What Jagmeet Singh can do for health care

At the recent federal NDP convention, leader Jagmeet Singh proposed extending universal health care to cover prescription drugs and dental care. Laudable goals, but it is unclear how they would be funded.

Before attempting this, he should concentrate on improving existing health care coverage for all Canadians. He acknowledged that the provision of care had eroded to a “patchwork” of uneven services across Canada and stated that “Universal health care is the tool to combat inequality.”

This applies not just to Indigenous communities, low-income persons in inner cities, persons living in remote areas, etc. All federal politicians for over three decades have ignored the fact that Quebec residents are “second-class citizens” when they seek medical services in another part of Canada. Quebec has refused to obey the portability provisions of the Canada Health Act, and as a result, few out-of-province MDs will accept a Quebec medicare card.

This affects Quebecers who become unexpectedly ill elsewhere in Canada on business or vacation, or those who need to see an MD during the first three months after a permanent move to another province. It particularly affects West Quebec patients who seek medical care in Ottawa in part due to a shortage of physicians in their own region.

I have urged Conservative leader Andrew Scheer to introduce legislation setting up a mechanism for the federal government to pay physicians directly for treatment of all out-of-province patients. Surely Jagmeet Singh would support at last giving Quebecers the fully portable medical benefits enjoyed by other Canadians.

Charles S. Shaver, MD, Ottawa