Building links

The lack of a Quebec provincial party with any interest in upholding the Canada Health Act is still worrisome. But the good news is there's at least no vacuum in political action at the federal level, as the NDP is backing the call of the Coalition solidarité santé du Québec to make sure that Canada's public health care system includes Quebec:

The government of Quebec has set up a working group presided by Claude Castonguay that could open the door to private two-tier health care, said NDP Quebec spokesperson Thomas Mulcair with great concern today. Mulcair also expressed the NDP’s support for a gathering organized by the Coalition solidarité santé du Québec today.

With no public consultation or transparency, the conclusions of the working group are preordained. M. Castonguay’s position in favor of user fees, subcontracting to the private sector and questioning the principles of the Canada Health Act are very worrisome.

“We’re afraid this has been rigged. Like the Coalition solidarité santé du Québec, we hope there will be a meaningful public debate and that the fundamental principle of free access to a universal health care system will be respected,” said Mulcair.

“Privatization is the wrong way to go. In the medium and long term, it will only divert public sector resources to the private sector,” stated Pierre Ducasse, NDP candidate in the Hull-Aylmer riding. “In the Outaouais, after years of Liberal MPs, the health care system is in shreds. We need to change direction, but privatization isn’t the solution.”

The questions going forward are just how strong the Coalition can grow, and how closely it'll be able to work with the federal NDP in order to make sure that the message gets heard. But any joint effort figures to offer both the best chance of preserving publicly-funded health care in Quebec, and a tremendous opportunity for the NDP to build its Quebec profile - and today's announcement is a great start on both fronts.