Next week could be a turning point in Medicare for Canada, but I think no party to this meeting has the foresight or willingness to make the necessary changes.
The first thing we must understand is their are several agendas among the provinces and another with the federal government. Collectively, all provinces and territories must approach the federal government with only one focus, to establish Medicare throughout Canada that is the same for all.
If you are a Canadian you can go to any hospital in the land and get required medical treatment and out of province insurance becomes redundant.
To ensure the best prices for medicines and medical equipment the federal government must negotiate pricing federally for the best deal. As I write this the feds have already stepped out of the process and will leave it up to the provinces and territories to fight for scraps.
As I write this article the federal government is cutting a free trade deal with Europe that will allow exorbitant pricing to continue under the new proposed free trade agreement.
Unless the federal government takes a stronger approach in insuring better pricing and uniformity in health care nothing will change and we will see each provincial plan erode to nothing due to costing.
Premier Clark has an opportunity to stand up and show leadership or maybe she can’t because has she had already cut a deal to not stir the pot for an extension on repayment of the HST.
Some very direct questions have to be asked to all the premiers why they are not pressuring the Harper government on behalf of their constituents.
Bob Tritschler
Parksville