Huron Expositor, 2001-12-05, Page 7TMS MINION SX•OSITOI, DECEMBER 5, 2001-7
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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 he 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 will be
$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?
9-
s-
7-
6-
5-
4-
3-
2-
1-
0-
-1 -
Total spending
increased
S8.3 Billion
Federal Government
total spending
increase vs.
lack of commitment
to healthcare
Health transfers
are still
6400 million
lower than
In 1994-95
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
overpayment 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 1488-668-4636.
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.
Ontario