The
Passage of Bill 11 in Alberta
May 12, 2000
The Government of Alberta's Bill 11
takes us in the wrong direction. We have grave reservations about investing
public funds in private-for-profit facilities.
We have expressed concerns that in its
application, the legislation could create conditions where violations of the
Canada Health Act (CHA) will occur.
The Minister of Health has the
authority to enforce the CHA. He has pledged to be vigilant in this
responsibility as the practices unfold on the ground.
In response to recommendations from the
Auditor General, an additional $4 million a year will be added to Health
Canada's current $1.5 million budget to monitor and assess compliance with the
Act across Canada.
Fundamental questions about Bill 11
have never been answered: how will this lead to better care, greater efficiency
or reduced waiting lists?
The Health Minister had asked
Alberta to draft legislation similar to that of Saskatchewan and Ontario –
which specifically prohibits charging patients for goods and services used in
the provision of insured health services. The bill does not reflect these
provisions.
The Government of Canada has made it
clear that surgical facilities are hospitals under the CHA – any charges to
patients for insured health services will be considered a violation of the Act,
including the selling of hospital services to an insured person on a private
basis.
Our government is steadfastly committed
to upholding the five principles of the CHA – universality, comprehensiveness,
accessibility, portability and public administration.
We are also committed to continuing to
work with our provincial partners – creatively within our respective
jurisdictions – to reform and renew Canada’s health care system.
The status quo is not an option, but
the principles of the CHA are flexible enough to allow for substantive renewal
of the health care system.
The Canada Health Act and NAFTA
The government took the necessary steps
to protect the CHA under NAFTA.
For example, the NAFTA Annex II
reservation for social services exempts services supplied for public purpose
from NAFTA’s national treatment obligation.
And our public health care system will
not be on the table during World Trade Organization negotiations or in the Free
Trade Area of the Americas.
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