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Welcome Private Health Care (Quebec first, Canada next?)
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| rabbitjoker |
I don't usually start political threads - but I personally find this to be of paramount importance to all Canadians. This is not a partisan post.
Today, the Supreme Court of Canada has decided to open the private healthcare Pandora’s Box with a ruling that Quebec (Quebec’s charter) cannot prevent people from paying for private health care.
More importantly - 3 of the justices believe that the ruling also should apply to the Canadian charter as a whole (2 don’t, 1 has no opinion). This provides an interesting preface to serious constitutional debate which will now be forced to the forefront of the national agenda. Simply throwing billions at our healthcare problem (and hoping it will go away) will no longer suffice.
As it stands - one can go to Quebec to pay for private healthcare but cannot in the rest of Canada. It is this duality that could possibly be the catalyst of significant change in the structure of our country, our charter and our healthcare moving forward.
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http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/nati...alth050609.html
| quote: | Top court strikes down Quebec private health-care law
Last Updated Thu, 09 Jun 2005 10:53:48 EDT
CBC News
The Supreme Court of Canada ruled Thursday that the Quebec government cannot prevent people from paying for private insurance for health-care procedures covered under medicare.
The plaintiffs in the case – a Montreal patient and a doctor – wanted Canada's top court to strike down sections of the Quebec Hospital Insurance Act that prevent people from buying health insurance for medical procedures covered by the public health plan.
In its ruling Thursday, the court said the provincial policy violates the Quebec charter. But they split 3-3 on whether it violated the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, meaning there is no immediate impact on the Canadian health-care system as a whole.
One justice gave no opinion on whether the laws violate the charter.
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| malek |
I knew someone would post about this.
The ruling is about being able to buy a health insurance that would cover practices already covered by the public system. At this point, its illegal to do so in Quebec.
Last, the Quebec govt can overthrow this judgment by declaring the "nonobstant clause" (derogatory clause)... basically it gives the govt the authority to say "this does not apply to us for the next 5 years" and renew it as long as they want. |
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| rabbitjoker |
This isn't a slam against Quebec.
The important point to note is: a majority (3 of 5, 1 abstain) of The Supreme Court of Canada believes that it is a violation of one's Canadian Charter rights to be denied the option to purchase private medical care - and further that with equality statutes within the Canadian Charter, the Quebec rights could be extended to include all Canadians.
Universal Medicare (IMO) is the one of the few thin threads that keeps this country together. The decision by the Supreme Court drops a bomb on a major portion of the very framework of what keeps Canada together. |
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| Jayx1 |
Good. This is how 99% of the rest of the world does it. Solely private and solely public does not work. There has to be a balance in the middle. We already have 2 tier medicine. If not then we would not need private supplemental insurance from our employers.
Bring on private-public mix and lets free ourselves from this costly failed experiment.
EDIT: and then maybe the do-gooders will stop using it as an excuse to push their morals on us ie "smoking costs X dollars per year for health care so you shouldn't smoke" |
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| Jem_hadar |
Isn't private health care/insurance/whatever already available to certain individuals, like hockey players or the PM?
I thought it was, but I do not know for sure. If it is, how does that fit into our frame-work of equal healthcare for ALL citizens?
-jem- |
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| TrueToTheCrew |
Thank God.
Dont have to wait 4 hours for 2 min with a doctor in emergency.
Its about time. |
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| Jem_hadar |
| quote: | Originally posted by TrueToTheCrew
Thank God.
Dont have to wait 4 hours for 2 min with a doctor in emergency.
Its about time. |
Yea no kidding, and as if if Paul Martin needed to go to emerge, as if he wouldnt be rushed to the top of cue... |
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| Jayx1 |
| quote: | Originally posted by Jem_hadar
Isn't private health care/insurance/whatever already available to certain individuals, like hockey players or the PM?
I thought it was, but I do not know for sure. If it is, how does that fit into our frame-work of equal healthcare for ALL citizens?
-jem- |
Private health care is needed by everyone for many things that OHIP has delisted. |
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| Jem_hadar |
| quote: | Originally posted by Jayx1
Private health care is needed by everyone for many things that OHIP has delisted. |
Wasnt it availble even before this latest delisting tho? |
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| Jayx1 |
| quote: | Originally posted by Jem_hadar
Wasnt it availble even before this latest delisting tho? |
For things not covered, yes
But i believe you should have a choice. |
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| Jem_hadar |
| quote: | Originally posted by Jayx1
But i believe you should have a choice. |
Absolutely. So do I. Manitain the same level of 'quality' care we currently provide, but offer private services too for those willing to pay for even supieror service (which you still would never be able to receive in the current system) or faster service.
also, removing those patient who are willing to pay, u clear up the service that is currently available to all candians, which in my mind is also improving that service then! |
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