Letter to Minister McLellan: future of health care in Canada

Dear Minister McLellan,

I am writing to you on behalf of the Ecumenical Health Care Network, an initiative of the Canadian Council of Churches’ Commission on Justice and Peace.

Members of our Commission take a deep interest in the current discussions about the future of health care in Canada. Many of our members and affiliated organizations are involved in the provision of health care services. We are also actively participating in public discussions about preserving and expanding services and forms of care in our health care system, including homecare and pharmacare. We do not believe that expanding the role of the for-profit private sector is a viable solution in ensuring a sustainable health care system. Our members support the five principles of the Canada Health Act.

In October last year, the Commission submitted a brief to the Senate Standing Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology. We hosted a churches’ forum on health care in the West Block this past February. Between January and April of this year we held 18 workshops across Canada with members of our denominations to discuss the future of health care and to encourage participation in the Royal Commission. In May, the Commission submitted a brief to Commissioner Romanow. One outcome of this consultative process was A Health Care Covenant for All People in Canada.