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While Sanders called Canada’s system innovative, he also countered that no country has a perfect system, and that every country should strive to do better.

“No country in the world has all of the answers and never will, as technology changes and needs change,” said Sanders.

“We look all over the world and ask the hard questions, is it working better there, what can we do to make our system better?”

Photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS/Mark Blinch

Kwame McKenzie, the CEO of Wellesley Institute, an organization that works to improve Canada’s healthcare through policy change, said he appreciated Sanders’ remarks because Canada still has a long way to go.

“The last time that Canada was compared on the world stage for its healthcare, our healthcare system came 11th,” said McKenzie.

“There are a whole bunch of people who are getting better outcomes and comprehensive care than we have.”

Kwame said he hopes that more Canadian specialists start speaking out about how health care can be improved.

Another expert at the event said that Sanders’ presence in Canada will help to move that dialogue forward.

Photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS/Mark Blinch

We know that there are lots of challenges and problems that we’re trying to address,” said Danielle Martin, Vice President of Medical Affairs and Health System Solutions at the Women’s College Hospital.

“Having someone like Bernie Sanders come to Canada to learn from those basic values and principles… is a really good opportunity for Canadians to reconnect with those values.”

Sanders closed his speech encouraging Canadians to make themselves heard on the world stage to help improve their own healthcare system and systems around the world.

“I know that Canadians are well known through the world as friends and kind people. Be a little bit louder,” Sanders said.