NDP MPs ask Health Committee to review federal health care funding

January 26, 2012 Press Release

OTTAWA – New Democrats have convened a meeting today of the Standing Committee on Health to address the urgent need to define the federal government’s role in future health care funding.

“We are at a critical crossroads in the history of Medicare in this country. Last week in Victoria, the premiers made it clear that they expect more from the federal government. But Conservatives have failed to take the lead in helping plan – and fund – future public health care in Canada,” said New Democrat Health critic Libby Davies. “Provinces, and Canadians, want action now. And the NDP is responding to that call.”

NDP members of the Health Committee submitted a letter to the Clerk of the Standing Committee on Health on January 23, 2012, demanding an urgent meeting to discuss this issue.

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Health funding issue bringing some MPs back early

January 24, 2012
CBC News
Health funding issue bringing some MPs back earlyHealth funding issue bringing some MPs back earlyThe House of Commons doesn't resume sitting until next week but MPs on the health committee will be coming to Ottawa early for a special meeting on the government's controversial health-care funding plan. The NDP used a procedural tactic to request a Thursday meeting and will use it try to force the committee to undertake a study of the new funding plan that was abruptly announced by Finance Minister Jim Flaherty in December. "We think that this is a very critical and emerging issue that needs to be addressed by the health committee," the NDP's health critic and deputy leader, Libby Davies, said in an interview.
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Alberta would be $810-million winner under new health scheme

January 18, 2012
The Chronicle-Herald
Alberta would be $810-million winner under new health scheme VICTORIA — The Harper government’s health plan is often said to divide booming western provinces and poorer eastern provinces. But, more accurately, it pits Alberta against everyone else. Alberta would be handed about $810 million more under Ottawa’s new per capita transfer model if it were in place today, calculations by The Chronicle Herald show. Every other province would lose out...The federal NDP has gone so far as to say Prime Minister Stephen Harper designed the system to pit the provinces against each other in a divide-and-conquer strategy. "This is a very calculating prime minister," said federal NDP health critic Libby Davies. "I’m sure he knew full well that just slapping down one formula was going to create divisions. I just don’t think there’s any two ways about that."
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Health-care funding plan must change, premiers say

January 18, 2012
Times Colonist
Health-care funding plan must change, premiers sayCanada's premiers united in Victoria Monday to demand that the federal government reopen its "unprecedented and unacceptable" decisions over health-care funding, even as the prime minister tried to shut the door on further debate..."The premiers were unanimous that the federal government's decision to unilaterally decide funding was unprecedented and unacceptable," B.C. Premier Christy Clark said Monday, speaking as chairwoman of a meeting of 13 provincial and territorial leaders in Victoria. The premiers remain angry after Ottawa imposed a new 10-year health accord last month, without any consultation or negotiation...B.C. NDP MP Libby Davies, who represented the federal Opposition in Victoria Monday, questioned whether Harper is trying to cause division among the premiers.
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Canada's health care: Premier downplays dangers while critics warn of creeping privatization

January 15, 2012
Vancouver Observer
Canada's health care: Premier downplays dangers while critics warn of creeping privatization On the eve of pivotal health care meetings between Canada's premiers, with critics calling on provinces to unite against Conservative cuts, B.C. premier Christy Clark and five other provincial leaders toured a new Victoria hospital wing, speaking to reporters of medical innovation and inter-provincial cooperation...Following a roundtable on public health care held yesterday, Libby Davies, Vancouver-East Member of Parliament and the New Democratic Party (NDP) health critic, said Canadians expect more leadership from Ottawa. “The Canada Health Act is a federal act,” Davies told the Vancouver Observer. “There is a key federal role that has to be adhered to.
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Premiers seek common front on health care

January 15, 2012
CBC News
Premiers seek common front on health careProvincial and territorial leaders gathered in Victoria Sunday evening for their first meeting together since Finance Minister Jim Flaherty announced the federal government would stop providing health-care transfers at an annual increase of six per cent after 2016-17, and instead tie funding to economic growth...New Democrats held a roundtable on health care featuring over a dozen experts in Victoria on Sunday. NDP health critic Libby Davies accused Ottawa of not doing more on the file. “After investing over $160 billion in health care, many of the reforms included in the 2003-04 health accords have seen little or even no improvement under Stephen Harper’s leadership," said Davies in a press release.
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Stephen Harper must come back to the bargaining table: NDP

January 17, 2012 Press Release

VICTORIA – New Democrats are demanding that Stephen Harper come back to the bargaining table and work with Canada’s first ministers to come up with a health care agreement ensures adequate health care for Canadians.

“Canada’s premiers are united in their disapproval of the current Harper formula,” said New Democrat Health critic Libby Davies. "This hands-off approach doesn't work for the provinces and it won’t work for Canadians. Mr. Harper needs to show some leadership and come back to the table. Canadians have been clear – they want better healthcare. So why is our own Prime Minister stepping away from his responsibilities?”

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