A scandal of the most serious kind has appeared in our nation today as former deputy prime minister Shelia Copps accused Prime Minister Paul Martin of the worst crime known to our fair land. Is it some deviant sexual preference? Perhaps eating the flesh of cooked babies? No, for this is far, far worse. A pact with Satan himself, for Paul Martin stands accused of ........... suggesting we scrap the Canada Health Act.
He's a witch! Burn him! Burn him!
These are the headlines and lead-ins I expected to read today when I heard last night the Shelia Copps' new book was going to mention that Paul Martin wanted to scrap the CHA.
Let's ignore the old saying about Hell having no fury like a woman scorned, and pretend that Paul Martin, Ms. Copps' most hated enemy, the guy who took away her job, really did say that. One of Canada's greatest myths is the sacrosanct Canada Health Act, and, if what Copps says is true, he will likely pay a political price for it. But what does the CHA really give us? Without getting into a long, detailed analysis, the main points of the CHA supposedly guarantee that the provinces comply with the following 5 principles: Public Administration, Comprehensiveness, Universality, Portability and Accessibility. Find a more detailed overview of the Act here.
It's like babies and puppies: Who can be against that?
But really, what has the Act ever done for us? A Fraser Institute report that hit the papers this week talked about how wait times have increased even with the increase in health care funding. Quebec ignores the Portability principle and what do the feds do about it? Nothing. In addition, the Provinces are responsible for delivering health care to the people and, let’s say one or all of these 5 principles are really important to you but the province does not deliver. Could the citizens of that province do something about it? Of course. Vote the bums out. Just like every other area of public policy in this country.
The way I see it, the Act is already dead and good riddance. All it does is prevent the provinces from experimenting in certain areas, notably private delivery/administration, to improve our heath care outcomes.
If only Paul Martin would stand up and admit it. I just might vote for him.
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