Health care on the election agenda
CMAJ 1997;157:508
See response from: C. Gray
The article "Health care among forgotten issues in forgettable federal election" (CMAJ 1997;157:57-8 [full text / en bref]), by Charlotte Gray, presents an inaccurate assessment of the treatment of health care issues during the election.
Gray acknowledges that polls consistently showed that medicare was voters' number-two concern. The federal leaders clearly recognized the importance of health care issues. This was illustrated by the frequent high profile discussions about medicare in speeches, political advertisements, news conferences and perhaps most significantly in the English-language leaders' debate.
As part of its Future of Health Care Strategy, CMA launched the Election '97 Campaign Strategy, which was effective in putting the public spotlight on health care issues during the federal election. Indeed, CMA was flooded with news clippings from across Canada in which reporters and pundits commented on health care as an important election issue. In addition, as a result of a coordinated media and public relations campaign, CMA received intense media interest during the campaign about the federal election. CMA also fielded calls from MDMP contacts and candidates about the future of health care and its impact on the electoral agenda.
The appointment of a strong minister, Allan Rock, as federal minister of health is a further indication that health care is recognized as a top priority by the federal government. Far from being "yesterday's flavour," CMA's early indications all point to health care remaining front and centre on the political agenda in the new Parliament.
The election has shown us that voters demand that their elected officials act as responsible stewards of our health care system. CMA will continue to work with Canadians to ensure that parliamentarians commit to adequate health care funding and an evidence-based approach to health care reform.
Judith C. Kazimirski, MD
Past President
Canadian Medical Association
Ottawa, Ont.
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