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On Monday morning, the media consortium responsible for producing Canada’s official national debates for the 2019 Federal Election announced the five topic areas that will be explored during the October 7^th and October 10^th debates. As leaders of national health organizations in Canada, we were disappointed that health was not one of them.

Health ranks consistently among Canadians’ top concerns, reflecting the leading role the federal government plays in ensuring sustainable and high-quality healthcare for Canadians. Further, the federal government spent almost $8 billion on health in 2018, in addition to nearly $39 billion in health transfers to the provinces and territories that year, according to the Canadian Institute for Health Information.

With this in mind, we ask the federal parties to fill the information gap left by the structure of the upcoming debates with a detailed public discussion of their health care platforms.

Together, our members provide care for and interact with Canadians across the country and we know that the health care agenda matters dearly to them. On their behalf, we ask all federal parties the following questions:

1. How will you improve access and equity of access to health services –particularly for medications, primary care, and specialty care– and does your plan devote resources sufficient to achieve that goal?
2. How does your plan acknowledge the potential of digital health and health innovation to improve healthcare and include measures to develop that potential?
3. Does your plan include strategies to prevent or mitigate health impacts of climate change and curtail the health system’s contribution to carbon emissions?
4. Does your platform contain support for a diverse and sustainable health research environment that underpins the delivery of high-quality healthcare?
5. How do you plan to specifically address high-needs populations who are frequently neglected or underserved, including: Indigenous communities, caregivers, children, or those managing addictions, mental health challenges, or homelessness?

History tells us that the health system’s most important milestones have been the result of bold choices rooted in a principled stance towards the needs and expectations of the public. We urge the leaders to honour that history by addressing these questions in the context of their larger vision for Canada. Health is the personal priority of every Canadian. Our politics should reflect that fact.

 

Media contact:

Steve Wharry
Director, Communications and Member Services
HealthCareCAN
SWharry@healthcarecan.dev2.inter-vision.ca
855-236-0213/613-241-8005 ext. 205 │ Cell: 613-761-8400