At the Launch of the Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada
Speaking Notes
for
Allan Rock
Minister of Health
National Press Theatre
Ottawa, Ontario
April 4, 2001
As delivered.
Thank you very much and good afternoon.
I'm delighted to be here this afternoon with Roy Romanow to make what I believe is an
important announcement about the future of medicare in Canada. The health care system we
have now in this country is a result of an evolution, an evolution that has taken most
of the last century. And in the course of that evolution, there have been milestones to
mark particular points of importance. Milestones when we had developments that served to
adapt basic principles about medicare in Canada to the changing circumstances and needs
of different times.
I believe today marks the beginning of just another such milestone. If we look back in
the history, 40 years ago, half a lifetime ago, Emmett Hall was beginning his work in a
Royal Commission, another milestone along the way. At that time, the Government of Canada
asked Emmett Hall, and I quote here, "to look into the existing and future need for health
services and to recommend measures to ensure that the best possible health care is available
to the people of Canada." Now the report of the Hall Commission was, of course, a landmark
in our history. It helped to set the stage for medicare that Canadians know and cherish
as an essential part of what defines us today.
By 1966, during the Pearson government, Parliament passed the Medical Care Act and that
extended financial support to the provinces and territories to cover doctors' services
to the general public outside of hospitals for the first time. The work of Emmett Hall
helped lead to our universal and accessible health care system, ensuring that no one who
needs care goes without services for lack of money.
Now, 40 years later, the kind of health care system that Emmett Hall and other visionaries
of that day pictured is in place. It reflects the same fundamental values that it did from
the beginning: a universal and accessible system of publicly supported health care. Frankly,
it is one of the reasons why Canadians live better, longer and healthier lives.
And, apart from the social benefits, as well all know, there are also economic advantages
which Emmett Hall acknowledged when he said, and I quote, "The only thing more expensive
than good health care is no health care."
Our system of universal and accessible health care has become, quite simply, part of who
we are. But we know that our health system faces evolution, changes and stresses that no
one could have envisioned 40 years ago. Many services have moved from hospitals into clinics
and the community. New technologies and new treatments are emerging all the time. New ways
of providing service and rising expectations by citizens are reshaping the health agenda.
More than that, we also know that the pace and the scope of change is only accelerating.
And we know that Canadians expect their governments to face the situation and take effective,
thoughtful action that is anchored in our values.
Last September, there was an historic agreement among heads of government: a Health Accord
to which First Ministers unanimously agreed to support a modern sustainable and integrated
health care system. Every one of those heads of government, including Mr. Romanow, recommitted
themselves to the principles of Canadian medicare. Every one of them endorsed a plan to
move to address priorities, including upgrading hospitals and diagnostic equipment, providing
better access to frontline services, and making better use of information technology.
Now the time has come to match that commitment to addressing immediate needs with a serious
look into the future. The Health Accord of last September was intended to stabilize the
current system. To deal with current and anticipated needs in the medium term. However,
there have been many calls to look at the issues in the long term. We need to answer those
calls for a dialogue with Canadians on how to ensure a sustainable, accessible and effective
health system, not just tomorrow or a year from now, but 10, 20 and 30 years out.
This does not mean that we have to depart from our principles. Just as the basic principles
of Canadian medicare were present 40 years ago in the work of Emmett Hall, they may look
slightly different 10 or 20 years from now, while remaining in substance the same.
That is the genius of the principles -- that they can adapt to changing circumstances
of the times. A country that had the genius to invent medicare is certainly capable of
renewing it.
By announcing the Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada under Mr. Roy Romanow,
that is precisely what we are launching. I am very pleased that Mr. Romanow is willing
to take on this challenge -- and it is a challenge.
Of course, Roy Romanow comes to this task as someone with both experience and credibility.
He has faced the tough questions of how to bring his own province's health care system
in line with contemporary needs and realities. Above all, Mr. Romanow has done this with
a sure and unquestioned commitment to the values and principles that are at the foundation
of our health care system.
We are looking to Mr. Romanow to recommend policies and measures that will give Canadians
a sustainable and universally accessible health system over the long term. We are looking
to him for ideas that will ensure quality services into the future. We want to see recommendations
on how to achieve a balance in our health policies and programs between keeping Canadians
healthy on the one hand, and meeting their need for care and treatment on the other.
There are no overnight remedies here. We need to get this work right. So Mr. Romanow will
conduct his work in two stages. First, he will do the fact finding and carry out public
education. We see this as a nine month process. A chance to get the facts and the insights
in front of Canadians. The next stage will be a real dialogue with Canadians and with people
who have a particular expertise and interest in health issues.
That dialogue will use the interim report as a starting point. It will be a chance for
Canadians to have their say about a health care system we all want to see be as strong
and as effective as possible. And, it seems to those of us in government that the time
is right for just this kind of process.
Canadians clearly want a public dialogue on where we go from here. People in the health
sector have called for this same kind of dialogue and review. It is time for a dialogue
on choices for the 21st century -- based on real and serious ideas, not empty
soundbites. I have a great deal of faith that we can achieve something valuable through
this work. And having Roy Romanow leading that work is an important reason for my faith
in this Commission. I'm looking forward to this process and to its results.
Thank you.
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