September 15, 2004

Dear Minister Dosanjh

I watched with interest when you were appointed as federal Health Minister soon after the June 28th election. It appeared to be a politically astute move by the Prime Minister to help deflect the barrage of criticism from health care activists in this country. Having a socially progressive Minister of Health in his cabinet that clearly understood the issues was indeed good news. My sincere congratulations.

I admit that I was pleased beyond words when you immediately voiced your support for non-profit health care in response to journalists' questions with the following statement: "I can tell you that what we need to do is stem the tide of privatization in Canada and expand public delivery of health care so we have a stronger health care system for all Canadians".

These encouraging words came on the heals of statements made by your predecessor, Pierre Pettigrew, when he pledged to build "a single-payer, publicly administered and publicly delivered health system" in the weeks leading up to election day.

The Prime Minister's campaign promise to "fix health care for a generation" must be kept. The Liberal government track record on this very important portfolio has been dismal over the past ten years. As you are well aware as past Premier of British Columbia, the Canada Health Act has not has not often been enforced when it clearly should have been. This has lead to ever increasing privatization in the health care field with its consequent increase in costs to the taxpaying public. No wonder our health care system is in crisis!

The principles of the Canada Health Act must be clarified so there is no doubt as to what a publicly administered, universal, portable, accessible and comprehensive health care system means. More than 90 % of Canadians polled repeatedly over the past 10 years want our health care system to be publicly delivered and administered. There is absolutely no doubt what the will of the majority is in this regard.

We look forward to the day when government provides not only the financial resources required, but more importantly, the political will to deliver what they promised.

We will all be watching as the First Minister's Conference on the future of health care in Canada wraps up for indicators that we can at last begin rebuilding our bruised faith in the political leadership of this country.

Ben Lefebvre

Co-chair

Northeastern Ontario Health Coalition

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