Generation Squeeze's Hard Truths

Curing Canada's sickness care system - with André Picard

Generation Squeeze's Hard Truths

Show Notes

When you think about what makes us healthy, do you think of doctors, medicine, and hospitals? Or do you think of affordable housing, living wages, and quality child care? Our health depends much more on the conditions in which we are born, grow, live, work and age than on the medical care we receive. But for decades Canadian governments have devoted more and more of their budgets to medical care, leaving less money for the social supports that matter more to lifelong wellbeing. This unhealthy imbalance in government spending is a major obstacle in our quest to make Canada work more fairly for all generations. So we spoke with award-winning author and journalist André Picard about how curing our “sickness care system” will require greater investment in the building blocks of a healthy society.

⁠André Picard⁠ has been writing about health for ⁠The Globe & Mail⁠ since 1987 and was appointed to the Order of Canada last year for his dedication to public health journalism.

Dig Deeper

⁠Get Well Canada⁠, our alliance pushing Canadian governments to rebalance how they invest in wellbeing

"⁠Canada must rethink health spending strategy⁠" by André Picard, The Globe & Mail

"⁠Smart health-care policy must include affordable housing⁠" by André Picard, The Globe & Mail

⁠CBC Ideas⁠: "We don't have a health-care crisis, it's an implementation crisis, says André Picard"

CCPA's The Monitor featuring Get Well Canada

Watch our video about Past Policy Chickens

More from Generation Squeeze's Hard Truths

Aug 10, 2026

Mark Carney’s economic plan for Building Canada Strong is a medium-term project but Canadians shouldn’t have to wait years for meaningful financial relief. Generation Squeeze founder, Dr. Paul Kershaw explains how small changes to Canada’s federal budget could easily unlock the funds needed to provide greater and more widespread affordability measures for Canadians who genuinely need help now—and do so far more effectively than simply waiting for long-termeconomic growth to arrive.

Jul 14, 2026

“Is Canada Failing the Next Generation?” Generation Squeeze founder, Dr. Paul Kershaw joins award-winning lead columnist at the National Observer, Max Fawcett on his podcast Power Lines⁠. This is a replay of that episode. Their conversation sheds light on the growing generational divide in Canada and explains how reforming retirement income supports might be Canada's best shot at restoring affordability for all!

May 27, 2026

Government budgets shape how we live – and how we feel. The consequences of government policy choices can be seen in new research on happiness. While, baby boomers remain relatively happy, the average life satisfaction of Canadians under age 30 is in steep decline. Gen Squeeze founder, Dr. Paul Kershaw unpacks why young Canadians are increasingly miserable and what we can do about it.

Apr 28, 2026

Old Age Security is the largest program expense in the federal budget and is a driving force behind the federal deficit. A new national poll shows 3/4 of Canadians, including seniors, support reform so that benefits are reduced for higher-income households, and the savings are repurposed to eliminate seniors’ poverty and improve affordability for younger generations. Generation Squeeze founder, Dr. Paul Kershaw explains why OAS reform was once politically untouchable and how things have changed.

Apr 8, 2026

Canada’s National Housing Strategy is the federal government’s main plan for tackling housing affordability. The strategy expires in 2027. If it isn’t renewed, federal housing spending will drop by more than half. Gen Squeeze founder, Dr. Paul Kershaw unpacks what’s at stake and why a housing system that works for the next generation can’t be built on ever-rising home prices for the last.

See all episodes →