RESOLUTION

TITLE:Engaging the Dialogue on the Future of
Canada's Public Health Care System

ORIGINAL SOURCE:Church in Society Committee

CONFERENCE ACTION:

FINANCIALStudy materials, stationery, and postage
IMPLICATIONS:

SOURCE OF FUNDS:

STAFFINGresearch
IMPLICATIONS:

VOLUNTEERBriefs and letter writing, telephone calls,
IMPLICATIONS:personal appearances

MOTION by Paget Blaza/Kevin Logie that this 78th TORONTO CONFERENCE in partnership with the nine Presbyteries within its bounds, and its pastoral charges throughout the Conference:

•engage its membership in study and discussion of health care, along with the implications and opportunities for health reforms within the present values and principles undergirding Canada's public health care system;
•work with ecumenical, interfaith, and community partners in efforts to guard the values and principles of the Canada Health Act, which expresses Canada’s commitment to health care for all of its peoples.

FAITH BASE AND RATIONALE
The original vision, which led to the establishment of Canada's most treasured social program, commonly known as Medicare, grew out of the values of the Social Gospel movement and out of the work of the churches in Canada as health care providers.

The Canadian Council of Churches in May 2000 conveyed to Canadian Health Minister Allan Rock the following statement regarding values underlying the Canadian healthcare system and the hopes of the Council for its continued development, despite present difficulties:

"We believe that the system that has evolved reflects to a large degree the
commitment of many Canadians to a health care system based on such
fundamental social values as equity, collective responsibility, compassion and
caring.  The drive over the last few years to reduce deficits… has led to the
erosion of a system based on these fundamental values, values that are at the
heart of our Christian faith."

The 35th General Council of The United Church of Canada strongly affirmed its
support for the five principles of Canada's public health care system  universality,
accessibility, comprehensiveness, portability, and public administration – as a critical foundation and framework for the reform of, and for innovations and improvements to be made to, the Canadian health care system.

The United Church of Canada endorsed a public statement “Standing Together for Medicare: A Call to Care” at the Canadian Health Coalition – Canadian Labour Congress Conference on the Future of Health Care in Ottawa October 2001stating that “health care is a fundamental right of every human being without distinction of race, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, political belief, economic or social condition.” The statement called for the following eight principles to shape the future direction of the health care system:
1.The recognition of the highest attainment of health as a fundamental right throughout life and the necessity of preserving public health through active measures of promotion, prevention, and protection including such determinants as housing, food safety, income, education, environment, employment and peace.
2.The recognition of health care as a pubic good in which the few must not profit at the expense of the many.
3.Opposition to any commercialization and privatization of health.
4.The need for the federal government to fully assume its responsibilities in respect tot health, particularly by restoring and increasing federal transfers to levels sufficient to secure the integrity and enforcement of the Canada Health Act, 1984.
5.The reaffirmation of the original vision of a truly comprehensive public health care system for Canadians providing a continuum of services.
6.The need to move aware from a fee-for-service model towards a community-based, multi-disciplinary approach to the management, organization and delivery of services and care.
7.An accountable health care system through democratic participation and governance at all levels.
8.The recognition that health care workers are critical to the effective operation of the health care system and that decent wages, working conditions and training opportunities are essential to high quality care and that retention of health care workers.
(Canadian Health Coalition www.healthcoalition.ca.)

The Government of Canada has established a Commission on the Future of Health
Care in Canada, with The Honourable Roy J. Romanow as Commissioner:

"to inquire into and undertake dialogue with Canadians on the future of
Canada's public health care system, and to recommend policies and measures
respectful of the jurisdictions and powers in Canada required to ensure over
the long term the sustainability of a universally accessible, publicly funded
health system, that offers quality services to Canadians and strikes an
appropriate balance between investments in prevention and health
maintenance and those directed to care and treatment."