By Chad Klassen

FEDERAL ELECTION 2019

2019 Federal Election Issues: Health Care

Oct 17, 2019 | 10:05 AM

KAMLOOPS — Health care affects everyone. Whether you require a hospital visit, a trip to your doctor, or prescription medication, you will lean on the health care system at one time or another.

While health is provincial jurisdiction, the federal government provides transfer money to help support each province’s healthcare system. This year, provinces will share in $40 billion of federal support for health care.

A big topic of debate leading up to this election has been the idea of universal pharmacare and how to roll it out.

Here’s what candidates in the Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo had to say.

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NDP

One of the NDP’s top election promises is universal pharmacare, meaning Canadians wouldn’t pay for their prescriptions.

Party leader Jagmeet Singh has promised to implement a national plan in 2020, saving families more than $500 a year. The NDP says it would contribute $10 billion towards its projected $23 billion program.

“Every Canadian should have single-payer pharmacare where they pay with their health card, not their Mastercard, Visa. That’s a priority,” said NDP candidate for the Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo riding Cynthia Egli. “Whether we’re in government or in opposition, either way, that’s one of our No. 1 fights.”

The NDP plans to pay for it through a wealth tax, one per cent on Canadians earning more than $20 million a year. It’s projected to bring in $70 billion over 10 years.

LIBERALS

The Liberals are trying to get pharmacare off the ground. It has a committee, led by former Ontario health minister Dr. Eric Hoskins, that’s been working on its implementation.

The party has promised $6 billion over four years for pharmacare, money that would also be allotted for improved access to doctors and mental health services. Local candidate Terry Lake, however, warns pharmacare won’t just happen overnight.

“We have to work with all those [provinces] and come up with a plan that is comprehensive for the majority of Canadians, and each year have a plan to improve it over time,” said Lake. “I don’t think people should have to choose between taking their medication and putting a roof over their head or food on the table.”

GREEN PARTY

The Green Party says its plan for universal pharmacare would cost $26 billion. It’s the party’s largest campaign promise, but they want to ensure everyone has proper access to the medications they need.

“The research shows that, first of all, it results in better health outcomes for Canadians,” said Currie. “So with universal pharmacare, more people are actually taking the medication they need and cost considerations are not preventing people from under-medicating, or even not filling prescriptions. It results in better health outcomes. It results in less health care costs down the road.”

CONSERVATIVES

The Conservative Party is the only party not planning to introduce universal pharmacare. Leader Andrew Scheer says it would cost Canadians more in the long run and most already have insurance coverage. The party, however, has promised to increase health care transfers to provinces ($78.7 billion for 2019-20).

“We have our health guarantee, which indicates that we will continue to increase transfers, so the provinces can count on a reliable transfer,” said Conservative candidate in the Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo riding Cathy McLeod.

McLeod also pointed to Scheer’s $1.5 billion commitment to health care with the purchase of MRI and CT machines to cut down on medical wait times.