The province’s largest health care union is demanding that the B.C. Liberal government release its controversial plans for health care that were foreshadowed in today’s Throne Speech.
In its preview of a legislative agenda dominated by the environment, the provincial government revealed its intention to introduce “fundamental” health reforms but left British Columbians in the dark about the substance of those plans.
“This government must come clean with British Columbians about its designs for health care,” says Hospital Employees’ Union secretary-business manager
“Their lack of transparency is especially disrespectful to all those British Columbians who are participating in good faith in the government’s health conversation.”
Darcy also says that the government’s heightened health spending rhetoric on display in today’s Throne Speech is detracting from an honest and open debate about the public solutions that will strengthen health care.
B.C. health facts:
- A national comparison of provincial government spending on health care shows that B.C. has slipped from second to sixth place since 2001, according to the independent Canadian Institute for Health
Information. - B.C. government health spending has remained relatively stable as a proportion of the provincial economy over the last 15 years – about seven cents on the dollar.