Se rendre au contenu

Federal Government Role in Health Care

2001:01PU Federal Government's Role in Health Care Policy

Whereas:

  • The federal government plays an established role in protecting Canadians' health, including responsibilities for safe food standards, environmental controls against air and water poisoning, licensing pharmaceuticals, and promoting healthy lifestyles.
  • It also plays a role in health service delivery through the Canada Health Act of 1984 and federal transfer payments to provinces for health care funding.
  • The five original principles of the Canada Health Act (universally available, reasonably accessible, medically comprehensive, portable between provinces, and publicly administered) are fundamental standards for health care delivery across provinces and territories.
  • The federal government is responsible for ensuring these standards are met across Canada.
  • The rise in private, for-profit health services creates inequities in health care access across the country.
  • Publicly funded and profit-based health services combined may impose significant financial burdens on the public health system.

Resolved:

  1. The National Council of Women of Canada confirms its policy support for the federal role in health care policy and the Canada Health Act to ensure equitable and adequately funded health care services for all Canadians.
  2. The National Council of Women of Canada urges the Government of Canada to:
    • Maintain its responsibility for protecting Canadians' health, including health care delivery standards outlined in the Canada Health Act.
    • Collaborate with provinces and territories to develop an accountable, financially sustainable health care system that meets all Canadians' needs.
    • Work with provinces to evaluate the alignment of different health care delivery methods with the five principles of the Canada Health Act, including studying systems in other countries like France.
  3. The National Council of Women of Canada urges its Provincial and Local Councils in provinces without provincial councils to encourage their governments to accept the federal government's health care role and work collaboratively on developing the Canadian health care system.