To the editor:
Thank you Cathy McLeod for explaining your view on the Health Care Transfers (HCT) with the end of the Health Accord in 2014, headlined Tories increasing health-care transfers, on page A9, Free Press, Nov. 20.
When the NDP first created universal health care, the intent was the federal and provincial governments would cost share on a 50:50 basis. The purpose of the 6 per cent (%) escalator was to increase the federal contributions from the dismal 10% after the Liberals slashed health care in the ’90s, which you correctly stated.
With a 6% escalator, one would think the disparity would have been improved rather quickly. However, despite the legally required increase in payments you cite, the Conservatives have downloaded health-care costs for veterans, RCMP, and immigrants and the gains started to recede.
You state the HCTs will go from the current 6% to a minimum of 6% or nominal GDP, but claim this is not a funding cut.
I may not be be good at math, but moving from a 6% escalator to 3% seems to be half of what it was before. It was the provincial governments that calculated this would mean $36 billion cut.
However, the biggest assault by the Conservative government on universal health care is when the Health Accord ends, the funding for HCTs will change from an equitable formula, which allows the “have not” provinces to receive a bit more assistance and replace it with a per capita formula without taking into account demographics, such as age, local economy, etc.
This undeniable cut is going to hurt some provinces more than others and it is bound to impact how each province deliver services. So much for “universality” in the Canada Health Act.
The federal government needs to pay its fair share, needs to create national standards, and needs to tie accountability to the provinces for using our tax dollars for quality, public health services.
If this were entrenched in a new Health Accord, it would demonstrate the Conservative’s dedication was not just an empty promise to get them through the next election.
Barbara Nederpel
Kamloops
