Liberal Record On Buying Medical Equipment

[Guest eureka]

Some of you simply show your sole interest is in criticising something you make no effort to inform yourselves about.

There is a lot more to the agreement than simply those transfer increases. There is an escalator clause; a homecare additional transfer; a National Pharamacare program separate agreement for funding of the Aboriginals and the Territories; and a few other goodies. Quebec, of course, is staying out of those to help keep the costs of healthcare higher than they need be.

There was also a tax point transfer in the 2003 accord that is conveniently left out of the calculations. Presumably, the Provinces will again misapply those additional revenues and complain about underfunding.

The agreement goes a long way towards addressing the problems - as in the committment to take action on the doctor shortage. That, though, is also largely within Provincial jurisdiction. It remains to be seen whether the provinces will do their share.

This deal will not fix healthcare but it is a big step on the way.

[August1991]

Thanks for those numbers, Kimmy and the link. Usually, government expenditure is over 5 years and maybe that's why I was mistaken. $20 billion over 5 years sounds weaker than $40 billion over 10 years (but $80 billion over 20 years sounds weak too. Go figure.)

There is a lot more to the agreement than simply those transfer increases.

eureka, do you think Paul Martin, Tim Murphy or David Herle would miss any opportunity to boost numbers to claim they are defending health care in Canada?

Whatever.

This deal will not fix healthcare but it is a big step on the way.

This deal is like Gorbachev saying perestroika will change Soviet Russia. Sorry for being dismissive, eureka, but I disagree with you.

[Guest eureka]

I have been wondering when someone might try to relate the increases to the figures they actually correspond to. There has been some fancy working of percentage increases based on total health care expenditures for all sources but the conclusions bear no relation to reality.

Public sector spending in Canada is not $130 billion but about $90 billion. That alone puts a much different complexion on the increases. That is from both provincial and federal sources

Federal Health transfers to the provinces were close to $15 billion recently.. Try reworking the percentage increase on that figure which is the relevant one and there might be a result to mute the critism. The reality is, that federal health transfers will be almost - not quite - 50% higher in 3 or 4 years than they are now. Elementary reading skills (it has all been in the newspapers) and elementary arithmetic would have brought us somewhat closer to the truth.

[Guest eureka]

The problem with being dismissive rather than attempting to be deconstructive, August, is that there is a strong possibility that one will end up with eggs all over one's face.

Sorry if it is inconvenient to force the issue on to the real figures, but even the Liberals should get a fair hearing.

[Keepitsimple]

THELIBERAL has brought out the worst traits of his Party and his nonsense does them a dis-service as they try to recover from their past sins. Delivery of Healthcare is a Provincial responsibility - and the decision to incorporate more or fewer MRI's is likewise a Provincial decision. The Mike Harris government introduced a private pilot program of three (I believe) mobile MRIs that were charging the same fees as the hospitals charge the government - I think it was about $750. Being mobile, they could service more remote areas. The McGuinty Liberals discontinued it when they took power. Seemed like a great idea then - and even more so now. There are certain repetitive procedues that are feasible to be privatized - and still work within the public system. For example, many people don't know that pretty well all blood and urine tests are done by private for-profit facilities. Hip and knee replacements also have private facilities in Canada.

[Argus]

THELIBERAL has brought out the worst traits of his Party and his nonsense does them a dis-service as they try to recover from their past sins. Delivery of Healthcare is a Provincial responsibility -

Why did you necro a thread by a banned troll from ten years ago?

[guyser]

Note to self....pay attention to the dates .

I read it and didnt catch that.