Health Policy Off Script! Unfiltered Conversations about the Canadian Health System
Season 1
Season 2 Confirmed and Coming Soon!
Canada's health system is stuck in a cycle of crisis and recycled solutions. "Overcoming Policy Roadblocks" confronts the erosion of the principles of healthcare policy inaction through fearless, evidence-informed episodes.
Featuring candid interviews with policymakers, practitioners, thought leaders and patients. Each thematic episode unpacks barriers to progress and proposes realistic paths forward. It’s time for a new conversation—one that empowers the audience to be mad and motivated instead of sad and demoralized.
Tune in for unvarnished insight, and a roadmap to a better system.
Hosts
Steven Lewis is a health policy and research consultant in Vancouver, Canada.
Ivy Lynn Bourgeault, PhD, is a Professor in the School of Sociological and Anthropological Studies at the University of Ottawa and the University Research Chair in Gender, Diversity and the Professions.
Dale McMurchy is an independent health policy consultant and researcher based in Ontario, Canada.
Podcast music by Tyra Jutai
https://tyrajutai.com/ (https://tyrajutai.com/)
@tyrajutai
As we prepare for future guests and topics, what have we learned and where do we need to focus the health policy discussion?
A conversation with the three hosts:
Steven Lewis a health policy and research consultant
Ivy Lynn Bourgeault a Professor in the School of Sociological and Anthropological Studies at the University of Ottawa and the University Research Chair in Gender, Diversity and the Professions.
Dale McMurchy an independent health policy consultant and researcher based in Ontario, Canada.
27 Jul 2026
Healthier Communities | Featuring Sarah Hobbs
Healthier communities, healthier population, healthier partnerships and healthier relationships. How do we manage this, move forward and support our system as it grows and works to improve.
This episode features Sarah Hobbs, Chief Executive Officer for the Alliance for Healthier Communities with host Dale McMurchy.
20 Jul 2026
Integrated Care | Featuring Walter Wodchis
Wouldn't being cared for or caring for yourself be so much easier if everyone involved in our care integrated and worked together? Of course it would!
This episode with feature Walter Wodchis from The University of Toronto. Internationally renowned for his work and knowledge on integrated care, health policy and health economics.
The conversation will be lead by Dale McMurchy and Steven Lewis.
13 Jul 2026
Aging! Should you Accept your Fate? | Featuring Dr. Damien Contandriopoulos
We are all aging. We know what we want, we know what we need, but does the system have the resources or will power to support us?
This episode features Dr. Damien Contandriopoulos from the School of Nursing at the University of Victoria. Damien's career focuses on Primary care, Nurse practitioners, Health policy, Home Care, Nursing, Physician compensation, Social Network Analysis, Realist evaluation, Knowledge Exchange.
Damien will be joined by our hosts Ivy Bourgeault and Steven Lewis.
6 Jul 2026
The Stigma of Mental Health and Illness | Featuring Dr. Kwame McKenzie
Do we have the political will to really move on mental health?
Stay connectedExerciseLearn something newBe MindfulVolunteer
A discussion on mental health and illness with Dr. Kwame McKenzie: CEO of Wellesley Institute, a full Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto, Director of Health Equity at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), and a practicing psychiatrist.
With our hosts Ivy Lynn Bourgeault and Dale McMurchy
29 Jun 2026
The Public vs. Private Discussion | Featuring Colleen Flood
Reasonable access and compressive healthcare - does private healthcare have a place?What does accessible and reasonable accesses mean?
Featuring Colleen M. Flood. Dean, Faculty of Law, Queen's University. Colleen is recognized as a leading Canadian scholar in health law and policy.
Hosted by: Steven Lewis and Dale McMurchy
22 Jun 2026
The Craziness of Primary Care
What is Primary Care and what can be done?
The conversation will feature our three hosts:
Steven Lewis: A health policy and research consultant
Ivy Lynn Bourgeault: PhD, Professor at the School of Sociological and Anthropological Studies at the University of Ottawa and the University Research Chair in Gender, Diversity and the Professions.
Dale McMurchy: An independent health policy consultant and researcher.
15 Jun 2026
Health Workforce - What's the Plan? | Featuring Arthur Sweetman
Health Workforce. Do we have a plan?
Featured guest: Arthur Sweetman, Professor of Economics, Director, Health Policy PHD, McMaster University. Arthur Sweetman Bio
Hosts: Ivy Bourgeault and Dale McMurchy
8 Jun 2026
Count on Ability | Featuring Janet Davidson
Who is accountable in and for our health system?
Featured guest: Janet Davidson, a past administrator of the Nova Scotia Health Authority and Deputy Minister of Health for Alberta. Janet's Bio and hosts
Steven Lewis and Dale McMurchy
1 Jun 2026
How it All Broke | Featuring Kelly Lamrock
How it all Broke - Why Does Reform Keep Failing?
Featured guest: Kelly Lamrock, Advocate for New Brunswick. About Kelly
with hosts
Steven Lewis and Dale McMurchy
Link to Report:
How it all Broke: This report identifies five core governance failures across multiple departments that are negatively impacting social programs and depriving New Brunswickers of services.
1 Jun 2026
Status Quo is Not an Option!
Time for change, talk is no longer an option, action is a requirement.
Featuring our hosts
Dale McMurchy is an independent health policy consultant and researcher based in Ontario, Canada.
Ivy Lynn Bourgeault, PhD, is a Professor in the School of Sociological and Anthropological Studies at the University of Ottawa and the University Research Chair in Gender, Diversity and the Professions.
Steven Lewis is a health policy and research consultant.
More
1 Jun 2026
Why this Podcast? How is it Different?
The first episode in the Health Policy Off Script series that will explore Canada's health system.
Find out why Ivy Bourgeault, Steven Lewis and Dale McMurchy have decided now is the time to have hard conversations and explore real truths about policy and healthcare in an open forum.
Visit https://www.longwoods.com/pages/health-policy-off-script-podcast for updates on the podcast, links to reports and papers and more.
4 May 2026
Coming Soon! Health Policy Off Script
Releasing June 1st! Real conversations, real truths, real opinions! Lead by Steven Lewis, Dale McMurchy and Ivy Bourgeault and special guests!
17 Apr 2026
Health Policy Off Script Teaser
Getting ready to launch Health Policy Off Script!
Coming June 1st, 2026
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