American Senator Bernie Sanders says insurance and drug companies, and those with extreme wealth, are hurting health care in the United States and warned Canadians not to allow that to happen on this side of the border.

“It is a shame, it is a disgrace,” he said in a speech in Toronto on Sunday, explaining that 28 million Americans do not have health insurance and that the current U.S. government wants to drop public coverage for millions more to pay for tax cuts for the most wealthy.

“That is what happens when billionaires are able to buy a political party. Don’t let it happen in Canada,” said the former candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination.

The independent senator from Vermont received four standing ovations from a crowd of about 1,500 at the University of Toronto’s Convocation Hall as he described his crusade to reform health care in his country.

Sanders said billionaires such as the Koch brothers, owners of Koch Industries, have hijacked the U.S. political agenda, turning health care into a privilege that only those with financial means can afford, rather than a right for all.

“They are more powerful politically in the United States than either the Republican Party or the Democratic Party,” he said, charging that they have built an “extreme-right wing political network” that donates hundreds of millions to elect right-wing candidates “who represent the interests of the wealthy and powerful.”

The network has funded think-tanks and university research chairs, he continued, adding that they also have significant influence over the media.

Their agenda is to minimize the role of government, except in defence, Sanders said, adding that the result is a shrinking middle class and extreme inequality.

Sanders’ speech capped a weekend visit that included tours of three hospitals on Saturday. He said he was struck by his conversations with patients and doctors about the importance of not having to worry about money during serious illness.

He pointed out that health outcomes in Canada are superior on many fronts to those in the United States. Meantime, publicly covered health care is universal in Canada but costs half what it does in the States, per capita.

“(That’s) because the U.S. system is not designed to provide quality care for all people in a cost effective way, but frankly (is) a system designed to make billions in profit for the drug companies and the insurance companies,” he said.

Sanders acknowledged that Canada’s health system is far from perfect and said Canadians spend too much on drugs.

Despite the shortcomings, he said it would help him on his mission to reform health care in his country if Canadians made more noise about the benefits of universal access.

“We need your help. Stand up, fight for your country to do even better, but defend with pride what you have achieved,” he said.

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Sanders said he is greatly concerned that all over the world, democracies are being threatened by small, wealthy groups that control the economies and politics.

“The fight of the moment is to take on oligarchs,” he said. “What we need to do all over the world is to build strong grassroots movements.”

Sanders said real change never happens from the top down, but the bottom up and is never easy.

He pointed out that public health coverage in Canada and Great Britain started through grassroots movements. That’s also how gains have been made in civil rights, gay rights, women’s rights and environmental protection, he said.

Sanders was introduced by Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, who said he “encourages us to think bold” on health-care reform and minimum wage.

Federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh was also in the crowd, and drew loud cheers from the room of Sanders fans.

With “the immense love” for Sanders, Singh said, “it’s really incredible that there’s this strong love for progressive politics” and Sanders’ message that health care should be viewed as a human right resonates with him, and the NDP.

“That’s why we put forward a motion for pharmacare nationally, and I’d like to see dental included, too,” he said.

Former NDP leader Ed Broadbent called Sanders “North America’s leading social democrat.” Broadbent pointed out that Sanders’ Medicare for All bill, introduced in September, would create a superior system to Canada’s because it would include pharmacare, dental care, eye care and psychological services.

“We do, indeed, have much to learn from him,” Broadbent said of Sanders.

Dr. Kwame McKenzie, CEO of the Wellesley Institute, noted that 60 per cent of what makes people ill are the “social determinants of health,” which include social inclusion and cohesion, democracy, housing, education, equality and freedom from fear of persecution.

Recap: Bernie Sanders speaks at the University of Toronto

Dr. Danielle Martin, a vice-president of Women’s College Hospital, is one of the founders of Canadian Doctors for Medicare, a group committed to protecting universal health care, and was instrumental in bringing Sanders to Canada.

Sanders has referred to her as the “best known Canadian doctor in the United States.” A video of her appearance before a U.S. Senate subcommittee three years ago and posted on Facebook by Sanders has been viewed 31 million times. In it, she addresses tough questions from senators about the Canada’s health system.

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