Michael Moore has a new ally – nurses across Canada.

Following the release of his latest documentary, Sicko, they've become his biggest cheerleaders, sending him emails and promoting the film to friends and family.

The film attacks health care in the U.S., comparing it to countries with universal health care. It lauds Canada for a system that never denies care, has wait times of less than 45 minutes and whose superior service helps Canadians to live an average of three years longer than Americans.

Nurses love the message. At the American debut of the film on June 12, 1,000 nurses gave the film an eight-minute standing ovation.

Last week, Moore arranged to let nurses in the GTA see his film for free. Many took advantage of his offer – and we thought it the perfect chance to find out what those on the front lines think of the movie.





Does the film accurately portray the Canadian system?

"I think it was fairly accurate. I think, personally, we probably have a little longer of a wait time than he showed. He talked about doctors' office wait times being 20 to 40 minutes, which may be accurate, but he didn't go into MRI wait times . . .

"I came back from the U.S. to Canada partly because of the health care system. I realized that if I want to have kids and do things, I don't want to be in the U.S. health system. But I also think you have to be honest about it. I love the (Canadian) system and I want to be here and I wouldn't trade it in for anything. But you need to give viewers the good and the bad. It's not a free system here; you pay larger taxes than in the U.S."

Stacey Stenson, a pediatric oncology nurse at Sick Kids hospital



What in the film moved you?

"I was really moved by the interview he did with the older British gentleman (former Labour MP Tony Benn) talking about the war and the pictures of how everything was just in desolation and how even though they were really poor, they made a choice to take care of everybody and of their most vulnerable."

Lynn Anne Mulrooney, policy analyst and former community nurse





How does the American system differ from the Canadian system at the front line?

"I've cared for critically ill people with catastrophic life-threatening illnesses (for 25 years). . . . The common theme (is) that people get what they need, for the most part, regardless of their ability to pay. . . . I've never talked to a patient about hospital bills; I've only talked about what they need and how I can help them."

Tilda Shalof, critical care nurse, Toronto General Hospital





Why has this movie resonated so strongly with nurses?

"I'm a union activist and the union, we try so hard, we do so much work on public education about the benefit of universal health care. Nothing compares with the impact this movie has. Everyday I go to work, I hear my colleagues talk about what they think."

Betty Wu-Lawrence, public health nurse for more than 30 years



Was there anything unrealistic in how Moore portrayed the Canadian system?

"I think the only one piece was when he talked to people who had waited for only 20 minutes (in the doctor's office). If he had talked to patients in an emergency room here in Toronto, they're not going to say they waited 20 minutes before they got taken care of. So I thought that was a bit of a, perhaps, positive spin on it and not necessarily quite as accurate but for the most part ... (the film) really was."

Gurjit Sangha, pediatric oncology nurse at Sick Kids





What did you learn from his portrayal of the health care systems in Britain and France?

"That there is an important and critical place for prevention. He (Moore) talked about that and how some of the other health care systems really work towards that and provide incentives to their practitioners to keep people healthy as opposed to just taking care of them when they're sick."

Allie Starr, pediatric oncology nurse at Sick Kids



