The Citizen, 2001-12-05, Page 16Ontario
PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2001.
Unless Ottawa pays its fair share for
health care, the prognosis isn't good.
You deserve the best healthcare system in the
world. Unfortunately, you won't get it unless the
`federal government starts pulling its weight.
The sad truth is that the single greatest threat to
'universal health care in this country is the fact that
the federal government refuses to pay its fair share.
It used to be a 50/50 partnership between Ottawa
and the provinces. Now they pay just 14 cents out
of every dollar — and it's getting worse. In Ontario,
like other provinces, we've made health care our
top funding priority. Since 1995, we've increased
spending by $6.8 billion - $6 billion of which has
gone to health care.
But federal transfers to the provinces for health
and social services this year willbe $400 million
lower than in 1994. Not a single new dollar has
been earmarked for health care.
Health care is your number one priority. -Isn't it
time it was the federal government's, too?
Federal Government
total spending
increase vs.
lack of commitment
to healthcare
Health transfers
are still
5400 million
lower than
in 1994-95
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
Total spending
increased
58.3 Billion
If Ottawa won't pay its fair share,
our healthcare system will suffer.
Plainly put. if our healthcare system is to meet the •
demands of a population that's growing and,aging —
and if it is to offer us -the life-saving advances we
deserve — the federal government must start paying
its fair share.
If it doesn't, the provinces will have difficult
choices to make. •
With its huge budget surplus, Ottawa
can afford to do the right thing.
It's only. fair that the federal government spend
some of its $17 billion surplus on safeguarding
your health. After all, it's your money (and over-
payment of taxes) that created the surplus.
The- federal government must make healthcare
funding their number one priority. The upcoming
federal budget must include a measured plan to
raise federal funding of health care from its current
level to the 18% level Ottawa used to provide just
a few years ago.
Send a message to the Prime Minister.
Call 1-888-668-4636.
Tell him that health care is your number one
concern. Urge him to make health care Ottawa's
number one funding priority.
Otherwise, the prognosis isn't good.
We need Ottawa to work with us for a healthier Ontario.