Provincial Budget 2010
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THE Report PROVINCIAL BUDGET 2010 British Columbians should brace themselves for another round of health care cuts affecting services around the province. HEALTH SCIENCES ASSOCIATIon april 2010 VOL. 31 NO. 2 FROM THE PRESIDENT Reid Johnson condition, putting them at Budget announcements risk of serious medical com- plications requiring costly a lesson in irony care. Basic dental care for people THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT has settled on a disturbingly on assistance will now be paid ironic tone in recent announcements. for just once a year, not twice. It began a few months ago, on December 1, which And the government will no marks World AIDS Day. While local and national gov- longer cover the cost of con- ernments around the world recognized this date by reaf- Johnson traception for women who firming their commitment to continue the fight against cannot afford birth control or HIV and AIDS, BC’s government chose this very day EVERY ONE use it for medical reasons. to announce plans to do exactly the opposite by cutting OF THESE AN- As Paul Willcocks wrote in funds to community based HIV and AIDS organiza- the Victoria Times-Colonist, tions including AIDS Vancouver. NOUNCEMENTS “What can be dumber than Then, in early March, as the world trained its atten- measures that increase ill- tion on the Paralympic Games about to begin in our IS ABOUT ness, abortions and unwanted province, the BC government unveiled a provincial SAVING MONEY. pregnancies?” budget that makes life harder for the disabled. Indeed, every one of these Starting April 1, the Ministry of Housing and Social AND YET EACH announcements is about sav- Development will no longer pay for off-the-shelf or- ing money. And yet each one thotics, leaving people stuck in wheelchairs or waiting ONE WILL will have exactly the opposite for costly customized orthotic devices. The same date HAVE EXACTLY effect: higher health care costs marks the end of a $75 monthly shelter allowance for that could have been pre- people with disabilities, between the ages of 60 and 64, THE OPPOSITE vented with inexpensive and who don’t pay rent. That leaves these individuals with established services. No won- just $531 a month to live on, a 12-per-cent cut in in- EFFECT. der Provincial Health Officer come for someone already facing incredible hardship. Dr. Perry Kendall doubts the But it’s not just the disabled being singled out for this government bothered to do a shameful treatment. cost-benefit analysis of these announcements. A BC government news release announced plans to Here’s the final irony: the government expects these cut services for the province’s poorest and sickest citi- petty and short-sighted cuts to save $25 million over zens. The headline on the release: “Province protects the next two years. That’s exactly how much the govern- services for low-income clients”. It’s not too much of a ment spends each year to run the Public Affairs Bureau, stretch to call this Orwellian. the team of public relations experts who came up these Among the changes announced: people with AIDS very announcements. R and other serious illnesses will now find it harder to qualify for the Monthly Nutritional Supplement which Reid Johnson is president of the Health Sciences helps them buy vitamins, special meals and the healthy Association of BC. foods that are so often more costly than fast food. The government will no longer pay for the glucom- eters that low-income diabetics need to manage their 2 THE REPORT • heaLTh SCIeNCeS aSSOCIaTION OF BC “When government singles out groups of individuals – by cutting services they depend on, FROM THE PRESIDENT Reid Johnson raising fees inequitably, and unfairly shifting taxes – it diminishes all of us. It doesn’t bring us together. It divides us.” - COALITION TO BUILD A BETTER BC, paGE 11 CUTS UPDATE Provincial budget is bad news for health care 4 NEWS MEMBERS New budget bad news Profile Sheila Kerr for health care ...............4 Bringing hope .............. 18 Bargaining update ..............5 Constituency Liaison program hSa urges enrolment in brings your voice to Victoria .. 16 pension plan ................6 Workplace violence awareness .. 20 Bargaining association votes Reid Johnson hosting to accept tentative agreement ...7 Membership membership meetings ....... 22 Federal pension reform meetings urgently needed ..............8 page 22 DepartMENTS hSa celebrates Community Pension Q & A Social Services month ..........9 how ethical are my april 10 rally aims to build a better BC ................ 10 pension investments? ........ 17 Provincial cuts update ......... 12 Current Disputes .............. 21 hSa raising profile in Chinese media .............. 16 Chinese media COLUMNS page 16 Message from the president Reid Johnson .................2 executive director’s report Maureen headley ........... 23 THE FRONT COVER Premier Gordon Campbell and Finance Minister Colin Hansen slip Publications mail agreement no. 4000 6822 off the stage after delivering a Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to database department Suite 300, 5118 Joyce Street budget filled with bad news and Vancouver BC V5R 4H1 lacking a vision for British Columbia. THE REPORT • aPRIL 2010 • vol. 31 no. 2 3 NEWS HSA President Reid Johnson speaks with media in Victoria following release of the provincial budget. No-news budget bad news for health care IN SPITE OF A BUDGET SPEECH that will be forced to continue to cut serv- and parking fees were increased. They boasts a commitment to health care, ices as they have been doing the past also cut programs, including youth British Columbians should brace year,” Johnson said. psychiatric services, and funding for a themselves for another round of cuts to For the past several months, health variety of community programs deliv- health care services around the prov- authorities around the province have ering services throughout the region. ince, Reid Johnson, President of the been cutting services in order to bal- “Across the province, the story is the Health Sciences Association of BC said ance budgets. For example, the Fraser same,” said Johnson. “It’s clear that the in response to the provincial budget re- Health Authority, where CEO Nigel impact on patients is severe. Seniors, leased March 2. Murray didn’t want to “waste a good the mentally ill, and those with addic- “With a status quo budget for health recession,” MRIs were cut, elective sur- tions issues are hardest hit, but with PHOTO: MIRIAM SOBRINO care, we know that health authorities geries were reduced, beds were closed, dramatic MRI reductions and some 4 THE REPORT • heaLTh SCIeNCeS aSSOCIaTION OF BC 10,000 elective surgeries cancelled, everyone is feeling the impact.” Johnson said the cuts appear to HSP bargaining begins sacrifice long-term cost control in fa- vour of temporary, short-term gains, undermining government claims to fiscal responsibility. Johnson also said he is disappoint- ed the budget doesn’t provide for a strategy to address the long term and increasingly urgent crisis of shortages in the modern health care team. “Health care is built on a team that delivers the outstanding service British Columbians rely on. Shortages The Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association committee members. in critical areas need to be addressed. Without a complete health care team, TALKS GOT UNDERWAY March 17 and that values the people we all the long-term consequences of de- for a new collective agreement for depend on to deliver the diagno- layed diagnosis, treatment and reha- health science professionals. sis, treatment, and rehabilitation bilitation will only get worse,” Reid Johnson, hSa President, patients need. Our members also In Ottawa, James Clancy, presi- said the bargaining committee’s need assurances they will have the dent of the National Union of Public mandate is to achieve a collective resources they need to be success- and General Employees (NUPGE) agreement that protects quality ful at their jobs,” she added. expressed concern about the federal health care and values the work of “Our members know there is a budget, unveiled March 5. Clancy health science professionals. real connection between ensuring noted the budget fails to provide the “We see this round of bargain- quality health care and having a types of investments needed to create ing as an opportunity for a thought- voice to ensure we are talking to jobs and help families. ful process that will strengthen the the right people so we can fix the “Canadians need and want the gov- system in a way that makes a real problems,” she said. ernment to make a bigger commit- difference in the delivery of the She said the objectives outlined ment to job creation, better support specialized skills patients depend in the union’s opening proposal for the unemployed and enhanced on, and that health science profes- set the tone for a positive and pro- retirement security for seniors,” said sionals bring to the modern health ductive bargaining agenda aimed Clancy. “But this budget just doesn’t care team,” Johnson said. at delivering improvements to the go far enough in addressing these Maureen headley, hSPBa’s chief health care system to benefit pa- issues.” negotiator, tabled a list of bargain- tients and their families, the mem- Clancy noted that Canada is fac- ing objectives. bers of the modern health care ing its worst job crisis in a generation. “We know our members like team responsible for their health, The jobless rate remains stubbornly their jobs. They want to feel good and employers working towards high – it was 8.3% in January – with about their jobs. They want to a mandate of improved qual- more than 1.5 million Canadians out know they are working in a system ity of care and smooth delivery of of work. R that values quality patient care, services. THE REPORT • aPRIL 2010 • vol.