Media Advisory
For Release, July 26, 2001
"My government will not shrink from its responsibilities or shy away from its commitments. All ministers will be held personally and collectively accountable for honouring my government's election platform promises." Speech from the Throne - July 24, 2001
Langley, BC - Trusting the new government to keep its word, the Canadian Snowbird Association (CSA) is cheering a long-sought-after change in the BC healthcare front.
Prior to the May 16 election, the CSA received confirmation from Premier Campbell that if elected, "A BC Liberal Government will ensure that BC health care is universal, accessible, portable, comprehensive and publicly administered, consistent with the five principles of the Canada Health Act."
According to the Portability Principle [Section 11(1)(b)(ii)] of the Canada Health Act, "If insured persons are temporarily out of the country, insured services are to be paid at the home province's rate." Currently, and for the last 25 years, British Columbia has paid just $75 per day towards out-of-country emergency care - not nearly close to the true cost of the per diem rate in a British Columbia hospital today.
"The CSA has always promoted the need for supplementary travel medical insurance," said Alex Scott, CSA British Columbia Director. "We will continue to educate our members as to the importance of this extra coverage. Now, we can promote the BC government as a partner in taking a proactive approach to one's healthcare."
"We are not proposing funding a new program nor are we advocating coverage for elective surgery," said CSA President Bob Jackson. "We want true, emergency services to be covered as the law states, and the Throne Speech certainly made it clear that the new government is going to do that. We anticipate great change and applaud Premier Campbell's insight."
The Canadian Snowbird Association is a non-profit organization representing the needs and interests of travelling Canadians, coast to coast.
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