BC FORUM News - from The Advocate, June, 2014

Taking action to save Medicare

Canadians may face bed shortages and more expensive prescription drugs now that the 10-year Health Accord between Ottawa and the provinces has expired. The federal government has walked away from the table, refusing to negotiate a new agreement.

“It means the end of any rational planning for the health care system,” said Michael McBane, executive director of the Canadian Health Coalition (CHC).

To draw attention to the importance of the issue, thousands of Canadians participated in 40 events across the country on March 31, the day the Health Accord expired.

No federal leadership

McBane said a federal voice is needed to work towards equality of access throughout the country.

“The voice of Canada is the federal government, not the provinces. So national standards – to ensure equity of access regardless of where you live or your ability to pay – is a uniquely federal role. Nobody else can play that role,” said McBane.

On the same day, the federal government shut down the Health Council of Canada which reported on health care problems and identified best practices to fix them.

“Without the Council, no one is doing that work,” he said.

The Harper government has also announced, without consultation, that it is changing the funding arrangement with provinces and territories. They have eliminated the built-in equalization mechanism, starting this year. They will cut Ottawa’s anticipated contribution to Medicare by $36 billion, starting in 2017.

“Instead of negotiating a new Health Accord, Conservatives are downloading health care costs onto the provinces and turning their backs on a system that Canadians have relied on for generations,” said Libby Davies, NDP Health Critic.

“As a result, we will see increased disparities across the country – longer wait times, reduced front-line services, and lack of access to home and long-term care,” she said.

Rich Alberta gets more

The end of the equalization system means the federal contribution to health care will fluctuate widely across Canada.

Alberta gets an extra $1 billion this year. B.C. loses $250 million. The federal share of health costs will be slashed from 20 percent to 11 percent in Manitoba. It will be increased from 15 percent to 20 percent in Alberta.

The funding changes imposed by the Harper government will undermine the provinces’ ability to meet the requirements of the Canada Health Act, said McBane.

“You can’t have a universal social program unless you have the financial means to have poorer regions subsidized or financially supported,” he said.

“The sole gainer in this is Alberta. Almost everybody else loses,” said McBane.