Prescriptions
for Health Reform

Matt Gurney is a media entrepreneur and print, digital and broadcast journalist. A military historian by education, Matt began his media career at the National Post, where he began writing in 2007, and where he eventually became the editor of both the editorial board and the commentary pages and Financial Post comment page. As a broadcaster, he has hosted news-focused radio programs on CJAD, CFRB, Global News Radio Toronto and on SiriusXM’s Canada Talks channel, and has offered commentary on all the major Canadian television networks (and a few smaller ones). In 2020, he co-founded The Line, an independent Canadian political magazine and podcasting network. He is currently a columnist for his hometown paper, the Toronto Star, and Ottawa’s The Hill Times.

André Picard is a health reporter and columnist for The Globe and Mail, where he has been a staff writer since 1987. He is also the author of six bestselling books.

André is a two-time winner of the Columns category at Canada’s National Newspaper Awards, and past winner of prestigious Michener Award for meritorious public service journalism.

He was named Canada’s first Public Health Hero by the Canadian Public Health Association, and a Champion of Mental Health by the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health. He received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for his dedication to improving healthcare.

André is a graduate of the University of Ottawa and Carleton University, and has received honorary doctorates from eight universities, including UBC and the University of Toronto.

Christine Van Geyn has been with the CCF since 2020 and is also a bestselling author and host of the national broadcast television program Canadian Justice. Christine earned her undergraduate degree in Political Science and Ethics, Society and Law at the University of Toronto, Trinity College. She earned her JD at Osgoode Hall Law school, and also studied at New York University School of Law. She was called to the bar in Ontario in 2012. Before joining CCF, Christine practiced commercial litigation, and then was the Ontario Director of a national non-profit where she was involved in several high profile constitutional challenges.

Colin Craig is the President of SecondStreet.org, a Canadian think tank he helped launch in 2018. With over 20 years in public policy, he has influenced decisions at all levels of government. He oversees the group’s research and storytelling, and hosts its TV show On Second Street. Formerly with the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, Colin led major transparency and accountability campaigns. He holds an MBA and an economics degree from the University of Manitoba. In 2022, he received the Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal. He is the author of The Government Wears Prada and a contributor to Life After COVID.

Daniel Dufort is a seasoned public policy professional with a law degree from Laval University. He served in the Office of the 22nd Prime Minister of Canada as a speechwriter, issues manager, and advisor on stakeholder relations and strategy. He also worked for the Minister of Infrastructure and the PM’s Quebec lieutenant. In the private sector, he specialized in government relations and crisis management. At the MEI, he served as Senior Director of External Relations and later as VP of Operations. A passionate advocate for freedom, his work has appeared in The Globe and Mail, Financial Post, and La Presse+.

Emmanuelle holds a master’s degree in applied economics from HEC Montréal, where her thesis explored how air pollution affects office worker productivity. Recognized for academic excellence, she received multiple scholarships during her studies. Emmanuelle has worked on a range of public policy issues, including Quebec’s electric vehicle subsidies and their effect on consumer behavior, as well as the influence of the Quebec parental insurance plan on fathers’ parental leave decisions. She joined the MEI team in September 2022. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with family and friends—especially over a good board game.

Josh Dehaas is counsel with the Canadian Constitution Foundation. Josh earned his Juris Doctor from Osgoode Hall Law School, where he volunteered with Innocence Project and was president of Runnymede Society. Josh articled with the Ministry of Attorney General (Ontario) and was called to the bar in 2023. Prior to law school, Josh worked for nearly a decade in journalism including as a web writer for CTV News, as an online editor for Maclean’s, and as a freelance opinion writer for National Post. Josh holds a Master of Journalism degree from UBC and a degree in history from the University of Guelph.

Andrew is the executive vice-president of Leger’s Central Canada operations, including the company’s Winnipeg and Toronto offices. He joined Leger in 2019 (when Leger acquired NRG).

Andrew has over 20 years of experience in the Canadian market research industry, providing strategic advice for a wide range of public and private sector clients. As part of his responsibilities for Leger Central Canada, he actively participates in the company’s national public affairs practice and supports the healthcare and insights research divisions. Andrew is also a media spokesperson at Leger (specifically with respect to public affairs).

Prior to his time in the research industry, Andrew spent almost a decade working in the governments of Canada, Ontario and Manitoba, which provided a solid foundation of policy and communications experience to support clients’ research needs.

After retiring from his position as Premier of Nova Scotia, The Hon. Stephen McNeil joined Cox & Palmer in the role of strategic business advisor in the firm’s Halifax office. His national and international insights and experience help his clients and colleagues recognize and participate in new opportunities throughout Atlantic Canada and beyond.

Until his resignation in February 2021, Stephen was the dean of Canadian premiers, having held the office in Nova Scotia since 2013. In total, he served for 18 years in the Nova Scotia Legislature and was re-elected five times by the voters of Annapolis.

During his time in provincial government, Stephen served as Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Minister of Planning and Priorities, Minister of Regulatory Affairs and Service Effectiveness, Minister responsible for Military Relations, Minister responsible for Social Innovation and Integrative Approaches, and Minister responsible for Youth. He was Leader of the Official Opposition in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 2009 until 2013.

Nadeem Esmail is the Director of Health Policy at the Fraser Institute. He first joined the Fraser Institute in 2001, served as Director of Health System Performance Studies from 2006 to 2009, and was a Senior Fellow from 2010 to 2025. Mr. Esmail has spearheaded critical Fraser Institute research including the annual Waiting Your Turn survey of surgical wait times across Canada and How Good Is Canadian Health Care?, an international comparison of health care systems. In addition, Mr. Esmail has authored or co-authored more than 50 comprehensive studies and more than 150 articles on a wide range of topics including the cost of public health care insurance, international comparisons of health care systems, hospital performance, medical technology, and physician shortages. A frequent commentator on radio and TV, Mr. Esmail’s articles have appeared in newspapers across North America. Mr. Esmail completed his B.A. (Honours) in Economics at the University of Calgary and received an M.A. in Economics from the University of British Columbia.

Dr. Shawn Whatley is a senior fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute. He is a physician and author of the recent book, When Politics Comes Before Patients – Why and how Canadian Medicare is failing. He is also the author of the highly praised book on how to fix emergency wait times in Canada, No More Lethal Waits. He has extensive experience in healthcare administration and medical politics. Whatley is a past president of the Ontario Medical Association (OMA).

Brian Day graduated in medicine from the University of Manchester. After postgraduate studies in internal medicine and general surgery, residency in orthopedics at UBC, and trauma fellowships in Basel, Oxford and USC, he set up practice at VGH and UBC. He was a pioneer in arthroscopic surgery and sports medicine in Canada. Due to his interest in technology, he was involved in developing the world’s first surgical robot and the first ever satellite telemedicine broadcast between North America and China. He was the recipient of the Canadian Orthopaedic Association’s Edouard Samson Award for outstanding research. Dr. Day served as vice president of the Canadian Orthopedic Foundation, a charitable foundation, as well as being on the executive of the Canadian Orthopedic Research Society. He is a former research committee chair and past president of the Arthroscopy Association of North America, the world’s leading academic society in his field. He has lectured worldwide and has published over 200 articles and book chapters.

In addition to academic orthopedics, he has studied, lectured, and written on health policy. He is a past president of the Canadian Medical Association. Despite the deterioration in our healthcare system, Dr. Day is optimistic that physicians, with their knowledge and experience, can lead necessary reform and propose solutions to the current unsustainable system.

In 2014, Dr. Day was honoured to receive the Don Rix Leadership Award from the Doctors of BC. He is a past board member of the BCMA, and is currently a member of the BCMJ editorial board. He is motivated to support the Doctors of BC in creating a health system that is excellent for patients and physicians.

A life-long resident of Vancouver, Kip Woodward is President of Woodcorp Investments Ltd., a private venture capital investment firm. He is on a number of private sector boards and has spent decades helping his community by sitting on a number of non-profit and government boards, including: serving as past Chair of Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, more than 20 years in health governance with St. Paul’s Hospital and its Foundation, as well as past chair of Providence Health Care. He is the Chair of the Keg Royalty Trust Fund, Chairman of SecondStreet.Org, Director The Great Western Brewery Co., Director of Village Farms International, Governor of Brentwood College School, President/Director of Mr. and Mrs. P.A. Woodward’s Foundation, and past Member of the Provincial Judicial Council and past Chair of the Nature Trust of BC. Kip is committed to the not-for-profit sector, helping young entrepreneurs and driving strategy for start-ups and mature businesses. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time fishing, hiking and skiing.

Rosalie Wyonch is an Associate Director of Research at the C.D. Howe Institute, where she leads both the Health Policy Research Initiative and the Small- and Medium-Sized Business Growth Working Group. Her research spans healthcare, innovation, business growth, tax policy, education, and labour markets, with a particular focus on systemic change and innovation in healthcare delivery and business development in Canada.

Before joining the Institute in 2016, Ms. Wyonch was a Research Analyst at the Ontario Ministry of Finance’s Office of Economic Policy. She holds a Master of Arts in Economics and an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Mathematical Economics from the University of Waterloo. Her expertise is recognized through her appointments to the Canadian Institute for Health Information’s National Health Expenditure Advisory Group and past participation in the Healthcare Excellence Canada Policy Circle.

A sought-after policy expert, Ms. Wyonch regularly shares her insights with corporate, government, and academic audiences, and has conducted hundreds of interviews with national and international media outlets.

Walter Robinson is an accomplished and bilingual public affairs executive with 30 years of policy, legislative, and regulatory ‘wins’ at every level of government in Canada. He is nationally recognized for his deep knowledge of parliamentary processes, the machinery of government, and national advocacy leadership in complex and politically charged environments. Today, he runs his own #AIinHealthcare consultancy and manages @AI_4_Healthcare on X and resides in Montreal. 

He served as the Federal Director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (1997-2003) and Chief of Staff to the Mayor of Ottawa (2006-2007). In addition, he has held Vice President roles with Innovative Medicines Canada (2005-2006 and 2010-2015), worked as a Senior Director in the pharmaceutical industry, is a former Board member of The Ottawa Hospital, past-Chair of The Ottawa Cancer Foundation, and recently finished a three-year term on the Board of the Canadian Organization for Rare Disorders.  

His advocacy for patient access to innovative therapies and his commitment to health equity are evident in his public commentary and volunteer work, including boxing (undefeated in five bouts) and then producing and MC-ing the annual Fight for the Cure cancer fundraiser in Ottawa (2008-2025 inclusive). He currently serves as an Advisory Committee Member with the Lundin Cancer Fund–Canadian Cancer Society Glioblastoma Cancer Research Program. Lastly, he is a Founding Board member of SecondStreet.org.

The Honourable Tony Clement has had a long and distinguished career, spanning four decades, in politics, the law and business. He served in senior roles in Prime Minister Harper’s Cabinet (2006-2015) as Health Minister, Industry Minister and President of the Treasury Board. In those roles he was tasked with senior leadership responsibilities. He initiated the cost reductions and business transformations that allowed for the balancing of the federal budget; and he negotiated the deal with Chrysler and GM, auto sector corporations unions and the US Government that saved the domestic auto sector.

As Health Minister for Canada 2006-2008 he fashioned the first National Pandemic Plan. He also created the Canadian Partnership Against Canada and the Mental Health Commission.

He served as a Member of Parliament 2006-2019.

Prior to federal politics Tony Clement served in the cabinets of Ontario Premiers Mike Harris and Ernie Eves (1997-2003), taking leadership positions as Minister of Transportation, Minister of the Environment, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing and Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. During 2003 he was the frontline Health Minister during the SARS outbreak in Ontario.

As a business entrepreneur Tony Clement leads IT startup companies, serves on IT and health care boards and provides strategic advice both nationally and internationally. He continues to operate in international circles, with strong connections in the USA, UK, Europe, South America and Asia, including India. A trained lawyer, he is able to analyze from legal, geopolitical and financial perspectives. He is Chairman of the Board of Altrova Health Inc., a Canadian public health, wellness, and medical technology company based in Vancouver.