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April 13, 2016

Health Care Advocates Welcome Federal Intervention in Cambie Case

VANCOUVER (April 13) – Dr. Brian Day’s campaign to dismantle Canadian public health care was dealt a significant blow today as counsel for the Attorney General of Canada presented their intention to intervene in Cambie Surgical Centre et al. v. Medical Services Commission et al (Cambie Case) in BC Supreme Court.

The Cambie Case is a Charter challenge being led by Dr. Brian Day, a Vancouver-based for-profit clinic owner, asking the Court to rule that four sections of BC’s Medicare Protection Act violate the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. According to their submission today in court, the Attorney General of Canada intends to intervene as a party in the case so they can appear and participate on constitutional questions raised by the Plaintiffs.

The Medical Services Commission of BC, the BC Minister of Health, and the BC Attorney General are the current Defendants in the case; Canadian Doctors for Medicare and the BC Health Coalition are intervenors.

“Dr. Brian Day is on a calculated campaign to do away with Canadian public health care and turn Canada’s system into a US-style system where international private insurance corporations run the show and patients foot the bill,” said Rick Turner of the BC Health Coalition. “We are pleased to see this government understands the Cambie Case could seriously affect the lives of all Canadians and their expertise is most welcome.”

The Cambie Case is scheduled to go to trial on June 6, 2016 in BC Supreme Court and is expected to run up to eight months. As intervenors in the case, BCHC and Canadian Doctors for Medicare will bring expert evidence before the courts about the costs for-profit health care and health insurance could have for Canada as well as evidence showing Quebec’s Chaoulli case has undermined patient access to care.

“The evidence is on our side,” said Dr. Monika Dutt, Chair, Canadian Doctors for Medicare. “If Dr. Day wins this case it will create a health care system where medical care is provided preferentially to those who can pay for it, while waitlists grow longer for the vast majority of the population. We will do all that we can to counter this court challenge that would create barriers to accessing our health care system.”

To learn more about Canadian Doctors for Medicare and the BC Health Coalition’s work as intervenors on the Cambie Case, please visit www.savemedicare.ca

 

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For more information, please contact:

 

Adam Lynes-Ford (Vancouver)

Campaigner, BC Health Coalition

604.787.6560

campaigner@bchealthcoalition.ca

 

Mary-Margaret Jones (Toronto)

Communications, Canadian Doctors for Medicare

416-351-3300 | 416-909-5911

jones@canadiandoctorsformedicare.ca

 

 

Mary-Margaret Jones

Communications and Outreach

Canadian Doctors for Medicare

p.    416.351.3300

m.   416.909.5911

www.canadiandoctorsformedicare.ca