Canadian Federal Election

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Well, for starters the federal government which is accountable for transfers to the provinces for healthcare has hugely reduced its contributions to this sector since the 70s and 80s, to the point of virtual collapse, with the provinces having to pick up the slack.

So in that sense it is a federal political issue.

According to the National Post, federal health transfers to the provinces have increased in the past 20 years by more than the provinces have increased spending on healthcare.

[LuluBobo]

Originally Posted by Changing City

According to the National Post, federal health transfers to the provinces has increased in the past 20 years by more than they have increased spending on healthcare.

The numbers are $15 billion in 2005 and $47 billion in 2023.

$15 billion in 2005 is $22 billion in real dollars.

Canada had a population of 32 million in 2005 and 40 million in 2023.

So in terms of real per capita dollars it was $687 in 2005 and $1175.

On the surface, it does appear the feds are contributing much more in 2023 than in 2005.

[Acajack]

Is it the feds' dollar contribution that is increasing that is most important, or the share of health care spending that they are paying for?

https://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/september-2024/canada-health-transfer-provinces/

[Acajack]

I believe the allegation from the provinces is about the share that has been decreasing, from in the 1970s when the feds basically matches dollar-for-dollar everything the provinces spent.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by Changing City

I'm not sure how the topic of 'access to healthcare' ended up featuring on the federal election thread. I'm pretty sure it's not going to be the basis of most elector's voting intentions.

The availability of a regular doctor is only one part of the Commonwealth Fund survey (that you are referencing). In the more comprehensive study "The United States ranks last overall. The three top-performing countries in 2024 are Australia, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom." …

…For example, yes, 99% of UK residents are registered with a GP, because the way the NHS works generally encourages that. Most GP practices accept registration. But the average GP in the UK has twice as many registered patients as the average Canadian GP, so the availability of an appointment to see a doctor in many parts of the country reflects that difference.

Which is not to say that provinces don't need to do more to improve the availability of primary healthcare, and to ensure there is adequate GP coverage. It doesn't seem to be a critical federal election issue though.

I was wondering about that. If you go through UK media it seems filled with NHS horror stories. Similarly, if the US system ranks highly in this metric, why did so many Americans cheer on the murder of that healthcare executive?

My own GP suddenly retired last month so I’m in the “no family doctor” boat right now too.

[CanSpice]

Originally Posted by whatnext

I was wondering about that. If you go through UK media it seems filled with NHS horror stories. Similarly, if the US system ranks highly in this metric, why did so many Americans cheer on the murder of that healthcare executive?

Two things:

1. The post you quoted says "In the more comprehensive study "The United States ranks last overall."" So the US system does not rank highly in this metric.
2. When you do manage to navigate the hellscape that is the US medical insurance system the care is generally good, but the tremendous pains in dealing with medical insurance is why Luigi is celebrated.

[lio45]

I’ve also been without a family doctor since mine retired several years ago. Tried a bit and couldn’t find one. No big deal. (I don’t expect much from the healthcare system in the first place.)

For an emergency, I’d just go to the emergency ward and wait a couple days with a few good books, an internet connections, a pillow and a blanket. No need for a family doctor.

[lio45]

Originally Posted by Changing City

I'm not sure how the topic of 'access to healthcare' ended up featuring on the federal election thread.

The next Federal election will be about Trump, and whether or not access to healthcare is worse right now in the 51st State than in the other 50 states has some bearing on the ~43% of young Canadians who would want Canada to merge with the USA given decent enough Terms of Union.

So, it’s kind of on topic these days, at least tangentially.

[YOWetal]

Originally Posted by lio45

The next Federal election will be about Trump, and whether or not access to healthcare is better in the 51st State than in the other 50 states has some bearing on the ~43% of young Canadians who would want Canada to merge with the USA given decent enough Terms of Union.

So, it’s kind of on topic these days.

Yes the delusional nature of the 18-29 crowd about this issue but life in general in the United States as well as how bad our economy is and how bad things could get are all very relevant to how they will vote in the next election though with a likely low turnout and their over concentration in urban areas they are unlikely to be an important factor in the results.

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by YOWetal

Yes the delusional nature of the 18-29 crowd about this issue but life in general in the United States as well as how bad our economy is and how bad things could get are all very relevant to how they will vote in the next election though with a likely low turnout and their over concentration in urban areas they are unlikely to be an important factor in the results.

They have been discouraged their whole lives from having any national identity. They have been told by their Prime Minister for 10 years how awful their country is and how guilty they should feel about it. They have been unable to afford (or restricted by COVID) from travel and other life experiences. They can’t afford shit. It is not surprising they are not very patriotic.

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by Acajack

I believe the allegation from the provinces is about the share that has been decreasing, from in the 1970s when the feds basically matches dollar-for-dollar everything the provinces spent.

Sure - it was true until the mid 1970s. The 50/50 split was a talking point for trying to get more funding from the feds.

In the 1975 budget, in regard to hospital and medical care insurance, the Minister of Finance, John Turner, said "even after the development of these plans as mature systems, the annual increase in their cost has on average run well ahead of the growth of national income. These cost trends are due in part to the basic nature of health care; but the statutory rigidity of the programs, the lack of national standards, and the open-ended nature of cost-sharing arrangements with the provinces has made it almost impossible to achieve effective cost planning or control. Last year, for example, federal contributions to the provinces in respect of these two programs had to be increased by 19.8 per cent over the previous year."

And from then on it hasn't been 50/50 - but as the news research showed, the federal government has increased its share more in the past 20 years.

More to the point for the upcoming election, Poilievre hasn't committed to continue to fund either pharmacare or the dental funding. His only health committment seems to be to try to get provinces to recognise overseas qualifications faster. There don't seem to be any more federal funds.

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by acottawa

They have been discouraged their whole lives from having any national identity. They have been told by their Prime Minister for 10 years how awful their country is and how guilty they should feel about it. They have been unable to afford (or restricted by COVID) from travel and other life experiences. They can’t afford shit. It is not surprising they are not very patriotic.

For the past several years the Prime Minister has been arguing that the country isn't awful. This, on the other hand, has been the Conservative message since at least 2022.

[Wigs]

Originally Posted by lio45

I’ve also been without a family doctor since mine retired several years ago.

That's what happened to me as well. While I moved across the country my Doctor in Ontario retired, when I moved back the backlog for Ontarians trying to find a family Doc was so long that I didn't even bother finding one initially.

Thank goodness for the local pharmacy owner building new medical office space and encouraging more Doctors to come to the area. It's quite convenient particularly for Seniors, or those without a car, having doctors offices next to a Life Labs, on top of a large pharmacy in the heart of town. One stop for one's needs. You'd admire the efficiency, lio. It's a win-win-win

[Drybrain]

Originally Posted by acottawa

They have been discouraged their whole lives from having any national identity. They have been told by their Prime Minister for 10 years how awful their country is and how guilty they should feel about it. They have been unable to afford (or restricted by COVID) from travel and other life experiences. They can’t afford shit. It is not surprising they are not very patriotic.

Come on. No one is denying a national identity, nor does a healthy reckoning with a country's past sins preclude national pride (though I agree that in some circles, historical evils and present-day prejudices are wielded as proof that Canada is somehow beyond saving, a hopelessly corrupt colonial instution--but I have certainly never heard Trudeau say anything like that).

COVID restrictions lasted for like, a year. People very badly need to get over their hurt feelings about engaging in a collective effort to save lives, which is now getting to be pretty far in the rearview.

Cost of living, well, yeah, I get that. Too bad Poilievre is mostly good at peddling grievances over that, and appears to have very few practical solutions.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by acottawa

They have been discouraged their whole lives from having any national identity. They have been told by their Prime Minister for 10 years how awful their country is and how guilty they should feel about it. They have been unable to afford (or restricted by COVID) from travel and other life experiences. They can’t afford shit. It is not surprising they are not very patriotic.

What on earth are you talking about? Which party is the one that keeps telling us "Canada is Broken" and people here on SSP telling us that "Canada will be destroyed if JT is elected" in 2019, then 2021.

[Truenorth00]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Is it the feds' dollar contribution that is increasing that is most important, or the share of health care spending that they are paying for?

https://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/september-2024/canada-health-transfer-provinces/

Originally Posted by Acajack

I believe the allegation from the provinces is about the share that has been decreasing, from in the 1970s when the feds basically matches dollar-for-dollar everything the provinces spent.

"The Feds interfere way too much in provincial affairs."

"The Feds aren't fixing healthcare!"

Pick one.

The Feds pay enough to ensure the basic coverage required in the Canada Health Act is universally available across Canada. Anybody that wants more, should be looking at their provincial government.

[jamincan]

Joe Rogan and the Russian trolls keep telling them Canada is broken.

[Marshsparrow]

Originally Posted by Changing City

For the past several years the Prime Minister has been arguing that the country isn't awful. This, on the other hand, has been the Conservative message since at least 2022.

Poor Conservatives - they picked the wrong leader. His endorsements of Musk, Jones, Peterson... not good. His Chief of Staff and some MPs wearning MAGA hats off-putting.

He convinced so many that Canada is broken, Canada is garbage and people don't seem too tuned in to that message anymore.

He pivots to criticize Carney and of all things his shoes - at the same time he goes around in a $2.5K parka paid for by the taxpayer.

Conservatives better get their act together in a really big hurry!

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

What on earth are you talking about? Which party is the one that keeps telling us "Canada is Broken" and people here on SSP telling us that "Canada will be destroyed if JT is elected" in 2019, then 2021.

There are 3 pages of apologies on the PM’s website, and those are just the ones they wrote a news release for.

https://www.canada.ca/en/privy-council/p...x&st1rt=0&langs=eng&cdn=pm&default_text=


He gives speeches like this at the UN, 90 percent of which is about how crappy Canada is.

https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/speeches/20...ress-72th-session-united-nations-general

[Hecate]

Let’s face it. The liberals got lucky with trump. Until him they were desperately trying to back track on the gas tax, and the immigration, all things the opposition has been hammering them about for the last several years. So because of trump we might end up being stuck with four more years of shit government. I hate that man.