Bernie Sanders Enlists Canada To Make The Case For Universal Health Care

TORONTO When Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) arrived at the University of Torontos Simcoe Hall around 10:40 am on Sunday ahead of his sold-out speech on health care and progressive politics, the college students who had lined up outside in the 45-degree weather for standby tickets began to holler with joy. Sanders, grinning, stopped to shake hands and pose for selfies before going inside.

Bisma Ali, a 17-year-old University of Toronto student, had arrived at 5 a.m., ensuring that she and her classmates Tebat Kadhem, 20, and Catherine Stratton, 21, would have spots at the head of the line.

Bernie Sanders represents hope for the younger generation, said Kadhem, who ran unsuccessfully for a Toronto city council seat in February. Even if were Canadian, we see an American politician that is standing up for human rights and standing up for the people that dont have a voice, and we resonate with his message.

Asked if, in an alternative universe, they would ever support Sanders for Canadian prime minister, the three women nodded eagerly.

He should come join Canadian politics in the House of Commons! Wed love him there, Ali said.

Bisma, 17, in the middle showed up at 5 am to hold spots for her UToronto friends to get Bernie tickets on standby. pic.twitter.com/XtMMlWNmBm

Daniel Marans (@danielmarans) October 29, 2017","type":"rich","meta":{"author":"Daniel Marans","author_url":"https://twitter.com/danielmarans","cache_age":86400,"description":"Bisma, 17, in the middle showed up at 5 am to hold spots for her UToronto friends to get Bernie tickets on standby. pic.twitter.com/XtMMlWNmBm— Daniel Marans (@danielmarans) October 29, 2017\n\n","provider_name":"Twitter","thumbnail_height":1536,"thumbnail_url":"https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DNU0PIDUMAANLL2.jpg:large","thumbnail_width":2048,"title":"Daniel Marans on Twitter","type":"rich","url":"https://twitter.com/danielmarans/status/924702740470796288","version":"1.0"},"flags":[],"fullBleed":false,"options":{"theme":"news","device":"mobile","editionInfo":{"id":"us","name":"U.S.","link":"https://action.news","locale":"en_US"},"originalEdition":"us","isMapi":false,"isAmp":false,"isVideoEntry":false,"isEntry":true,"isMt":false,"entryId":"59f771c4e4b0c0c8e67bdba3","entryPermalink":"https://action.news/entry/bernie-sanders-canada-health-care_n_59f771c4e4b0c0c8e67bdba3","entryTagsList":"public-health,bernie-sanders,us-government-resources,obamacare,health-care-reform,democratic-politics,canada,healthcare-industry,toronto,ontario,universal-health-care,university-of-toronto,health-care-in-canada,toronto-general-hospital,@genassign,@health_adhd,@health_depression,@health_erectile,@health_gad,@health_hiv,@health_ibs,@health_models,@health_pain","sectionSlug":"politics","deptSlug":"politics-news","sectionRedirectUrl":null,"subcategories":"healthy-living,us-news,world-news","isWide":false,"headerOverride":null,"noVideoAds":false,"disableFloat":false,"isNative":false,"commercialVideo":{"provider":"custom","site_and_category":"us.politics","package":null},"isHighline":false,"vidibleConfigValues":{"cid":"60afc111dcf87c2cd2f5d8bf","overrides":{"front_page_top_videos":{"desktop":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","mobileweb":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d"},"top_media":{"desktop":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","mobile":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"anthology":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"content":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"}},"playerUpdates":{"5668ae6ee4b0b5e26955d6a6":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","56aa41bae4b091744c0440d8":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81","5841b2b5cc52c716ec6e5a7f":"60b8e355cdd90620331ba185","58b5e2b8d85a10302feee895":"60b64316b171b7444beafdb2","58b74698f78ced31417819ae":"60b8e5bec5449357a7ad9b52","58b74ccecebcea57e2c3a3d1":"60b8e5eac5449357a7ad9ca5","58cff690d85a100b9992bc39":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","58cffb3fb6d9b972a49a3c9d":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","58cffdd74d96935d7d6ec180":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","58d03a84f78ced6518eb2fa7":"60b643c82e76be41f112735c","592edf20e0fa177b0c26f7fd":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","5b35266b158f855373e28256":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","5c116f29f79c4171d82b7c2a":"60b64440b171b7444beb040b","5c1170fc600c9a697bf0c6b9":"60b646102e76be41f1127ffc","5c47791afa1b317df8ae0c4f":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","5c477987a6b48b35f164773d":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","5c4779ee943c3c2a64f28371":"60b8e747cdd90620331bb861","5c477a26fcd67b26879bc7c2":"60b8e788c5449357a7ada67b","5d8921a78c3ae845f366c9b6":"60ae7be5f3a7c13a30417ff9","58b98b00ba82aa39a6534321":"60d0de7c9340d7032ad1146c","58b9d14cb6d9b96c9ec32af3":"60d0dec19340d7032ad115a0","58cff8eccebcea42931e0436":"60d0e005b627221e9d819d44","592edf5de0fa177b0c26f95b":"60d0e38fb627221e9d81adcf","58cff72fd85a100b9992c112":"60d0e447b627221e9d81b0da","56b4d34fe4b022697697c400":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","60b8e4c0c5449357a7ad957d":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81"}},"connatixConfigValues":{"defaultPlayer":"ff7fdddc-5441-4253-abc4-f12a33fad58b","clickToPlayPlayer":"d014396e-b366-4c17-aeac-3ce906fa3fd0","videoPagePlayer":"f010447b-d244-4111-a314-7b4542ae4145","verticalPlayer":"e58cb05a-0bc8-4210-9108-fea82726c065","stickyPlayerControl":"52ea1755-d601-4ad1-bccc-d8cce3f0e5da","stickyPlayerON":"8055e9e5-3bda-4933-8d45-9ad814fb6e22"},"topConnatixThumnbailSrc":"https://img.connatix.com/75a3e370-81b8-4850-9d2b-9a3f1b61088e/1_th.jpg?crop=480:270,smart&width=480&height=270&format=jpeg&quality=60&fit=crop","customAmpComponents":[],"ampAssetsUrl":"https://amp.assets.huffpost.com","videoTraits":null,"positionInUnitCounts":{"buzz_head":{"count":0},"buzz_body":{"count":0},"buzz_bottom":{"count":0}},"positionInSubUnitCounts":{"article_body":{"count":16},"blog_summary":{"count":0},"before_you_go_content":{"count":0}},"connatixCountsHelper":{"count":1},"buzzfeedTracking":{"context_page_id":"59f771c4e4b0c0c8e67bdba3","context_page_type":"buzz","destination":"huffpost","mode":"mobile","page_edition":"en-us"},"tags":[{"name":"public health","slug":"public-health","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/public-health","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/public-health","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/public-health"},"relegenceSubjectId":982236,"department":{"name":"Life","slug":"lifestyle"},"section":{"title":"Wellness","slug":"healthy-living"},"topic":{"title":"Public Health","slug":"public-health","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/life/topic/public-health"},{"name":"Bernie Sanders","slug":"bernie-sanders","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/bernie-sanders","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/bernie-sanders","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/bernie-sanders"},"relegenceId":3548003,"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"Bernie Sanders","slug":"bernie-sanders","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/bernie-sanders"},{"name":"U.S. Government Resources","slug":"us-government-resources","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/us-government-resources","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/us-government-resources","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/us-government-resources"},"relegenceSubjectId":6378651,"url":"https://action.news/topic/us-government-resources"},{"name":"Obamacare","slug":"obamacare","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/obamacare","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/obamacare","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/obamacare"},"relegenceId":4213842,"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"Affordable Care Act","slug":"affordable-care-act","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/affordable-care-act"},{"name":"Health Care Reform","slug":"health-care-reform","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/health-care-reform","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/health-care-reform","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/health-care-reform"},"relegenceSubjectId":980152,"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"Health Care Reform","slug":"health-care-reform","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/health-care-reform"},{"name":"Democratic Politics","slug":"democratic-politics","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/democratic-politics","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/democratic-politics","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/democratic-politics"},"relegenceSubjectId":4944926,"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"Democratic Party","slug":"democratic-party","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/democratic-party"},{"name":"Canada","slug":"canada","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/canada","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/canada","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/canada"},"relegenceId":3856018,"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"World News","slug":"world-news"},"topic":{"title":"Canada","slug":"canada","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/canada"},{"name":"Healthcare Industry","slug":"healthcare-industry","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/healthcare-industry","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/healthcare-industry","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/healthcare-industry"},"relegenceSubjectId":980160,"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"Health Care","slug":"health-care","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/health-care"},{"name":"toronto","slug":"toronto","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/toronto","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/toronto","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/toronto"},"relegenceId":3457140,"url":"https://action.news/topic/toronto"},{"name":"ontario","slug":"ontario","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/ontario","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/ontario","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/ontario"},"url":"https://action.news/topic/ontario"},{"name":"universal health care","slug":"universal-health-care","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/universal-health-care","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/universal-health-care","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/universal-health-care"},"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"Health Care","slug":"health-care","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/health-care"},{"name":"University of Toronto","slug":"university-of-toronto","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/university-of-toronto","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/university-of-toronto","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/university-of-toronto"},"relegenceId":4012283,"url":"https://action.news/topic/university-of-toronto"},{"name":"Health care in Canada","slug":"health-care-in-canada","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/health-care-in-canada","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/health-care-in-canada","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/health-care-in-canada"},"relegenceId":3503019,"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"Health Care","slug":"health-care","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/health-care"},{"name":"Toronto General Hospital","slug":"toronto-general-hospital","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/toronto-general-hospital","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/toronto-general-hospital","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/toronto-general-hospital"},"relegenceId":3602564,"url":"https://action.news/topic/toronto-general-hospital"}],"isLiveblogLive":null,"isLiveblog":false,"cetUnit":"buzz_body","bodyAds":["

\r\n\r\n","

\r\n\r\n"],"adCount":0},"isCollectionEmbed":false,"enhancements":{}}">

Bisma, 17, in the middle showed up at 5 am to hold spots for her UToronto friends to get Bernie tickets on standby. pic.twitter.com/XtMMlWNmBm
Daniel Marans (@danielmarans) October 29, 2017

Sanders was treated to similar rock star receptions over and over again during a visit to Toronto this past weekend that was officially devoted to learning about the Canadian health care system a publicly financed, universal program that Sanders has spent his entire career pushing the United States to emulate . Before Sundays Simcoe Hall event, where he received standing ovations from more than 1,000 cheering fans and soaring praise from left-of-center Ontario politicians, he toured world-class hospitals on Saturday, where one pharmacist fanned herself, claiming she had felt the Bern.

Of course, the key audience for Sanders trip was back home. Over the course of his trip, he was keen to dispel Republican Party myths about the Canadian health care system and shatter the U.S. stigma against learning from other countries health policies.

The senator is hoping the facts found on his trip to Canada will help boost the campaign for single-payer health care insurance in the U.S.

On Sunday, Sanders warned that the situation in the United States where Republicans , backed by billionaires like the Koch brothers, are trying to dismantle recent expansions of health coverage and gut social programs to pay for tax cuts could reach Canada too, if the Canadian people are not sufficiently vigilant.

The contemporary GOP is what happens when billionaires are able to buy a political party. Dont let it happen in Canada, he declared to sustained applause from the crowd.

Cementing ties to left-leaning Canadian lawmakers, activists and young people was a beneficial byproduct of Sanders journey. Since the 2016 presidential run that earned him international fame, he has become a kind of roving ambassador for left-wing ideals.

Hes like the face of progressive politics in North America, said Graham Coulter, a 22-year-old history student at the University of Toronto, who came to see Sanders speak.

But for U.S. policy wonks hoping to learn more about the tradeoffs of Canadas health care system, much less for progressive strategists in search of ideas for overcoming the considerable obstacles to passing single payer in the U.S., Sanders foreign visit was less useful.

The tour on Saturday, which Sanders staff organized in conjunction with the office of Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne and staff at Womens College Hospital in Toronto, was heavy on Canadian health care success stories and arguments against conservative criticism of the single-payer system.

Sanders Saturday itinerary was focused on specialty wings in three hospitals clustered in the citys downtown: Womens College, Mount Sinai and Toronto General, locations that undoubtedly offered a rosier window into the health care system than a rural clinic or urban emergency room would provide. He was accompanied by Wynne (a member of the center-left Liberal Party), three U.S. medical professionals Sanders had invited, and a rotating cast of Canadian doctors, hospital executives and patients virtually all of them outspoken boosters of single payer.