With the Cambie appeal hearings happening the week of June 14, we held a webinar on June 2nd to discuss the details of the case, next steps, and how we will be mobilizing together. Watch the webinar below and click HERE to sign the "Pledge to Support Public Health Care". …Read More
The BC Health Coalition and Canadian Doctors for Medicare were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Joseph Arvay, O.C., O.B.C., Q.C. As Coalition Intervenors in the Cambie trial, Joe was a key member of our legal team. In the legal battle to defend public health care in BC, Joe and his team was our voice in the courtroom. Joe approached the case with not only his tremendous experience as a constitutional lawyer, but also the passion of an advocate determined to protect the public health care system we all rely on. He was our lawyer, but he was also an ally and a friend.…Read More
For immediate release Monday, December 2, 2019 A new poll finds that 90% of British Columbians agree that access to healthcare in the province should be based on need rather than ability to pay.…Read More
For immediate release (Unceded Coast Salish Territories - Vancouver, BC) On Monday, November 18th, final arguments began in the Charter challenge that put public health care on trial.…Read More
On Monday, we will be back in court for the final three weeks of the Cambie Trial. We need to show there’s strong support for health care that is available to all based on need, not ability to pay. Help us do this by packing the court on Monday, either in person, or with a virtual check-in.…Read More
news release May 14, 2019 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE INTERVENOR WITNESS TAKES THE STAND IN CAMBIE CASE Marie-Claude Prémont provides expert evidence on the dangers of dismantling public health care legislation…Read More
Counsel for Attorney General of Canada opens with argument that striking down public health care law would “turn back the clock” on health care in Canada, lead to major health inequality April 16, 2019 (Vancouver) For the first time since the trial began in 2016, the BC Supreme Court will hear from defendants and intervenors in the constitutional challenge to Canadian public health care launched by private, for-profit clinic CEO Brian Day.…Read More
For immediate release (Unceded Coast Salish Territories - Vancouver, BC) On Friday, July 6th, Brian Day’s private, for-profit clinic Cambie Surgeries filed an injunction application to stop the province’s enforcement law against extra-billing, the Medicare Protection Amendment Act (Bill 92), from coming into force on October 1st, 2018. In addition to the increased enforcement measures, the province committed to completing thousands of more surgeries and diagnostic tests in the public system in order to alleviate wait times.…Read More
B.C. and Quebec top the list for illegal billing Vancouver – Surveys of hundreds of private health clinics and patients across Canada reveal that extra user-fees amounting to hundreds or thousands of dollars are threatening access to health care and hurting patients. A new cross-Canada study includes survey results of 136 private hospital, diagnostic and “boutique” physician clinics across Canada and almost 400 individual Ontario patients. Clinics and patients were asked about extra user-charges for needed health care services. …Read More
Update on the trial that will decide if Canada will soon have a US-style health care system. Guest speaker Rick Turner, Co-Chair of the BC Health Coalition, will provide an update the critical Medicare versus private health care court case currently at the BC Supreme Court. Sponsored by the Society for the Protection and Care of Seniors and USWA Local #480 and Local #9705 …Read More