Billing it as a "fix for a generation," on May 25, 2004 Prime Minister Paul Martin outlined a comprehensive health care plan and promised $9 billion of additional federal funding, something he was unwilling to do before the writ was dropped for the 2004 election campaign. Martin said the Liberal health care plan would be funded out of projected future surpluses, and would not require tax increases. The Liberal announcement also said the plan would serve as the basis of a proposal to be put to the First Ministers later in the summer, if the Liberals win the election.
Highlights of Liberal Health Care Plan
The Liberal health care plan covers six main areas.
increased federal funding - an additional $3 billion to the provinces this year and next, and a commitment to develop an escalator formula to provide long-term, predictable funding increases
reduction of waiting times - $4 billion of new federal money over the next five years to reduce wait times for health care. With the provinces work to set and meet targets to reduce wait times by 2009 in five key areas - cancer, heart, diagnostic imaging, joint replacements, and sight restoration.
reform of primary care - work with the provinces to ensure all Canadians have access to a health care provider 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Will overcome shortage of medical providers by increasing spaces in university and residency programs and supporting a program to train and speed up the recognition of foreign medical qualifications of immigrant medical providers.
national home care program - after consultation with provinces and territories, will legislate a program for home care services for post-acute care, palliative care and mental health. A Liberal government would give the provinces $2 billion over five years to help deliver the services.
national pharmaceuticals strategy - by 2006, develop with the provinces a drug coverage plan to ensure that the cost of needed medicines does not result in undue financial hardship for any Canadian. A Liberal government would provide "an appropriate federal share of the cost."
enforcement of the Canada Health Act - formalize the existing dispute resolution mechanism.
