Protecting Canada’s Health Care

Written by Harold McNeill on September 17th, 2021. Posted in Tim Hortons Morning Posts, Editorials


What choice in Health Care will be available to you?

“Telus Health” is just one example of how Big Business is moving into the lucrative market of health care as more and more doctors exit the public system in favour of career opportunities in the private system.  Don’t blame the doctors and don’t blame big business.

Update: June 3, 2022

Many will be aware of the challenges posed by a shortage of private practice family doctors. To this point, our family is lucky, we’ve had the same family doctor for thirty years, and our doctor has mentored dozens of young women moving into the medical field. Over the past five years, as she has moved slowly away from full-time practice, she has gradually transferred her practice to young doctors entering the system. As we age, there is a feeling of security in knowing we can turn to those young women at a moment’s notice, either by phone or in person.

Yet, tens of thousands of people in British Columbia and across Canada do not have that same security. Each day, family doctors leave private practice and move to a “fee for service” clinic where doctors can assure timely service and reduced wait times. However, this availability comes at a steep cost to our society. It will not be long before much of our daily health care is transferred to a “for-profit” system similar to that in the United States. If you have the ways and means to enter that system, you can get the best treatment in the world, but if you don’t, you will have no choice but to enter the cash-starved public system. Now is the time to give a boost to the public system.

It’s Time to Protect the Public Health System

Canada’s Healthcare System Explained (Watch) 

This video is of US origin, however it is an interesting perspective from an outsider, particularly one from the United States. There are other equally interesting health care video’s in the series.

1. Canada and Public Health Care

One of the many defining features of Canada is our Public Health Care system. While the system continues to provide high-quality care to a broad cross-section of Canadians (rich and poor), funding cuts have led to longer wait times and other shortfalls in service. This has become particularly evident during the current pandemic as Covid19 patients fill beds normally be set aside for ongoing treatments. (What is happening in our hospitals Ref Part’s 3 and 6)

While trying to balance decreasing budgets, many hospital boards have were forced to.. “contract out services deemed outside the “core mandate” of the hospital system such as food, cleaning and laundry services. Despite extensive complaints about the quality of services they provide, global corporations draw billions of dollars from Canadian hospitals, turning them into conduits for public taxpayer dollars for Wall Street and major stock exchanges. In 2015 alone, one health authority, Vancouver Coastal Health, forked over nearly $35 million to Sodexo, a French food services and facilities management company, amidst rising complaints about the awful food in BC hospitals. One investigative reporter who tried to get information about what was in Sodexo’s food and where it came from was blocked by Coastal Health, which said that the information was subject to the commercial confidentiality clause of its contract with the company.”

Note: August 30, 2021 

Province reverses privatization of cleaning and dietary work in B.C. hospitals

“Health Minister Adrian Dix announced on August 30, that privatized hospital cleaning and dietary workers will be brought back in-house as health authority employees. The Hospital Employees’ Union says the move will help restore fairness and stability in the health care system.” (BC Reverses Privatization)   

While both Liberals and Conservatives must shoulder blame for the ongoing shortfall in funding, it has left hospitals few options over the past two decades. “In 2006, a reinvigorated Conservative Party led by Stephen Harper was elected. A staunch opponent of universal medicare, Harper utterly failed to monitor provincial compliance with the Canada Health Act and rejected a renewal of the Health Accord. Instead, the federal government unveiled a new funding formula in 2012 that continued the automatic, unconditional annual 6% increase in cash transfers to the provinces for health, but only until 2016–17. Thereafter, transfers were slated to grow by 3.9% annually, well below the 5.1% annual increase expected in provincial and territorial spending. These cuts are slated to reduce the federal share of expenditures from 20.4% to 18.6% by 2025, cutting federal transfers by an estimated $36 billion over the first 10 years.”   The Liberals who followed have not done much to improve the situation.

Link here for an explanation of the funding history: “20 years later: How corporations took over Canada’s health care system”

2. Protecting the Canada Health Act

During the current federal election, three leading parties pledged a substantial infusion of $60 billion into the health system. A large part of this funding would be in transfers to the Provinces. Only one party, the Conservatives, have refused to state whether they would protect the Canada Health Act. Whether they would leave open a path to privatization was not answered. The Conservative government in Alberta have already made clear they will cut back on the private system. In this process, only a change to the NDP or intervention by the Federal government could hold the line on the public system.

Following is a summary of federal responsibility to enforce the Act, along with an organizational chart.

The Canada Health Act is Canada’s federal legislation for publicly funded health care insurance.” The Act sets the primary objective of Canadian health care policy, which is to “protect, promote and restore the physical and mental well-being of residents of Canada and to facilitate reasonable access to health services without financial or other barriers. The CHA establishes criteria and conditions related to insured health services and extended health care services that the provinces and territories must fulfil to receive the full federal cash contribution under the Canada Health Transfer (CHT). The CHA aimed to ensure that all eligible residents of Canada have reasonable access to insured health services on a prepaid basis, without direct charges at the point of service for such services.

Read more on the Canada Health Act  particularly the Q&A section

3. Why is this important?

One of the longest-running challenges to overturn Health Acts in Canada and B.C. began in British Columbia when Dr Brian Day opened the Cambie Health Centre in Vancouver. The centre catered to those who could pay extra fees to bypass wait times in the public system. While the B.C. Medicare Protection Act “prohibits doctors from billing the government for work they do in the public system while also earning money from private clinics and billing patients or their insurance companies.” Dr Day bypassed this requirement.

Day opened the Cambie Surgery Centre in 1996 and launched court action against the B.C. government in 2009 over sections of the Medicare Protection Act. It prohibits doctors from billing the government for work they do in the public system while also earning money from private clinics as well as billing patients or their insurance companies.” Day also, “claimed that prolonged wait times for medical procedures violated two charter rights, including the right to life, liberty and security of the person,” And, further, “that patients have a constitutional right to pay for private care when wait times in the public system are too long.”

The case wound its way to the B.C. Supreme Court, where, last year where, “Justice John J. Steeves dismissed both charter claims, noting the B.C. Medicare Protection Act is focused on medically necessary care, not ability to pay.”  (CBC News)

(Note: The CBC article mistakenly listed this ruling as being made by the Supreme Court of Canada).

Dr Day has not yet indicated whether he will appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada, but that seems likely. Given the case has cost him (Day and the Clinic) hundreds of thousands of dollars to this point, it seems his supporters have deep pockets and would prefer to see the standards of Canada and B.C. Health Acts, overturned. 

A telling side effect of public health being squeezed out by the private system surfaced during the current pandemic. While the U.S. private system has realized windfall profits over the past eighteen months, the public system has struggled for funding. Consequently, a broad cross-section of disadvantaged in the U.S. has born the brunt of poor outcomes (lack of access to care and a disproportionate number of deaths). Link: A struggle for funding.

This is a troubling outcome for a nation that spends three times as much on health care as the average G7 nation and over twice as much as Canada. (Chart Below) A video from the same source as the introductory video provides an overview. (U.S. health care system explained) Following is another dreadful outcome of life and death in the U.S. health care system, another statistic that leaves the U.S. as an outlier in the G7.

“In February 2021, The Lancet published a long critique of the U.S. pandemic performance. By then, 450,000 Americans had died. The Lancet pointed out that if the COVID death rate in the United States had tracked the average of the other G7 nations, 180,000 of those people would still be alive. “Missing Americans” they called them.” (p.XV, “The Premonition” by Michael Lewis, A Pandemic story. (Summary of the book) Given the trend in the U.S. from February 2021 to September 2021, the outcome is likely to be far worse.

Another article, How Canada compares to other countries on Covid-19 cases and deaths, provides excellent background material in which the author outlines how many of the challenges faced in Canada are related to cutbacks in health care funding. On that front, 85% of the Covid-19 deaths in Canada occurred in Long Term Care facilities.

4. The Canadian political party promises expanded health care funding in 2022 and following

While election promises are always subject to back-tracking, it is essential to have some idea of how each party intends to hold the provinces accountable for funds received. In this battle, the Conservative Leader, “… Erin O’Toole, has vowed to “never challenge” provincial laws, a sweeping statement that carries potential implications in areas ranging from abortion access to secession rights, marking a sharp break from the Liberal tack.” And, of course, this would extend to holding provinces accountable public health care dollars

We must all pay attention and take action in this evolving story.

Harold McNeill

September 17, 2021

 

(163)

(Visited 182 times, 1 visits today)

Trackback from your site.

Leave a comment

 

Comments

  • Mike Fedorowich

    September 1, 2023 |

    I have gone through the above noted text and have found it quite informative.
    I am a former member with several law enforcement agencies from across Canada.
    I worked in the First Nations service under the authority of the RCMP with the over sight of the OPP. My law enforcement service was conducted under the authority of the Nishnawbe – Aski Police Service in North West Ontario the Louis Bull Police Sevice in Hobbema AB, the Kitasoo Xaixais Police Service in Northern in side passage on Swindle Island, the Lac Suel Police Service North West Ontario and the Vancouver Transit Authority Sky Train Police Service. I’m presently dealing with an RCMP member for falsifying a report against me for a road rage event. Court case is finished and the charge was dropped but I have an on going complaint with the member and have forwarded to the WATCH DOGS IN OTTAWA FOR the RCMP review and consideration. I believe the said officer is in violation of his oath of office and should be held accountable for falsifying his RTCC all the while dragging me through the court system here in Nanaimo. RCMP continue to stonewall the appeal but Ottawa and the crowns office are still looking into the matter. if your able and find the time or the interest in this very brief introduction, I would very much like to speak with you and would be grateful to hear any wisdom that may come across from your end. I served with First Nations Police Services for ten years in isolation and six years with Transit Police out of New West Minster. I do value and appreciate any time you could spare to chat for a bit on this particular subject matter. Respectfully with out anger but an open mind, Mike Fedorowich Nanaimo BC 250 667 0060

  • Harold McNeill

    February 28, 2022 |

    Hi Robert, I do remember some of those folks from my early years in Cold Lake (Hazel was my aunt and our family spent many fond times with Uncle Melvin, Aunt Hazel and Family. I knew Lawrence and Adrian. Having read a half dozen accounts it is clear their were many false narratives and, perhaps, a few truths along the way. I tried my best to provide an even account from what I read. Cheers, Harold. (email: Harold@mcneillifestories.com)

  • Robert Martineau

    February 25, 2022 |

    Its been a long time since any post here, but its worth a shot. My Grandfather was Hazel Wheelers brother Lawrence, and son to Maggie and Adrien. Maggie Martineau (nee Delaney) is my great grandmother. The books and articles to date are based on the white mans viewpoint and the real story as passed down by the Elders in my family is much more nefarious. Some of the white men were providing food for the Indians in exchange for sexual favors performed by the Squaws. Maggie was the product of one of those encounters. Although I am extremely proud of my family and family name, I am ashamed about this part of it.

  • Julue

    January 28, 2022 |

    Good morning Harold!
    Gosh darn it, you are such a good writer. I hope you have been writing a book about your life. It could be turned into a movie.
    Thanks for this edition to your blog.
    I pray that Canadians will keep their cool this weekend and next week in Ottawa. How do you see our PM handling it? He has to do something and quick!
    Xo Julie

  • Herb Craig

    December 14, 2021 |

    As always awesome job Harold. It seems whatever you do in life the end result is always the same professional, accurate, inclusive and entertaining. You have always been a class act and a great fellow policeman to work with. We had some awesome times together my friend. I will always hold you close as a true friend. Keep up the good work. Hope to see you this summer.
    Warm regards
    Herb Craig

  • Harold McNeill

    November 26, 2021 |

    Hi Dorthy, So glad you found those stories and, yes, they hold many fond memories. Thanks to social media and the blog, I’ve been able to get in touch with many friends from back in the day. Cheers, Harold

  • Harold McNeill

    November 26, 2021 |

    Well, well. Pleased to see your name pop up. I’m in regular contact via FB with many ‘kids’ from back in our HS days (Guy, Dawna, Shirley and others). Also, a lot of Cold Lake friends through FB. Cheers, Harold

  • Harold McNeill

    November 26, 2021 |

    Oh, that is many years back and glad you found the story. I don’t have any recall of others in my class other than the Murphy sisters on whose farm my Dad and Mom worked.

  • Harold McNeill

    November 26, 2021 |

    Pleased to hear from you Howie and trust all is going well. As with you, I have a couple of sad stories of times in my police career when I crossed paths with Ross Barrington Elworthy. Just haven’t had the time to write those stories.

  • Howie Siegel

    November 25, 2021 |

    My only fight at Pagliacci’s was a late Sunday night in 1980 (?) He ripped the towel machine off the bathroom wall which brought me running. He came after me, I grabbed a chair and cracked him on the head which split his skull and dropped him. I worried about the police finding him on the floor. I had just arrived from Lasqueti Island and wasn’t convinced the police were my friends. I dragged him out to Broad and Fort and left him on the sidewalk, called the cops. They picked him up and he never saw freedom again (as far as I know). I found out it was Ross Elworthy.