Press Release

VANCOUVER (.pdf) — The BC Health Coalition says the 2015 federal budget entrenches deep health care cuts for B.C. and fails to include much-needed reforms, such as national pharmacare, to meet the needs of Canada's aging population.…Read More

VICTORIA (.pdf version) - The BC Health Coalition says that the 2015 budget fails to plan for the looming federal health care cuts and lacks the leadership needed to care for the province's aging population. "B.C. is facing a 5 billion dollar cut to health care under the federal government's new funding formula and this budget leaves us unprepared," says BC Health Coalition co-chair Rick Turner of today's budget.…Read More

VANCOUVER -  Media are welcome to attend tomorrow's sold out conference: System Change for Seniors Care. BC's Ombudsperson Kim Carter and Seniors Advocate Isobel Mackenzie will both speak about their roles in improving seniors' care. Afternoon sessions will address residential care, home support, poverty and other key issues. The conference is co-hosted by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and the BC Health Coalition.…Read More

VANCOUVER (.pdf) - The BC Government is about to make a decision that will send a clear message to patients about whether or not they are protected by public health care law. The province is currently negotiating a settlement with Cambie Surgery Corporation owner Dr. Brian Day. The outcome of that negotiation will determine the future of Medicare in BC.…Read More

Toronto (.pdf version)  As Ontario’s new Health Minister Dr. Eric Hoskins sits down with provincial and territorial Health Ministers for their fall meeting this week, experts and patient advocates hope that he’ll carry a strong message. Across Canada advocates are calling on the B.C.…Read More

VICTORIA - The BC Health Coalition and Canadian Doctors for Medicare welcome the possible resolution of a charter challenge to public health care law launched by for-profit clinic owner Dr. Brian Day.…Read More

Patients, doctors, health groups join in court battle with for-profit clinic seeking US-style system Vancouver, BC - Today a group of patients, doctors and health care advocates won the right to present expert evidence defending Canadian health care in the BC Supreme Court case against clinic owner Brian Day. This court battle will determine the future of Canadian public health care.…Read More

BC public health care advocates applaud Alberta court ruling upholding ban on private payment for health care BC to face similar, but broader, constitutional challenge this year Public health care advocates in B.C. are celebrating an Alberta Court of Queen's Bench decision to uphold the province's ban on private health insurance for medically necessary services. The court was not persuaded that wait times in Alberta are linked to the province's ban on private insurance that duplicates what is covered under Medicare.…Read More

More innovation required, say public health care advocates Victoria - The BC Health Coalition says that the 2014 budget is inadequate when it comes to taking the necessary steps toward improving the public system and ensuring its sustainability. "In an era of federal government health care cuts and abandonment of national standards, it is more important than ever for B.C. to take proactive measures to steward our public health care system properly," said BC Health Coalition co-chair Rick Turner of today's budget, which projects a reduction in real health care spending.…Read More

Constitutional Challenge to Medicare trial with start September 8, 2014. Dr. Brian Day, owner of Vancouver’s for-profit Cambie Surgery Centre and the leading proponent of privatized health care, has launched a constitutional challenge to break Medicare via the courts and establish a US-style system in Canada. Parties in the case are calling this the most significant constitutional challenge in Canadian history. …