SASKATCHEWAN NDP CALLS OUT MOE FOR REFUSING TO REJECT PRIVATE, AMERICAN-STYLE HEALTHCARE

Saskatchewan NDP Vows To Keep Healthcare Public In The Birthplace of Medicare

REGINA – The Saskatchewan NDP is calling out Premier Scott Moe and demanding he commit to public healthcare after wavering when asked to outright reject a move to private, American-style healthcare.

The call comes as Moe’s close ally, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, has aggressively moved forward with further privatization of healthcare, including a move to allow physicians to charge patients directly, as well as continue to work and bill through the public system. This sort of “double dipping” has long been prohibited by provinces in order to uphold the Canada Health Act. Smith’s move would be a crucial blow to public healthcare.

When asked to rule out a similar move during Question Period last week, Moe ducked the question.

“Privatized, for-profit healthcare is demonstrated to be more costly, to produce worse patient outcomes, and it is also known to push healthcare workers out of the public health system, which would only exacerbate the healthcare staffing crisis and worst-in-Canada wait times that your government has created,” reads the letter sent by Saskatchewan NDP Leader Carla Beck and Health Shadow Minister Meara Conway.

The Official Opposition is calling on Moe to denounce any move towards American-style healthcare by 4:30 p.m. on Monday.

Conway said that the move by Smith in Alberta likely violates Sections 18 and 19 of the Canada Health Act. She asked the Sask. Party to consider joining her to write a letter to the federal government demanding they uphold the principles of the Act in the coming days.

“Saskatchewan is the birthplace of Canada’s universal healthcare system,” Conway said. “It is a point of pride for so many of our residents. It is a legacy that, as Premier, you have a duty to uphold.

“That is why it is urgent that you immediately and publicly reject any plans for American-style privatized healthcare,” she added.

Beck, Conway and several other Saskatchewan NDP MLAs are continuing to develop policies for big, bold change to get healthcare out of last place — protecting and advancing public healthcare is a key goal of ongoing public consultation on the work. Saskatchewan people can have their say on the future of healthcare at YourCareYourSay.ca.

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