Canadian Health Equity

About Canadian Health Equity

A Podcast That Shares The Hard Truths About Healthcare for Refugees & Vulnerable Populations in Canada.

Publisher

Canadian Centre for Refugee and Immigrant Healthcare

Category

health & fitness

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

5 Jun 2025

Latest episode

6 Aug 2025

Latest episodes

9 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   6 Aug 2025

   Marcia Stewart’s Hard Truths About Healthcare in Canada

   Canada promises opportunity, safety, and a better future—and supposedly, healthcare in Canada is something people can trust. But for many immigrant families, the journey is anything but simple. Navigating a new country often means sacrificing stability, status, and even health. For Marcia Stewart, uprooting her life in Jamaica to give her sons a brighter future in Canada led to years of uncertainty, legal limbo, and unimaginable loss. Despite doing everything right—attending school, working legally, paying taxes—her family fell through the cracks of a system that didn’t see them, until it was too late. In this episode of Canadian Health Equity, host Maggie John sits down with Marcia to explore healthcare in Canada and her deeply personal and painful journey through Canada’s immigration system. From navigating complex visa rules to discovering her son’s type one diabetes through the Canadian Centre for Refugee and Immigrant Health Care, Marcia recounts moments of resilience, heartbreak, and faith. Her story exposes the often invisible cost of Canada’s bureaucratic failures, where a missed payment, misunderstood rule, or denied permit can change a life forever. Marcia’s story is a call to recognize the families holding this nation together—and to ensure that dignity and care are not reserved only for the privileged. Listen to understand the human impact of policy gaps, the role of grassroots healthcare providers, and the strength it takes to keep believing in a country after profound loss.

2. 

   30 Jul 2025

   What’s at Stake Without Legal Status? Dr. Paul Caulford and Judi Simms Explain

   In 2024, Canada made headlines across the globe by announcing a significant shift in its immigration policy: a planned reduction of permanent residents from 500,000 in 2024 to 395,000 in 2025, with a further decline to 365,000 by 2026. This marks one of the most aggressive tightening of immigration quotas in recent years. It sparked anxiety among temporary foreign workers, refugee claimants, international students, and undocumented individuals already residing in the country, many of whom lack a clear pathway to legal status. As Canada's birth rate dwindles and its economic reliance on immigration increases, residents and policymakers are left with a fundamental question: can a country that depends on migrants afford to restrict their entry—or worse—ignore the ones already here? In this episode of Canadian Health Equity, Maggie John sits down with immigration consultant and paralegal Judi Simms and Dr. Paul Caulford, co-founder of the Canadian Centre for Refugee and Immigrant Health Care. Together, they explore the emotional and policy-driven landscape of Canada’s decision to reduce immigration targets, the legal and humanitarian challenges facing undocumented workers, and why ignoring this growing demographic will only deepen the nation’s economic and social fractures. Whether you’re a policymaker, advocate, immigrant, or simply a concerned citizen, this episode is a powerful listen. --- This podcast was brought to you by the Canadian Centre for Refugee & Immigrant Healthcare, located in Scarborough, Ontario. This series is produced by Lead Podcasting in partnership with Change Made Studios. If you like this podcast, please subscribe, share and consider becoming a supporter by donating today: https://healthequity.kindful.com/ For more information on the Canadian Centre for Refugee & Immigrant Healthcare, visit https://www.healthequity.ca

3. 

   23 Jul 2025

   Undocumented Migrants in Canada: Dr. Caulford Reveals What the Public Needs to Know

   Thousands of undocumented migrants in Canada are without access to the basic rights many take for granted. Despite their critical contributions to the economy—often in dangerous, low-paying jobs—these individuals remain invisible in policy conversations and healthcare systems. Caught between fear of deportation and the need to survive, they endure chronic illness, discrimination, and exploitation in silence. The very act of seeking medical help can feel like a risk too great to take. Their lives are marked by resilience, but also by a relentless precarity that no human being should have to endure. In this episode of Canadian Health Equity, we hear the story of Marcus, an undocumented migrant who has lived in Canada since 2008, and Dr. Paul Caulford, co-founder of the Canadian Centre for Refugee and Immigrant Healthcare. Marcus speaks candidly about the emotional cost of separation from his family, his struggles with diabetes, and the constant threat of being taken advantage of by employers. Dr. Caulford provides critical insight into the systemic failures that allow such suffering to persist—and the human rights responsibility Canada holds in providing care to all who call this country home. Together, they expose the deep disconnect between Canada’s public image of compassion and the lived experience of those it leaves behind. Gain insight into the barriers to equitable care, the power of community-driven solutions, and the urgent need for systemic change. Dr. Caulford’s experiences will inspire you to rethink how Canada can better support its newcomers, ensuring compassion translates into action. --- This podcast was brought to you by the Canadian Centre for Refugee & Immigrant Healthcare, located in Scarborough, Ontario. This series is produced by Lead Podcasting in partnership with Change Made Studios. If you like this podcast, please subscribe, share and consider becoming a supporter by donating today: https://healthequity.kindful.com/ For more information on the Canadian Centre for Refugee & Immigrant Healthcare, visit https://www.healthequity.ca

4. 

   16 Jul 2025

   What Syrian Refugees Taught Dr. Paul Caulford About Trust and Care

   Canada’s response to the 2016 crisis of Syrian refugees revealed both the strength and fragility of its healthcare and resettlement systems. When thousands of families arrived, fleeing war and trauma, a Scarborough hotel transformed into a vital shelter, offering refuge but also exposing the complexities of providing equitable healthcare. From addressing deep-seated trauma to navigating cultural barriers and unmet medical needs, the challenges were immense. In this episode of Canadian Health Equity, host Maggie John engages with Dr. Paul Caulford, co-founder of the Canadian Centre for Refugee and Immigrant Healthcare, to explore how this former hotel became a lifeline during one of Canada’s largest resettlement efforts. Dr. Caulford did a deep dive into the ongoing challenges of refugee shelters, from pest-infested living conditions to the housing crisis that traps families in limbo. It offers a sobering look at the intersection of healthcare and humanitarian efforts. Gain insight into the barriers to equitable care, the power of community-driven solutions, and the urgent need for systemic change. Dr. Caulford’s experiences will inspire you to rethink how Canada can better support its newcomers, ensuring compassion translates into action. --- This podcast was brought to you by the Canadian Centre for Refugee & Immigrant Healthcare, located in Scarborough, Ontario. This series is produced by Lead Podcasting in partnership with Change Made Studios. If you like this podcast, please subscribe, share and consider becoming a supporter by donating today: https://healthequity.kindful.com/ For more information on the Canadian Centre for Refugee & Immigrant Healthcare, visit https://www.healthequity.ca

5. 

   9 Jul 2025

   How a Social Worker Helps Immigrants Rebuild in Canada

   Social workers Liezl and Patria discuss how the Canadian Centre for Refugee and Immigrant Healthcare assists immigrants in overcoming systemic barriers to accessing healthcare and rebuilding their lives with dignity in this interview with host Maggie John.

6. 

   2 Jul 2025

   Solving Refugee Healthcare Challenges with Community Support: Liberty Andaya’s Journey

   Liberty Andaya discusses the healthcare challenges refugees and asylum seekers face in Canada, and the Canadian Centre for Refugee and Immigrant Healthcare's community-driven support, in an interview with Maggie John.

7. 

   25 Jun 2025

   Protecting Vulnerable Populations: Dr. Paul Caulford on Canada’s Refugee Care

   Host Maggie John interviews Dr. Paul Caulford about the healthcare barriers and dangers that refugees and asylum seekers face when trying to find safety in Canada, especially with changing global politics.

8. 

   20 Jun 2025

   Health Equity in Canada: Dr. Paul Caulford’s Fight for Refugee Care

   Host Maggie John interviews Dr. Paul Caulford about the Canadian Centre for Refugee and Immigrant Healthcare, which reveals disparities in healthcare access for refugees and immigrants, highlighting the need for equitable care.

9. 

   5 Jun 2025

   Introducing Canadian Health Equity

   Host Maggie John introduces Canadian Health Equity, a podcast exploring healthcare challenges and heroic stories from the Canadian Centre for Refugee and Immigrant Health Care.

Who has been a guest on Canadian Health Equity

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Liezl
• Patria
• Liberty Andaya
• Dr Paul Caulford

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

882

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Podcast Authority Score: 50 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

73

Social presence

0

YouTube

66

Engagement

0

Contact Canadian Health Equity

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.