November 28, 2002

BC's Pre-Report on Romanow

Will Roy Romanow's Report help fix Medicare by spurring changes that will restore public confidence and stop the slide to a multiple tier system?

Dozens of government commissions have produced reports that gather dust. Media coverage during the days leading up to the release of Romanow's report shows both interest in the report and media awareness by the Commissioner. The Health Care Commission website says that "An audio webcast (floor sound) of Commissioner Roy Romanow's News Conference after the release of his Final Report will be available live and in an archive at www.newswire.ca." Speeches and background reports released prior to the main event have helped keep the media focused on the report. The challenge will be to maintain interest and produce action in the weeks following the November 28th release.

The late Justice Emmett Hall's report led to the creation of Medicare at a time when the federal government's spending power was used to lever provincial constitution responsibilities so as to produce national programs. Romanow's report will be received by provinces that have lost their interest in national standards. They want federal money to fund provincial tax cuts, and they promote private sector expansion in the provision of health care.

The Campbell government was quick off the mark with a news release on November 26th touting a 15 point "Romanow pre-report comparison". On the day that seniors were protesting on the lawn of the BC legislature over recent cuts to health care and anticipated cuts to Pharmacare, with an arrogance that has become a trademark of the Campbell government, the province's "pre-report" demonstrated that Campbell's mind is made up. BC's position is that it is accountable to British Columbians and it doesn't need any help in being held accountable. In particular, the Campbell government says "we don't need more federal bureaucracy - National Councils or Health Commissions will only add red tape, not help patients." That stands in sharp contrast to the national standards that formed part of the original concept of Medicare - standards that were reinforced in the Canada Health Act. Ironically, the "pre-report" refers to the Canada Health Act and says "we say adding new red tape is unnecessary when we've got five solid principles to guide us already."

It is likely that more federal money will be put into health care as the result of the Romanow Report. BC's share could amount to more than $500 million per year. If we get more federal funding, we need to make certain that every penny goes to health care rather than to finance even more tax cuts.

--------------------

As predicted earlier, Finance Minister Gary Collins has chosen the same day the Romanow Report is released to also release his Second Quarter Financial Report. Last year Collins released his Second Quarter Report on November 22nd.