Karygiannis responds to
Supreme Court Decision
OTTAWA – The Honourable Jim Karygiannis, Member of Parliament for Scarborough-Agincourt, expressed his grave concern with respect to the Supreme Court of Canada’s decision regarding the prohibition of private health care insurance in Quebec.
“While the Court’s decision removes the Quebec prohibition on the use of private medical insurance, it has prescribed no remedy.” said Jim Karygiannis. “However, the decision did raise the issue of waiting lists.”
In the
Health Accord of September 2004, the Liberal Government committed $41.3
billion, over ten years, to sustain and improve our health care system.
In Budget 2005, the Government committed $75
million, over five years, to accelerate and expand the assessment and
integration of health care professionals educated abroad.
“I
am working closely with officials at the Scarborough Grace Hospital to
identify their medical personnel requirements.
I will then work with Health Canada, Citizenship and Immigration
Canada and other concerned stakeholders to help ensure that we recruit the
necessary health care professionals, be they Canadian or foreign
trained.” said Mr. Karygiannis. “The
survival of Scarborough Grace Hospital is paramount to our community.”
While
the Supreme Court decision removed the prohibition of private health care
insurance in Quebec, it did not open the door to two-tiered health care or
find the Canada Health Act unconstitutional.
The Court said:
“Apart
from everything else, it leaves out of consideration the commitment in
principle in this country to health care based on need, not wealth or
status, as set out in the Canada Health Act.”
