columnist at The Globe and Mail, and the author of six bestselling non-fiction books, including Matters of Life and Death and Neglected No More. He lives in Vancouver.