Although every political party claims to cherish Medicare, the harsh reality of the real world often contradicts these claims.

The federal government under both the Mulroney conservatives and the Chretien Liberals has been reducing federal health transfers to the provinces for sixteen years. The Chretien government alone has cut $16 billion out of health care since 1995.

The federal Liberal and Conservative attacks on health care put immense pressure on all provincial governments, but how they dealt with it varied widely.

In BC for example, the New Democrat government has increased health funding every year since 1992.

Question:

a) Do you think health care funding is adequate in Alberta? What examples can you think of that demonstrate a funding problem?

Some examples:

• waiting lists
• shortage of nurses, doctors
• lack of operating theatres, hospital beds
• private MRIs

The Klein government keeps saying that it is not a funding problem. However, the facts paint a different picture.

Actually, the Alberta government was spending 5.9% less per Albertan on health care in 1996 than they were in 1986. Between the peak-funding year (pre-Klein) of 1990 and 1996, per person spending actually declined 9.4%.

b) How does Alberta compare with other provinces?

You would expect that Alberta – if not the richest certainly one of the three wealthiest provinces in Canada would be at or near the top of the list in health care spending.

However, the facts again show that this is a false assumption.

Actually Alberta ranks third from the bottom in per person health care funding – behind Ontario, New Brunswick, Saskatchewan, BC, Manitoba, PEI, and Newfoundland.

Question:

What do you think of the Klein government’s claim that private health care – including for-profit hospitals – will give us a better health care system?

The Facts

One of the world’s most prestigious Medical Journals, The New England Journal of Medicare, published a study August 5, 1999 that showed that when U.S. hospitals converted from non-profit to for-profit, cost rose. The Journal stated that “studies have shown for-profit hospitals are 3 to 11 percent more expense than not-for-profit hospitals … “.

Several studies (e.g. Woolhandler and Hinmelstein, 1999) found that for-profit hospitals provide lower quality of care!

A Consumer Association of Canada study in 1999 found that in Calgary, where all cataract surgery is done at private clinics, waiting lists averaged 16 – 24 weeks and “extra charges” averaged $400.

In Edmonton, where 80% of cataract surgery is done in public hospitals, waiting lists averaged 5 – 7 weeks and the average charge was $250. In Lethbridge, where 100% of surgeries were done in public hospitals, the average wait was 4 – 7 weeks – and there were no “extra charges”.

Question:

Can you think of any necessary health services that are not covered by Medicare?

Some examples: eye exams, drugs (after early release from hospital

Question:

Should people be able to get better health services if they are willing to pay an extra fee out of their own pocket?

e.g. better lenses in cataract surgery

What's the deal with tax cuts?

The Alberta Federation of Labour believes that only an informed electorate will keep our democracy healthy.
With big business dominating the mass media, it is essential that alternate, reliable information be available to working people -- so that they can cast their ballots in their own best interest. As part of the effort to provide that information, the AFL has put together this political action kit for union members. It contains fact sheets on key issues that each local can either distribute to members, schedule into regular meetings, or make use of in part or in whole as they see fit.