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November 28, 2002
Response of the Canadian Council on Social Development
to the final report by
the Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada
OTTAWA – The Canadian Council on Social Development (CCSD) congratulates the Romanow commission for affirming the role of the public sector in health care delivery against the calls for greater privatization, thereby ensuring universal access for Canadians. We also applaud this ambitious plan that greatly enhances coverage in such crucial areas as homecare, diagnostic services, primary care and rural and remote access.
"Finally we see a report that calls on the federal government to step up to the plate and articulate a national vision for health care, one which is both accountable and sustainable," said Katherine Scott, Senior Policy Associate for the CCSD.
"This report rightly identifies the need for close collaboration by governments. We can only hope that all governments will take up Mr. Romanow's challenge to come together as leaders to meet the health needs of Canadians in the 21st century," says
Marcel Lauzière, President of the Canadian Council on Social Development.
The Romanow report makes a forceful argument in support of the core values that have defined the Canadian health care system to date and are needed to guide future reforms: equity, fairness and solidarity.
The CCSD believes, as emphasized in our brief to the Romanow commission, that the broader social determinants of health, such as poverty and the environment, cannot be ignored. Confining reform to the formal health care system alone will not necessarily result in improved health among all Canadians. The report acknowledges the importance of prevention and health promotion – specifically regarding tobacco use, obesity and physical activity. It recognizes that health care reform needs to be linked to a broader social equality agenda and urges governments to take the next steps for making Canadians the healthiest people in the world.
"We are hopeful that the dollar amounts quoted by the Commission will not preclude government spending in other social policy areas that are directly linked to good health, such as the alleviation of poverty," says Lauzière.
And just as Mr. Romanow has articulated a plan for accountability in health funding across Canada under a new Canada Health Transfer, we would like to see a similar model used to craft a comprehensive social policy agenda for our country.
Policy Statements
Canadian Council on Social Development,
190 O'Connor Street, Suite 100,
Ottawa, Ontario, K2P 2R3
Tel: (613) 236-8977, Fax: (613) 236-2750, Web: www.ccsd.ca, Email: council@ccsd.ca
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