WHEREAS the Government of Canada is entrusted with responsibility for the welfare and wellbeing of its citizens;
WHEREAS the Government of Canada legislated a publicly funded and administered National Health Care program to ensure and provide for the health and well-being of every Canadian;
WHEREAS the government of Canada in order to provide clarity described the principles of universality, accessibility, comprehensiveness, portability and public administration in the Canada Health Act;
WHEREAS the government of Canada has responsibility to defend the principles as outlined in the Canada Health Act, including with respect to extra-billing and other charges as outlined in sections 18 to 21;
WHEREAS the majority of Canadians continue to support and want publicly funded and administered health services;
WHEREAS forces within and outside of Canada desiring deregulation and privatization regularly malign and attack publicly funded Health Care;
BE IT RESOLVED that the Liberal Party of Canada and a Liberal government reiterate its full endorsement and commitment to the principles of the Canada health Act;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Liberal Party and future Liberal Governments take special responsibility to improve public health and speak in defense of publicly funded health care.
Liberal Party of Canada (Alberta)
I pay $1400 a years for drug coverage, for my wife and myself (we are also pretty healthy). I would willingly pay this amount and more into a government sponsored program that covered all our medical needs. I feel everyone should pay into a government health care plan, based on their income. I don’t feel however that the government should run the program, but setting the guide lines. Then the medical care insurance companies should bid on the right to administer blocks of the program, they will do it more efficientlty than the government.
Health care is much broader than being able to see a Doctor or get treatment in the Hospital, it is about keeping people healthy and active and in their own homes. In order to do the full job it may, in meny instances be more efficient to have and element of private healthcare involved. It is who pays and how it is paid that is the key element here. I don’t think it is desirable to have people needing treatment and in a private clinic and it costing thousands of dollars. I feel people have a responsibility to themselves and to society to share the cost of keeping themselves healthy, just as I feel it is societies responsibility to keep its members healthy.
So who pays? I think people should pay into a government directed health care plan rather than buying supplemental health care for drug, glasses, dental, travel, nursing home care etc.
All Canadians have thought about this, and the vast majority have conclude that single payer public health care insurance is the only viable method.
What has concerned many Canadians is the cost, and this is misleading. Public Health Care spending creates economic growth greater than its cost. This spending encourages private sector investment in the supply and service of these technologies, and private sector research and development. These technologies have strong export market.
The Liberal Party has an ethic commitment to publicly funded universal health care. Also, the Liberal Party must advocate economic growth through health care spending.
(My apologies to those who have read my statement on this elsewhere.)