Premiers fear collapse of health-care system
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Bob's Note: This article expresses my great fear of what will happen if "Hillary Care", meaning socialized medicine, ever takes hold in the United States. Already my work is terribly hampered by government intrusion into the workplace. Socialist-Big Government-DEMOCRAPS believe that socialism promotes "fairness" for all. In point of fact it only guarantees failure for everyone.
CAROLINE MALLAN AND DANIEL GIRARD
STAFF REPORTERS
Feb. 25, 2004. 01:00 AMVANCOUVER—Canada's premiers say the health-care system will begin to self-destruct by the end of the decade without both an overhaul and a cash influx from the federal Liberals.
At the end of the inaugural meeting of the Council of the Federation, the premiers demanded that Prime Minister Paul Martin increase base transfers to the provinces for health care by $2 billion in the March 23 federal budget.
They accuse the federal government of purposely understating the size of the surplus and short-changing the health-care purse year after year.
Alberta Premier Ralph Klein said his recent musings about possibly pulling his province out of the Canada Health Act, de-listing some services and forgoing federal funding has not reached the point of serious discussion.
The Premiers agreed that Ontario and British Columbia will come up with a series of research papers in advance of their next meeting in July.
The two provinces will present their findings on what is driving up the cost of health care and what long-term funding is needed.
The two provinces will also look at better ways to provide health care in remote communities.
Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty said in an interview that he worries that other initiatives, such as a literacy program, an agreement to break down inter-provincial barriers and plans to work together on emergency preparedness will go unnoticed in the seemingly never-ending health-care fray.
Additional articles by Daniel Girard
Copyright Toronto Star Newspapers Limited.
