Take action to stop PROFIT®
Prime Minister Stephen Harper pledged to enforce the Canada Health Act during the 2006 federal election, but has now spoken out in favour of for-profit health care delivery.
Provinces continue to contribute to the dismantling of medicare by allowing for-profit private clinics and services that let people who have money pay for health care. The latest report to Parliament on the status of the Canada Health Act says that the provinces are committing serious breeches to the five principles of medicare by allowing direct charges to patients, queue-jumping and the establishment of private clinics.
In fact, there were even provinces that did not submit information as required by law for the preparation of the report to Parliament. A recent article in The Globe and Mail revealed that only one province, British Columbia, was fined last year for violating Canada's Health Act after private surgical clinics there charged user fees to patients.
The lack of penalties - the B.C. fine was only $29,019 - comes despite concerns about the proliferation of private clinics across the country. The Health Canada documents reveal a list of 33 for-profit MRI clinics operating in six provinces, allowing patients to buy preferred access to medically necessary services by paying out of pocket.
And Prime Minister Stephen Harper has done nothing about it.
Hold Prime Minister Harper accountable, and tell him to keep his promise. Demand that he enforce the letter and the spirit of the Canada Health Act, which ensures access to quality, timely, publicly funded health care. Public dollars should never be used pay for private health care.
Contact Prime Minister Harper today!
E-mail: pm@pm.gc.ca
Fax: 613-941-6900
Mail: Office of the Prime Minister
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A2
Join the Council of Canadians
The strength of the Council is in its membership. The Council does not accept funding from corporations or from governments, so membership donations are vital to our activities. We work with community groups, seniors, students, unions and other organizations across the country to promote progressive policies on public health care, fair trade, clean water and other issues of social and economic concern to Canadians.
To find out more about the Council of Canadians, and to become a member, visit our website at www.canadians.org, or call us toll free at 1-800-387-7177.
 
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