Expanding federal funding for health care is a smart investment. Better coverage creates better outcomes for everyone.
Did you know?
- When Medicare was introduced, the federal and provincial governments each covered 50 per cent of the cost. In 2017, the federal contribution dropped to 23 per cent and it’s expected to slide to 18 per cent by 2024.
- From 2004‑2014, Canada had a Health Accord that set national health care goals and provided a 6 per cent annual increase in health care funding to all provinces and territories.
- In 2017, the Liberals negotiated new, separate health care deals with the provinces and territories. They cut the guaranteed increase in health care funding to 3 per cent and failed to establish new, national health care standards.
- This amounts to a $31 billion reduction in federal funding for health care over 10 years. It’s far below the federal government’s original share of Canada’s health care costs. This will lead to further cuts to our already over-stretched health care services and won’t let us expand services or create new ones.
- Funding and service cuts also further privatization, which creates two-tiered services that cater to wealthy Canadians.
- Without national standards there’s no assurance that the provinces and territories will deliver comparable services and quality of care. Where you live will impact your overall health.
The federal government should increase its role in public health care.
To simply maintain our current health care services, we need federal funding to increase by a minimum of 5.2 per cent per year. This would cover 25 per cent of Canada’s total health care costs. An increase of only 3 per cent per year just doesn’t cut it.
The federal government should also provide 50 per cent of the funding needed to pay for new health care programs, like universal Pharmacare. This will allow us to strengthen and expand health care for all Canadians.
- All federal health care dollars transferred to the provinces and territories must be invested in public, not private services.
- New national health care standards should be created that ensure that no matter where you live in Canada, you can expect to receive a comparable type, level, and quality of care.
- Provinces and territories with more seniors should receive a demographic top-up to offset the impact of population aging on health costs.
- Funding should be increased for First Nations’ and Inuit peoples’ territorially based health care facilities and services.
- Medicare should be expanded to include home care and all safe and effective prescription drugs.
Above all else, Canadians value our public health care system. We need a strong federal commitment to protect and promote that value.
Public solutions cost less, cover everyone, and deliver more.
Medicare is the bedrock of Canadian social policy. The federal government needs to play a strong role in setting national standards and delivering funding that meets Canadians’ health care needs. It’s what Canadians deserve.
We need to ask the federal government to act now.
To find out how, or for more information, visit our website: cupe.ca/health-care-public-solutions or e-mail us: public-solutions@cupe.ca.