MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 22, 2006

Profit is not the cure for BC health care, says Council

The Council of Canadians calls upon the British Columbian government to pursue innovative solutions within the public sector rather than promote the expansion of for-profit health care in the province.

Last week, in its Throne Speech, the BC government announced that it would enshrine the Canada Health Act in a provincial law, adding to it a sixth principle of sustainability. In order to ensure sustainability, the BC government proposes to explore for-profit models of health care delivery based on the argument that the province’s health care expenses are spiraling out of control.

“The BC government is perpetuating the myth that not-for-profit health care is unsustainable in order to justify its intention to provide private businesses access to the health care market,” says Guy Caron, health care campaigner for the Council of Canadians. He argues that, in reality, health care costs have not increased at the same rate as British Columbia’s economic growth. Data from Statistics Canada and the Canadian Institute for Health Information reveal that the province’s real GDP per capita rose by 7.3 per cent between 2001 and 2004 while public health care spending increased by only 1.1 per cent. “Far from being out of control, investment in health care has actually decreased,” explains Caron.

There is ample evidence, both in Canada and abroad, demonstrating that not-for-profit health care is by far the most sustainable model for health care delivery. Examples like the Alberta Hip and Knee Replacement Project and the Ontario Cardiac Care Network prove that the not-for-profit sector can be both sustainable and efficient. Health care businesses, on the other hand, would need to maintain profit margins costing BC taxpayers 10 to 15 per cent more than not-for-profit delivery.

“Sound, accountable management of public funds requires that our governments look for solutions within the not-for-profit sector,” says Caron.

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For more information, contact:
Dylan Penner, Media Officer, Council of Canadians: (613) 233-4487, ext. 249; 1-800-387-7177, ext. 249; .

NEW! Profit is Not the Cure website

Please see Response to BC Throne Speech for background information