Canadian health care is far from perfect — it has never achieved all Tommy Douglas dreamed for it: from tip to toe (teeth are still missing, as are a lot of drugs) — but unleashing unfettered two-tier is the opposite of fixing it.
So I joined with the Canadian Medical Association in pleading for the Canadian government to grow a spine and stop unhinged Smith's attempt to violate our own rules within her province.
As someone on Bluesky observed, if Stephen Harper tried to do this, we'd be at the gate with pitchforks. Where is the outrage. Daddy Warbucks Carney’s latest just-barely satisfactory performance in trade negotiations should not blind us to his failure to prevent this from happening.
The letter to the health minister, CC my MP and the shadow ministers:
The Canadian Medical Association says the Canadian government must stand up for Albertans and all Canadians to ensure Alberta's new legislation doesn’t create a new normal of health care haves and have-nots.
I agree.
The new rules clearly violate the Canada Health Act and the principles of fair and timely access to health care for all, says the CMA.
Every day, physicians see what happens when patients face barriers to care. We know a strong public health system works best when care is determined by medical need, not personal finances, says the CMA, and I would add that it's only those with the personal finances to ensure treatment of their medical needs who fail to understand that.
To strengthen the public health system, we don't need a parallel system to strain, stress and starve it further. We need proper investment in the health workforce, expanding team-based care, and adopting technologies and innovation to improve access. Paying humans for their labour, not trying to replace them with AI. And finding the money to pay for it all by taxing the super-rich — you know, the ones who think it's okay to pay for health care. Well, they can: for all of us.
The CMA urges you: the federal government must take a strong stand. Access to care is core to who we are as Canadians. Alberta must reconsider this made-in-America approach.
This one is all mine, so if you want to send your own, you'll need to copy paste and visit ourcommons to find the minister. I can't do all the work for you!
Comments