Innovation means embracing digital economy
TORONTO—Across Canada we face big challenges in achieving the jobs, economic growth and the wealth we need to sustain a high quality of life. But since we are living in a world of reduced potential economic output, high unemployment and the spending constraints of higher public debt, as well as facing both the aging of […]
Healthcare system faces challenges, but not in crisis, says Aglukkaq
There may be some challenges facing the Canadian healthcare system, but it’s not in crisis, says federal Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq. “It is a dynamic entity, and as with any healthcare system, faces evolving demands and public needs,” Ms. Aglukkaq (Nunavut) told The Hill Times in an email interview for this week’s health policy briefing. […]
The grey tsunami: not!
“Will the ‘grey tsunami’ drown all of our health and social services?” “Shouldn’t we just give up now and get on with the reality of private insurance and private delivery?” The Liberal Party of Canada says a resounding no to both questions. We believe it is time for the federal government to lead on the […]
Defending medicare in Canada should be a top priority
The provision of universal health care is a sign of respect that each person’s quality of life is important. Health care is a right, not to be abridged or abrogated and the federal government has a leadership role to play to prevent this. To allow barriers to health care to continue lessens the achievements we’ve […]
Quebec and feds have two irreconcilable visions on health care
Historically, Ottawa has intervened many times in the realm of health care. There is no shortage of examples of continual interference, encroachment and duplication by federal governments, both Liberal and Conservative. Under the provisions of the 1867 constitution, health and social services are the exclusive jurisdiction of Quebec and the provinces. Yet, since as far […]
Conservatives lack prescription for pharmacare, say health critics
Progress toward implementing a national pharmaceuticals strategy has stalled and critics say it’s because the federal government doesn’t have the will to act. Six years ago, federal, provincial and territorial leaders agreed that no Canadian should have to “suffer undue financial hardship” in order to access needed drugs. Health ministers began meeting to develop and […]
Wait times getting shorter, but critics say strategy too narrow
Three years ago, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced that his newly-minted Conservative government would make due on an election promise to “tame the queue” of Canadians waiting for medical procedures. Lines for priority services are getting shorter in most provinces, but critics say the federal government’s current strategy of focusing the provinces and territories on […]
What’s next for federal health transfers? Billions set to dry up in 2014
Some players in the Canadian healthcare policy world are worried about what the federal government will do after billions of dollars of Canada Health Transfer money and tax points now flowing to the provinces and territories dry up in 2014. A 10-year First Ministers’ Accord signed in 2004 legislated a six per cent increase in […]
Poverty in Canada presents more than obvious symptoms
Poverty in Canada presents more than the obvious symptoms. Not only does it trap people in an endless cycle that is nearly impossible to break, it also has a significant impact on their health. To put it simply, poverty is making people sick, very sick. In fact, according to Statistics Canada, poverty reduces the life […]
We’re laggards when it comes to new digital economy, despite doing many things right
STRATFORD, ONT.—Canadians are using the internet a great deal. As Statistics Canada reports in its most recent survey, 80.3 per cent of Canadians 16 and older—that’s 21.7 million Canadians—used the internet for personal purposes last year, compared to 73 per cent just two years earlier. And 75 per cent of these Canadians—or about 60 per […]
