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MetroVanIndependent.com
July 2015
NEWS
Harper to cut health care funding by $36 billion
By the MetroVan Independent News Team
The British Columbia Health Coalition
is batting for a new health accord, an
agreement between the provinces,
territories and federal government to
provide provinces with stable health
funding as it slammed the Harper
government plan to cut funding by $36
billion.
The 2004 Health Accord expired March
31st, 2014 after the federal government
refused to renegotiate it. The 2004 Health
Accord was important in promoting
national standards and providing stable
funding after deep cuts in the 1990s.
The First Ministers recommitted to the
Canada Health Act and its requirem ents
which includes public administration,
universal access, and comprehensive
coverage, accessibility without extra
charges or discrimination, and portability
across provinces.
The Accord also included a set of
common goals around wait times, home
care, prescription drugs, and team-based
primary care.
The health agreement allowed for some
progress. For example, on wait times, 8 out
of 10 Canadians were getting treatment
within the timelines set in 2005 for the five
chosen procedures.
In other areas (home care, drugs, and
primary care) progress has been poor
because the governments set only loose
goals, with no financial strings attached.
The Harper government did not renew
the Health Accord in 2014. This lack of
federal leadership in health care will lead
to 14 different health care systems. Access
will depend on where you live and your
It was revealed that the Harper
government’s plan to dismantle
national Medicare include the
abandonment of the National
Pharmaceutical Strategy from
the 2004 Accord.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
ability to pay.
In D e ce mbe r 2011, the Ha rpe r
government announced a major cut to the
Canada Health Transfer (CHT) of $36 billion
over 10 years beginning in 2017. In addition,
the equalization portion of the CHT was
eliminated in 2014, which effectively reduce
transfers by another $16.5 billion over the
next five years.
According to the BC Health Coalition,
we have an aging population and an
increasing demand for health care services
at present. Unless federal funding is stable
and adequate, our cherished public health
care system is in danger.
It was revealed that the Harper
government’s plan to dismantle national
Medicare include the abandonment of the
National Pharmaceutical Strategy from the
2004 Accord.
According to the Health Council of
Canada, the pharmaceutical strategy was
integral to the renewal and sustainability
of the entire health care system. Instead of
insisting on value for money for prescription
drugs, the Harper government agreed
to extend patent protection for brandname drugs and increase drug costs to
Canadians by between $850 million and
$1.6 billion a year.
“We have organized a National Day of
Action to alert Canadians that the federal
government has let the Health Accord
expire in 2014 and has failed to show
leadership in health care, cutting $36 billion
to health transfers over 10 years," the BC
Health Coalition said.
“There is a need for federal leadership
to negotiate a new 10-year Health Accord
with provincial and territorial governments
to secure the health care needs of citizens
in all regions and into the future,” they
added.
This accord would include:
• A Co ntinuing Ca re Pla n that
integrates home, facility-based longterm, respite & palliative care;
• A universal public drug plan that
provides equitable access to safe
and appropriate medication; and
• Adequate and stable federal funding
including a 6 per cent escalator.
Featured Organization:
Association of Filipino Accountants of BC
Photo by Angelo Siglos
Association of Filipino Accountants of BC Members.
BURNABY – “Accounting is not a
profession traditionally associated with
the Filipino community,” explained Thelma
Siglos, co-founder of the Association of
Filipino Accountants of BC (AFCA-BC).
“We are better known around the
world for our nurses and caregivers, but
the quality of our accountants are second
to none and the association supports the
many professionals who have settled here
in BC.”
Started in 2008, AFCA-BC is open
to anyone of Filipino ancestry with an
accounting designation or degree,
enrolled in educational program or
employed in an accounted-related
position. The association’s members
benefit from opportunities to network with
professional peers, as well the mentorship
of long-established practitioners in BC,
such as Ms. Siglos. Current association
President Jannet Taruc, who earned her
Chartered Accountant (CA) designation
after arriving from the Philippines in 2004,
explained that a significant focus of the
organization is to promote professional
development and continuing education
through hosting seminars and workshops.
According to Ms. Taruc, “these
activities promote personal development
and facilitate the transition of recent
immigrants to Canada's accounting
practices and community.”
AFCA-BC will be hosting its annual
Professional Development (PD) event, this
year titled “Elevate to the Next Level”, on
October 20, 2015 at the Executive Hotel &
Conference Centre in Burnaby.
The day’s program is open to members
and non-members and will feature topics
ranging from taxation and accounting to
leadership and wealth management.
This event is highly recommended for
accounting practitioners and professional
accountants, business entrepreneurs,
managers, and financial planners and
advisors.
Registration for the conference is now
open and early-bird rates are available until
July 31, 2015.
For more details, visit the AFCA-BC
website at www.afc-bc.org or contact
Jannet C. Taruc, CPA, CA President,
A s s o c i a t i o n of Fi l i p i n o C a n a d i a n
Accountants of British Columbia at
6 0 4 -78 2-13 5 87
or
email
[email protected]
Karen Talosig and daughter Jazmine.
Photo courtesy of thestar.com
New Democrats played a
key role in CIC reversal
in the case of Karen
Talosig’s Deaf Daughter
VANCOUVER – The Official Opposition New
Democratic Party is incredibly pleased that
Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC)
reversed its illogical and discriminatory
decision. The federal agency will now allow
Karen Talosig's young deaf daughter to join
her in Canada.
After a huge public outcry, Citizenship
and Immigration Canada reversed its
decision to deny Karen Talosig’s daughter,
Jazmine Talosig, Permanent Residency.
The NDP played a major role in highlighting
this clear case of injustice and battled on
the Talosigs' behalf.
“The evidence and documentation
over whelmingly showed that Karen
Talosig’s daughter would not be a burden
to society, but the Conservatives insisted
on treating her like one just because she
is deaf,” said NDP Deputy Citizenship,
Immigration and Multiculturalism Critic Don
Davies (Vancouver Kingsway). “We’re very
pleased to see CIC reverse its decision but
it was unfortunate that it had to take public
outcry, and severe political pressure, for
CIC to revisit the case.”
Karen Talosig has been waiting for five
years to hear the news that her 14-year-old
daughter will be able to come to Canada.
She received an initial procedural fairness
letter stating Jazmine’s inadmissibility back
in June 3, 2014 for which a formal response
was submitted.
When she came to Member of
Parliament Don Davies’ office, their
application was in its final stages. Davies’
office assisted in sending a status update
enquiry and by writing a letter in support of
the Talosigs’ application. Again the enquiry
came back that Jazmine had been found to
be medically inadmissible. Karen was given
60 days to provide a response.
Fortunately, with the overwhelming
support of the community and determined
efforts of Karen Talosig and her former
employer Helene Whitfield, the decision
was rightfully overturned.
“There are many others who are in
situations similar to the Talosig family,”
added Davies. “In my riding of Vancouver
Kingsway, there are many constituents who
have been waiting over a decade to reunite
with their family.”
Davies also said that af ter ten
years in office, the Conservatives have
done substantial damage to Canada’s
immigration system and only Tom Mulcair’s
NDP has a plan to fix it.
“The evidence and
documentation overwhelmingly
showed that Karen Talosig’s
daughter would not be a burden
to society, but the Conservatives
insisted on treating her like one
just because she is deaf.”