April 10, 2000
Ottawa, Ontario

Attached is a text of a letter sent by Prime Minister Chrétien to Alberta Premier Ralph Klein last Friday, April 7.

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PMO Press Office: (613) 957-5555

Dear Premier:

Thank you for your letter of April 4, 2000 further to our recent meeting in Calgary and the meeting of federal, provincial and territorial Health Ministers on March 30-31, 2000. Thank you, as well, for providing me with a copy of the draft Health Care Protection Act with your letter of March 7, 2000.

I concur with your assessment that our meeting in Calgary was very productive. I believe we had an open and positive exchange of views on health care and other issues, and set the stage for future cooperation.

It is clear that we share much common ground on health care. We agree on the importance of respecting the five principles of the Canada Health Act. We agree it is essential that nothing be done to open the door to private for-profit hospitals and a two-tiered health care system. We agree that governments must find creative ways to ensure that Canadians continue to have access to high quality public health care. In this regard, Alberta has introduced many innovative health care reform initiatives that I applaud.

As for Bill 11, I understand that the legislation is still being debated and you may be considering amendments. With this in mind, we have some concerns about the potential long-term implications of the current draft bill, which could be addressed through amendments. I understand that the Honourable Allan Rock is sending a letter to the Honourable Halvar Jonson in which Mr. Rock outlines these concerns. I trust that you will welcome his suggestions in the spirit of constructive dialogue which characterized our meeting in Calgary.

In your letter, you refer to our discussion of a role for federal, provincial and territorial Health Ministers in the review and comparison of all provincial legislation and practices. As I indicated at the time, I agree it would be useful for Health Ministers to review the different instruments that have been established across the country to regulate private health facilities and provide First Ministers with a report in June, along with their interim report on a long-term plan to renew medicare.

Finally, you point out that our meeting, combined with the late-March Health Ministers’ retreat in Markham, has moved the discussion of health care reform to a new, more productive level. I could not agree more. As I stated when we met, the status quo is not an option. Ministers of Health have had an intensive dialogue in recent years and have made real progress in their search for creative solutions. It is essential that Health Ministers continue with their collaborative efforts to develop a plan to sustain our public health care system. The federal government is committed to playing its full part, including the provision of additional resources based on an effective plan for reform. If we work in this spirit, I am confident our Ministers can lay the ground for a successful meeting of First Ministers later this year.

Yours sincerely,

(ORIGINAL SIGNED BY 
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE JEAN CHRÉTIEN)