This issue presents portions of a challenging analysis by respected Canadian health care advocate Dr. Nuala Kenny, Head of the Department of Bio-ethics at Dalhousie University. In her direct, no-nonsense style Dr. Kenny names festering issues and calls Canadians to become involved in the health care system. She urges us to move beyond the private and particular values of our family or group to discover the common values we share as Canadians, whatever our income bracket, education, social standing or ethnic or religious connections, and to insist that policy and practical decisions reflect these values. Ursula Franklin and Bob Rae offer comments related to Dr. Kenny’s thoughts. We believe that giving time to critical reflection on our society and to involvement in public issues is one measure of our integrity as citizens.