Dr. Hedy Fry

The Council of the Federation wrapped up its meeting in Victoria yesterday, with the Premiers agreeing to collectively take on the leadership role so disappointingly abandoned by the federal government.

The Premiers condemned the unilateral decision by Mr. Harper to cut health transfers. They called it unprecedented; indeed it was.

In essence the Prime Minister has said they can take what he imposes, and like it or leave it.

Last week, the Parliamentary Budget Officer made it clear that the Prime Minister’s plan will succeed only in downloading more costs to the provinces, which is neither fair nor responsible, and will force them to cut services and raise taxes to pay for these costs.

The Premiers also know that the sustainability of healthcare is not only about funding, it is also about collaborating on transformative change to improve health and access to care, while lowering costs.

This is the approach recommended by countless stakeholders, all of which counsel cooperation, and common vision towards implementing necessary health innovations.

This was the formula of the 2004 Health Accord, which linked federal funding to mutual goals, and was critical in reducing wait times for the five priority wait times.

In effect the federal government by these actions has walked away from a presence in Medicare. They have chosen to be a cheque writer and no more, despite all evidence that this old fashioned way of delivering on Medicare has not worked over the last two decades and that these actions will surely lead to the dissolution of Medicare and unequal access to services for Canadians, depending on where they live.

Why should we be surprised? Stephen Harper’s health care agenda has always been clear. In his 2001 letter to premier Ralph Klein, he wrote “. each Province should raise its own revenue for health care…”.

Since forming government, he has refused to meet with the Premiers to discuss healthcare. And he reneged on the agreement in the 2004 Accord to collaborate with provinces and territories to expand pharmacare, homecare and health human resources.

Now that he has a majority government, he can make good on his objective to dismantle Medicare.

And with no federal partner, and no cooperative new Health Accord, Premiers have no choice now, but to rescue healthcare themselves.

What do you think? How should the federal government be approaching Canada’s health care challenges? Share your views in the comments below.

- Dr. Hedy Fry

Liberal Health Critic