Healthcare and the Conservative Party of Canada

You may hear people saying the CPC will cut healthcare. You may hear CPC supporters say that's fear-mongering. But, is it, really? Let's take a look.
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The National Citizen's Coalition was incorporated in 1975 by an insurance agent named Colin M. Brown. Mr. Brown had begun advertising back in 1967 against the Canada Health Act.

Our universal health care was the NCC's primary target, but over the 4 decades it has been in existence, it has also campaigned against;

- The Canadian Wheat Board

- the Canadian Labour Congress' strike protesting wage and price controls in 1975

- the admission of Vietnamese Boat People to Canada 1979-1980

- closed-shop unions

- "gold-plated" pensions for MPs

- the mandatory long-form census

- Quebec's Bill 101 protecting French language rights

In 1993, the NCC supported Harper's successful run to be elected a Reform Party MP. In 1997, Harper left politics to become Vice-President of the NCC. 

In 1998, Harper became President of the NCC, a post he held until 2002, when he resigned to take a run at the leadership of the Canadian Alliance Party (which grew out of the Reform party). 

The NCC continues to exist, by the way, and seems to potentially still wield some influence. They claim to have between 40,000 and 45,000 members and an operating budget of $2.8 Million. 

They are very secretive about membership, and many members have no voting rights or right to attend meetings. So, a lot of people pay dues to the NCC but have no input and may not even be informed of the organization's activities. 

Let's look at that list of things the NCC opposes. During his tenure, Harper gave the Canadian Wheat Board away to the Saudis, and he cancelled the long-form census. His government engaged in union-busting activities, legislating back to work on striking unions. 

And they did nothing when conservative provincial governments whittled away at public health care.

As recently as 2012 people were still asking about the relationship between the NCC and the CPC. NCC President Peter Coleman denied there was a link, and yet... 
cbc.ca/newsblogs/poli… 

Harper's policy ideas align with the NCC's, and he acted on them. It cannot be denied that the CPC is Harper's creation. And Scheer, Kenney, Poilievre, etc are all Harper's creatures. He molded them into what they are now. 

Indeed, it seems Harper is still very much involved behind the scenes. According to Montreal's l'Actualite: 

From the CPC's Policy Declaration document: 

What this says is a Scheer-led CPC government would allow the provinces to open the doors to private medicine (wider than they already have). This is two-tired medicine they are talking about. 

And the provinces with conservative governments are only too eager to do this. For example, Doug Ford. 

Leaked document reveals PC government’s plan to privatize health services: NDP - Macleans.caThe apparent draft bill reveals a plan to create a “super agency” that will seek bids for contracts from private health service companieshttps://www.macleans.ca/news/leaked-document-reveals-pc-governments-plan-to-privatize-health-services-ndp/

For example, Brian Pallister... 

The devastation of Manitoba: An autopsy of Pallister’s austerity regimeThe Manitoba PCs have rammed through a barrage of major right-wing changes — service closures, funding cuts, privatizations, union-busting — during their brief stint as provincial overlords. As many …https://canadiandimension.com/articles/view/the-devastation-of-manitoba

For example, Jason Kenney... 

UCP Leader Jason Kenney wants to explore private health-care options | Globalnews.caAlberta Opposition Leader Jason Kenney says a United Conservative government would work to reduce bureaucratic bloat in health care and explore private delivery options.https://globalnews.ca/news/4981467/alberta-ucp-jason-kenney-health-care/

The conservative premiers are already hard at work dismantling public health care to make room for private, for-profit health care. 

Andrew Scheer and the CPC hosted an event titled "The Business of Health Care" which charged $250 a person for lobbyists to have access to Scheer and a selection of top CPC MPs. 

Liberal MPs call on Tories to cancel $250-a-head 'business of healthcare' fundraiserLiberal MPs have penned a letter to Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer imploring him to cancel a Greater Toronto Area candidate's $250-a-ticket fundraising event billed as a discussion of "the busines…https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/liberal-mps-call-on-tories-to-cancel-250-a-head-business-of-healthcare-fundraiser-1.4374502

Privatising health care is in the DNA of the CPC, in much the same way as social programs are in the DNA of the NDP. And if they re-open the Constitution and Charter, as they have suggested they will, they will remove those pesky assurances of health care for all. 

And why would the CPC want for-profit health care? Well, here's how it works in the US: 

As He Attacks Medicare for All, Mayor Pete Gets Campaign Cash From Health Care ExecutivesButtigieg’s recent transformation into explicit Medicare for All critic was accompanied by continued donations from pharmaceutical and health insurance interests.https://readsludge.com/2019/10/18/as-he-attacks-medicare-for-all-mayor-pete-gets-campaign-cash-from-health-care-executives/?utm_content=buffer3b7b8&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Always follow the money. Private health insurance companies, private health corporations, and pharmaceutical companies all have deep pockets and are prepared to show their appreciation for political allies. 

A party who would let these entities into Canada is not working for the public good. They are working for their own good. 

Vote tomorrow! Vote for health care. Vote for #GunControl. Vote for inclusivity. #ChooseForward VOTE!