Letter to Minister Clement: Health Care Services

Dear Minister Clement,

We bring warm greetings to you on behalf of the Ecumenical Health Care Network. Churches have historically played a role in providing health care and members of the Ecumenical Health Care Network continue to be involved in health care.

The Ecumenical Health Care Network also contributes to public policy discussions about health care. We have submitted briefs to The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science, and Technology and to the Royal Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada.

We wrote to Prime Minister Harper on March 31, 2006 concerning the Government of Alberta’s proposal for “Health Care Renewal”. A copy of this letter was sent to your office (also enclosed).
We appreciate and acknowledge that the provision of health care services is changing in Canada. However, in our view, these changes can and should take place within the Canada Health Act. Although health care falls within the jurisdiction of the provinces and territories we affirm the central role of the federal government and its responsibility for the enforcement of the Canada Health Act. .