Tried Way, Not Third Way, for Alberta

You've gotta' hand it to Ralph Klein; he has a way with words. Borrowing from Tony Blair, Alberta's Premier branded his health care announcement "its Third Way of health care delivery". The reality is the announcement consists of ideas that have been discussed, and sometimes implemented, over the past 20 years, but King Ralph will likely succeed in capturing the national media and provoking the "usual suspects" into knee-jerk reactions.

Klein's announcement consists of implementing some of the recommendations of the Romanow Report. The controversy Ralph is stimulating with his announcement is based on his statement that Albertans will be able to choose between the medically necessary hip-replacement, and paying for a more deluxe model.

For almost twenty years, British Columbians have been able to choose between a plaster cast and a deluxe-fiberglass cast when their leg is broken. British Columbians undergoing cataract surgery can choose between the standard lens or pay extra and get the folding lens. For over twenty years, women in BC have had the option of having an abortion in private-stand-alone clinics or in public hospitals. Pharmacare is not captured by the Canada Health Act, but its low cost alternative and referenced based pricing programs are a model of what Klein is suggesting. Brought in by the NDP, the idea is simple; the government pays for what is necessary. If you want something more expensive, pay for it yourself. (Ironically, when he was in opposition, Gordon Campbell opposed referenced based pricing, only to embrace it after backing out of an election promise.)

Everything that happens in Alberta should not be mindlessly rejected as the proposals of a right wing extremist. When it comes to supplementary health benefits, Alberta has some of the best in Canada. The preliminary estimates for public health spending per person from the Canadian Institute for Health Information for 2004 show the Canadian average as $2,717, Alberta as $3,026, and BC as $2,856. Rather than engaging in stereotypic reaction against anything proposed by Ralph Klein, Canadians should take time to understand how their provincial systems compare to Alberta's, and what Alberta is actually proposing by way of change. It may be a lot less radical, or reactionary, than many presume.