Victoria B.C. - Andrew Weaver, MLA for Oak Bay - Gordon Head and Leader of the B.C. Green Party, is encouraged to hear that the Minister of Health is following up on a suggestion he brought to the legislature last year about age-based healthcare funding.
On CBC's On The Island this morning, Health Minister Terry Lake told host Gregor Craigie that he will urge Ottawa to change the way health transfers are made during next week's federal-provincial meeting.
"British Columbia has a higher proportion of seniors than the rest of Canada and it is this age demographic that requires more health services," said Andrew Weaver. "The funding we receive should reflect the actual cost of services delivered and I am pleased to hear that Minister Lake plans to raise this with Federal government."
While the federal Canada Health Act sets the standards for all provinces and requires coverage for all necessary care provided in hospitals and by physicians, health care is ultimately the responsibility of the province. General revenues from the Federal Government provide funding for health care to the provinces and territories through the Canada Health Transfer<http://www.fin.gc.ca/fedprov/cht-eng.asp> (CHT). Since January 2014, CHT allocations have been determined solely on an equal per capita cash basis<http://www.fin.gc.ca/fedprov/cht-eng.asp>.
"While this system means that all provinces receive equal transfer payments based on population size," Andrew Weaver stated in January of 2015, "I believe that this is not the most equitable way to proceed, particularly in light of provincial age demographics and associated healthcare costs."
For supporting data and Andrew Weaver's previous comments on this issue visit his website at: http://www.andrewweavermla.ca/2015/01/21/msp-premiums/
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Media contact
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Office of Andrew Weaver
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