VICTORIA: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) today called on British Columbia Health Minister George Abbott to end the ban on private medical insurance. The Medicare Protection Act has similar provisions to the Quebec law that was recently struck down by the Supreme Court, which prevents people from spending their own after-tax dollars on their own health care.

In a letter to the newly appointed Health Minister George Abbott, CTF director Sara MacIntyre writes:

"In light of last week's ruling by the Supreme Court in Chaoulli, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) urges you to immediately end British Columbia's ban on the purchase and sale of private medical insurance.

As you know, the Medicare Protection Act contains similar provisions to the Quebec law that was struck down by the court. Prohibiting the purchase and provision of private medical insurance not only condemns patients to lengthy and damaging wait lists but also unnecessarily impugns their freedom and ability to choose.

According to Justice Deschamps, "a number of witnesses acknowledged that the demand for health care is potentially unlimited and that waiting lists are a more or less implicit form of rationing." Isn't time to recognize that rationing as a means of distribution always fails to meet the demands of consumers, whether it is with health care or food

The Supreme Court concluded that the Canada Health Act does not prohibit private health care services and that a prohibition on private medical insurances "is not necessary to guarantee the integrity of the public plan."

Given the court's findings, there is no justification for British Columbia to maintain such a prohibition and every reason to repeal it.

British Columbia always leads the country when it comes to reform and innovation. With this Supreme Court ruling, your re-elected government has been handed an extraordinary opportunity to once again take on a leadership role by repealing section 45 of the Medicare Protection Act and ending the prohibition on private medical insurance.

Please be assured that reforms towards more accountability and choice will receive full and public support from the CTF.