Why U.S. conservative pundit Glenn Beck is offering help to sick Sask. Woman who applied for assisted death

An international policy expert says an American pundit’s recent commentary on a Regina woman’s medical situation is a distraction from the real issues in Canada’s health-care system.

Glenn Beck, former Fox News host and current owner of far-right news site The Blaze, posted on X this week that he wants to help connect Jolene Van Alstine, who says she has struggled for years to access specialized surgery for a rare disease, with doctors in the U.S.

Tom McIntosh, a professor of politics and international studies at the University of Regina who focuses on health policy, says Canadians should not allow political posturing to draw their attention away from the real problems. 

“Whatever kind of foolish opportunism that Glenn Beck is demonstrating for his own purposes, we, I think, should try not to be distracted by that,” McIntosh said in an interview on Wednesday. ---More...

Imagine your country not being able to help save your life so a generous private US citizen offers to help and the Canadian media instead of thanking him they paint him as a bad guy? Liberal Canadians are legit the worst people on the planet.

What a POS! Imagine your country not being able to help save your life so a generous private US citizen offers to help and the Canadian media instead of thanking him they paint him as a bad guy? Liberal Canadians are legit the worst people on the planet.https://t.co/mp7pK0gLTL…

— Michelle LA???????? (@MichelleLA1981)December 12, 2025