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We knew our networks were cracked. In many ways, COVID-19 caused their collapse. In Quebec, a public inquiry is currently taking place into the tragedy of the CHSLD Herron. The horror described there – elders abandoned for days in their excrement, hungry and thirsty – must represent a turning point.
The situation remains desperately fragile in many hospitals across the country. In Quebec, the labor shortage is causing service disruptions. Patients will undoubtedly still have their surgery postponed.
All of this calls for awareness, a change of course. Unfortunately, none of the federal parties has commitments that measure up to the problems before us.
We will say that health is the responsibility of the provinces. It’s true. But the federal government has an immense responsibility in the operation of the provincial health systems: that of financing them. Its share of the bill has gone from 35% to 22% in 20 years. This unacceptable disengagement has direct consequences for patients.
The Liberal Party did send an additional $ 4.5 billion to the provinces for health care during the pandemic. But we are talking about a one-off help, not a remedy capable of curing the patient in the long term. The Liberals are also pledging $ 3.2 billion to hire 7,500 doctors and nurses. Budgets for mental health and long-term care are also proposed.
The problem: by directing budgets, the federal government dictates its own priorities to the provinces. And for long-term care, the money is conditional on the imposition of the famous “national standards”.
Justin Trudeau explained that the idea is to extend best practices to all provinces. But this is part of a very centralizing vision of the federation. Does the federal government have the expertise to establish these standards? Do we really need to add a layer of supervision and bureaucracy?
Non.
For its part, the NDP has many health promises that could make a real difference for Canadians. We are thinking of drug insurance, dental insurance, public mental health care. However, doubts remain as to the ability to pay them. And like the Liberals, Jagmeet Singh maintains a centralizing vision by subjecting transfers to provinces to conditions.
At first glance, Erin O’Toole’s promise to transfer $ 60 billion to the provinces unconditionally appears to be the most appropriate. Except that by reading the fine print of the famous “contract” that the Conservative leader wants to establish with Quebec and the other provinces, one quickly becomes disillusioned.
Next year, the additional sum registered on its platform for these transfers is… zero dollars. In five years, we will have paid only 3.6 billion more in total. We are very far from the $ 60 billion – and very far from the needs of the provinces. Mr. O’Toole is correct that he needs predictability in funding. But in his case, what is to be expected is that the money will arrive too late.
There remains the Bloc Québécois, which promised to make health transfers AS a condition for supporting a government. If the formation of Yves-François Blanchet holds the balance of power, it will be able to exert the necessary pressure on the other parties in this chapter.
A record to defend
Still in good health, the Liberals also have a record to defend in the fight against COVID-19 since some decisions fall under federal jurisdiction. This record is mixed.
The Canadian vaccination campaign has produced some of the best results in the world and part of the credit goes to the federal government. It is regrettable that the Trudeau government did not succeed in setting up vaccine factories on Canadian soil in time, but we have to admit that vaccines have returned at a good pace to the country.
However, Canada did not stand out for its international solidarity by grabbing more vaccines per capita than any country. It is also one of the only developed countries to have accepted vaccines from the COVAX initiative, which aimed for equitable distribution on the planet.
During the first wave of the pandemic, despite pressure from everywhere, the Trudeau government was also slow to close its borders.
The following ? The Liberal Party is known for its hard line against the unvaccinated. Mr. Trudeau wants to support the implementation of the vaccine passport by the provinces, oblige it on planes and trains and protect companies that want to impose it on their employees from prosecution. If you are for a softer approach, choose another party.
The formations that can take power on Monday offer various pharmacopoeias to cure our health systems, as much in their philosophies (centralizing approach or not) as in their means. Unfortunately, none contain the big cure – massive and swift transfers to the provinces – that we need.
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