BC Health Coalition Reacts: Provincial Party Leaders Debate
For Immediate Release
The BC Health Coalition is disappointed that Conservative Party of BC have not delivered critical answers on health care.
With less than two weeks until the Provincial Election, we urge the Conservative Party of BC to join the other two major parties and release a platform with a clear costing plan so voters know what their plans for public health care are.
The televised debate had some standout moments regarding health care. BC Green Party leader Sonia Furstenau eloquently laid out the issues facing our health care system and championed a community health center plan which most experts agree would significantly increase access to Primary Health Care. BC NDP leader David Eby rose to the occasion in the seniors care section and talked about the government's leadership in expanding publicly funded Home Care and Home Support. The Conservative Party of BC leader John Rustad however, told a lot of stories of struggling people often relying on stereotypes but was inconsistent on how his party would seek to address those struggles.
British Columbians consistently cite health care as the most important issue facing the province. As a non-partisan, evidence based organization we give every party the ability to clarify their positions. We plan to release a report card grading each party’s health care platform next week but the Conservative Party of BC has been hard to grade as its talking points are inconsistent with its vague plans.
The BC Health Coalition is a B.C.-wide coalition of community members, health care workers, researchers, NGO and community service providers. “Our members are deeply concerned that the Conservative Party of BC have not released a costed platform. They could be the next governing party of this province and have gone back and forth on whether they will attempt to introduce privatization that would dismantle the public health care system,” says Ayendri Riddell,Director of Policy and Campaigns.
During the first radio debate, John Rustad repeated previous suggestions that we move towards other models of health care that have parallel private sectors. However, in other interviews he has said that he would only expand private for-profit delivery of services, a form of privatization that already exists within our health care system.
Both of Rustad’s suggestions amount to privatization which negatively impact services. Contracting out publicly funded services to for-profit providers has increased in the last 20 years and although this form of privatization has largely contributed to the crisis that we are experiencing today, it is legal under Canada Health Act. Provinces with greatest for-profit activity are generally the worst performers in Canada with longest waits. However, introducing private-pay health care would be a direct attack of the Canada Health Act and the provisions that ensure that health care is provided based on need and not the ability to pay.
“We’d like the party to clarify its stance on the scale of privatization and also the six priority areas we have identified. The other two major parties released their costed platforms. They have also answered our direct questions on primary health care, protecting public funds, surgical wait-times, even though they know it is likely we will scrutinize their positions. The Conservative Party of BC has a multi-million dollar campaign budget and there is no reason that they should not release a clear platform and offer transparency to people in BC,” continued Riddell
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Media Contacts
BC Health Coalition, Ayendri Riddell
604-349 9079, [email protected]
The BC Health Coalition is a B.C.-wide non-partisan, non-profit coalition of community members, health care workers, researchers, NGO and community service providers. We base our policy positions on peer-reviewed research and on our mission to strengthen and defend the public health care system.
Materials:
See 6 Priority Solutions here
See Our Criteria for Assessing Policy Positions here
See Full Platform here
Downloadable Press Release here
Please visit our website, https://www.bchealthcoalition.ca/ to learn more about our work