• CTF applauds general direction of Advisory Council on Health recommendations
  
• Taxpayers ready to participate in the national health care debate
  
• CTF notes many Mazankowski suggestions mirror CTF 2001 recommendations

OTTAWA: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) has responded to today's release of the final report from the Alberta Premier's Advisory Council on Health, chaired by former Deputy Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Don Mazankowski, and aided by a team of public policy and medical experts.

Overall Direction

"We applaud the general direction, content and tenor of the Council's work," stated CTF federal director Walter Robinson. "This document shows that when common sense is married with innovative solutions it can indeed triumph over invective, status quo rhetoric. This report mirrors public sentiment as expressed in countless opinion surveys. Canadians are ready for a thorough debate about the future of health care and are open to considering all options."

Provincial Initiatives Can Provide National Leadership

"While we are encouraged with the recommendations offered in the Mazankowski report, we are discouraged by those who seek to trash this Council's work," added Robinson. "Even before the report was released, status quo defenders of current dysfunctional health care system are casting their negative aspersions far and wide. And they are erroneously claiming that the Alberta government is end running Roy Romanow's royal commission."

"This is ridiculous and laughable," noted Robinson. "Since when does any province have to wait for Ottawa to give it permission to exercise its provincial constitutional responsibilities in the field of health care We encourage the Alberta government to march ahead with implementation of much of this report and adapt or modify its plans as the Kirby and Romanow reports are released later this year. We continue to seek an audience with Mr. Romanow and are appreciative of the respect the Senate of Canada has already afforded us."

Mazankowski Report Espouses Several CTF Principles

In September 2001, the CTF released a landmark study entitled The Patient, The Condition, The Treatment which was submitted to all provincial health ministers, Roy Romanow, and the Kirby Senate Committee.


"From making quality and patients the focus of health care reforms to expanding the service provider mix and introducing choice, competition and accountability as guiding principles for reform, the Alberta Premier's Advisory Council has offered a workable blueprint for health care reform not only in Alberta, but for other provinces as well," stated Robinson.

Mr. Robinson noted that these were key recommendations and beliefs espouse in last year's research and position paper from the CTF. Changing the funding structure with consideration of pre-funding options and viewing the health sector as an asset as opposed to a cost centre are also constructive suggestions which the CTF has promoted and endorses.

"The Mazankowski report mirrors much of what we have proposed, both provincially and nationally," concluded Robinson. "But the issue here isn't the ownership of ideas or who should take credit. What taxpayers and health care consumers want is constructive national debate and ultimate action by way of real reforms. This report should be acted upon and not become destined to gather dust in some obscure government library."