Friends of Medicare's statement on today’s decision from the British Columbia Court of Appeal
This morning, the British Columbia Court of Appeal unanimously dismissed Dr. Brian Day’s appeal of the lower court’s ruling on the Cambie Case, re-affirming that provincial laws which limit a two-tier health care system do not contravene the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
This case—the trial, the appeal and the rulings—has reiterated what public health care advocates have always known: profit has no place in health care. Private, for-profit health care siphons medical staff and resources from the public system, resulting in worsening wait times and declining care for everyone but the wealthiest among us. But ultimately, this case was never about patients, it was simply about increasing the profits of those who seek to capitalize on the health care needs of Canadians.
While this is a historic victory for our public health care system, and a major blow against Brian Day and his camp, our work is far from over. As intervenors in the case, the British Columbia Health Coalition and Canadian Doctors for Medicare expect a challenge will now head to the Supreme Court of Canada. We are hopeful that we will finally see a conclusive decision to uphold Canadians’ rights to a public health care system based on need, not the ability to pay.
As our health care system struggles with the fallout of the ongoing pandemic, and escalating privatization attempts by provincial governments, it has become more evident than ever just how vitally important our public health care system is, and the urgency with which we must defend it from attacks.
Friends of Medicare and public health care advocates all across this country will continue our fight to protect, strengthen and expand our public health care system for all.
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