Chrétien is folding winning hand, giving free rein to free-market ideologues

OTTAWA, ONTARIO – Prime Minister Jean Chrétien’s refusal to address the growing privatisation of medical services is an omission that will spell disaster for publicly funded, publicly delivered health care in Canada, according to The Council of Canadians.

While Prime Minister Chrétien and the premiers are bickering about federal funds for the provinces and territories, the spirit and the principles laid out in the Romanow report are being swept away. There’s no talk about the elimination of the tax point transfers, no discussion regarding the impact of investment agreements such as NAFTA and GATS and no talk of ensuring that public money funds only not-for-profit services.

“Roy Romanow was clear in his report: he repeatedly asked for evidence that private delivery of health care is cheaper and more efficient than public delivery. In a year and a half of hearings, this evidence hasn’t materialised,” says Maude Barlow, National Chairperson of the Council of Canadians.

One of the strongest statements made by Canadians during the Romanow Commission’s public hearings was that public funds should be funnelled into publicly-delivered care, not to subsidise private profits. “It’s very easy to understand: for the same amount of money, the private provider will set aside 15 to 25 cents on the dollar to return to investors. This means that corners will be cut, and the quality of health care will decrease. It also mean that public facilities will be deprived of these funds,” continues Barlow.

Some provinces, notably Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia, have made no secret of their desire to force a parallel private system on their constituents, regardless of the studies showing how inefficient it is compared to the public system. “Flexibility and innovation are only buzzwords to have us swallow that pill,” adds Barlow. “Blind obedience to free market ideology by these premiers is why accountability (including public delivery) is needed as a sixth principle of the Canada Health Act.”

Maude Barlow will be at Old City Hall, on 111 Sussex, at 2pm to provide comments and analysis of the health care negotiations.

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