{"id":4128,"date":"2016-04-08T09:45:16","date_gmt":"2016-04-08T13:45:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\/?p=4128"},"modified":"2021-07-21T14:59:48","modified_gmt":"2021-07-21T18:59:48","slug":"open-letter-to-kathleen-wynne-more-than-80-organizations-sign-on-to-stop-ever-growing-health-care-user-fees-for-seniors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\/index.php\/open-letter-to-kathleen-wynne-more-than-80-organizations-sign-on-to-stop-ever-growing-health-care-user-fees-for-seniors\/","title":{"rendered":"RELEASE:<\/FONT> Coalition Applauds Wynne Government for Reversing Course on Seniors\u2019 Drug Fee Increase"},"content":{"rendered":"

(April 8, 2016)<\/p>\n

Toronto — This week, Ontario\u2019s government announced that it is canceling its plans to dramatically increase user fees for seniors\u2019 drugs after more than 80 organizations signed onto a letter to the Premier asking her to revisit the idea. The government\u2019s plan, announced in the 2016 Ontario Budget in February, would have increased the deductible for seniors\u2019 drugs from $100 to $170 \u2013 a 70 per cent increase — and co-payments would have risen to $7.11 per prescription.\u00a0 Under this plan, seniors with incomes of more than $19,300 for a single person or $32,300 for a couple would have faced these increases. In late March, the Ontario Health Coalition and the Older Canadians Network wrote an open letter to the Premier asking her to revisit the decision pointing out that it would not only cause hardship for seniors that can hardly be described as high income but it also compromised the core tenets of public health care. More than 80 organizations, from seniors\u2019 groups to doctors, nurses and unions, signed onto the letter.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Ontario Health Coalition and the Older Canadians Network applaud the government for listening to our concerns and thank all the organizations and individuals that joined the open letter and contacted the government to help win the reversal. As we outlined to the Premier, needed health care must be funded equitably through a progressive tax system in which everyone, including the wealthy and corporations, pay their fair share, not through user fees when people are aging, or when they are sick and dying.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

MEDIA RELEASE<\/a><\/p>\n

OPEN LETTER<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Open Letter<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Honourable Kathleen Wynne,<\/p>\n

Premier of Ontario<\/p>\n

Room 281, Main Legislative Building,<\/p>\n

Queen\u2019s Park,<\/p>\n

Toronto, ON\u00a0 M7A 1A1<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Dear Premier Wynne,<\/p>\n

As presented, the 2016 Ontario Budget contains a plan to have many seniors pay substantially more for prescription drugs, based on their incomes. In addition, the government is planning to increase the co-payment for filling prescriptions. Under this plan, seniors with incomes over $19,300 for a single person or $32,300 for a couple, will have to pay nearly double the deductible before their drugs are covered. Deductible costs will increase from $100 to as much as $170. In addition, all seniors, regardless of income, will see their co-payment rise when they go in to get prescriptions filled.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Premier, we are asking you to cancel the fee increases for seniors and uphold the principle of universality for our health care system. \u00a0As Ontario pays down its deficit, the fundamental values that underlie our public health care programs should not be abandoned.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Universal publicly-funded health care is understood as a fundamental value in Canada. The idea that the wealthy and the poor share the same health services and therefore have a common interest in its quality and success, is cornerstone to our health system.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

This is the foundational belief for our public health care system, supported unanimously by all political parties when the Canada Health Act was passed, and it is the foundational value upon which we are calling for an expansion of public health care in Canada to cover a national prescription medicine program for all Canadians. Ontario has, in many ways, led that call. We are asking you not to break now with the principles that underlie that vision.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Public health care is about taking care of one another. We pay through our taxes for care when we are of working age and healthy –and we share the cost across society — so that the burden for care is not shouldered by the sick, the elderly and the dying. This is a point of pride for most of us.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Already seniors face mounting out-of-pocket costs for long-term care, respite and medical supplies. As local hospital services are closed in more and more towns, seniors face significant new costs for rehabilitation, lab tests, and travel costs.\u00a0 Unofficially, home care is already subject to means-testing, forcing families to shoulder ever more of the expense. When one adds to these existing user costs to the planned higher deductibles and co-payments for drugs, the burden for middle income seniors is becoming unbearable.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In fact, Premier, as you know, across Canada, the progressive public interest organizations that work on health care are advocating for the principles of the Canada Health Act not only to be safeguarded in hospitals and clinics, but also extended to cover home care and drugs in a bid to protect equity and reduce suffering as health care is reformed. \u00a0It is distressing to see the Ontario government moving in the opposite direction.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

That our public services should enhance social cohesion and improve equity is a quintessentially liberal<\/em> idea. Indeed, the universality and equity principles were written into the Canada Health Act under the Liberal government of Pierre Trudeau and Health Minister Monique B\u00e9gin. \u00a0They have been upheld by governments of all stripes since. They should not be abandoned lightly.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ontario already has a means-tested method to provide income for needed health care services. It is called the tax system.\u00a0 Through the rebuilding of a progressive tax system that asks the wealthy and corporations to pay their fair share, funding can be raised for needed care and services. Premier, there is no reason to increase user fees on people when they are elderly, sick, dying and least able to pay. Respectfully, we ask you to reconsider the policy direction of dismantling universality and subjecting more health care services to user fees at point of need.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sincerely,<\/p>\n

John Maxwell, Executive Director\u00a0<\/em>AIDS Committee of Toronto<\/strong><\/p>\n

Derrell R. Dular, Managing Director <\/em>Alliance of Seniors\/ Older Canadians Network<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n

Roslyn Harris, Chair <\/em>Association of Jewish Seniors<\/strong><\/p>\n

Michael McMahon, Chair <\/em>Belleville Health Coalition<\/strong><\/p>\n

Curtis Coates & Mary Jane Froats, Co-Chairs <\/em>Brockville Health Coalition<\/strong><\/p>\n

Wanda Tucker, Chair<\/em> Campbellford Health Coalition<\/strong><\/p>\n

John Meguerian, Vice Chair<\/em> Canadian Association of Retired Persons \u2013 Niagara Chapter<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sean Meagher, Executive Director <\/em>Canadian Doctors for Medicare<\/strong><\/p>\n

Barbara Santosuosso, Program Manager<\/em> Canadian Treatment Action Council<\/strong><\/p>\n

Fred Hahn, President & Candace Rennick, Secretary-Treasurer <\/em>Canadian Union of Public Employees Ontario<\/strong><\/p>\n

Rob Driskell, President <\/em>Canadian Union of Public Employees \u2013 Local 4000<\/strong><\/p>\n

Josephine Grayson, Chair <\/em>Care Watch
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Shirley Roebuck, Chair Chatham-Kent Health Coalition <\/strong><\/p>\n

Andrew Lee, President<\/em> Chinese Golden Age Club of Mississauga<\/strong><\/p>\n

Marlene Beaman-McQuay, Co-Chair<\/em> City of Kawartha Lakes Health Coalition<\/strong><\/p>\n

Malcolm Buchanan, President <\/em>Congress of Union Retirees \u2013 Hamilton, Burlington & Oakville Council<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lyle Hargrove,President <\/em>Congress of Union Retirees \u2013 South Central Council<\/strong><\/p>\n

Barry Stevens, President<\/em> Congress of Union Retirees \u2013 Toronto Area Council<\/strong><\/p>\n

Treena Hollingworth, Chair <\/em>Concerned Citizens \u2013 Stratford Area<\/strong><\/p>\n

Georgie Clarke, President <\/em>Concerned Friends of Ontario Citizens in Care Facilities<\/strong><\/p>\n

Michael Butler, National Health Care Campaigner<\/em> Council of Canadians<\/strong><\/p>\n

Roy Brady, Chapter Chair <\/em>Council of Canadians \u2013 Peterborough \u2013 Kawarthas Chapter
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Fiona McMurran, Chapter Chair <\/em>Council of Canadians \u2013 South Niagara Chapter<\/strong><\/p>\n

Douglas Hayes, Chapter Chair <\/em>Council of Canadians \u2013 Windsor \u2013 Essex Chapter<\/strong><\/p>\n

David Rogers, President of the Board of Directors<\/em>\u00a0Creekside Senior’s Estates<\/strong><\/p>\n

Charlie Courneyea & Trish McAuliffe, Co-Chairs <\/em>Durham Health Coalition<\/strong><\/p>\n

Kimberly DeYong, Chair<\/em> Essex County Health Coalition<\/strong><\/p>\n

George Kelly, Chairperson <\/em>Guelph \/ Wellington Coalition for Social Justice<\/strong><\/p>\n

Kevin Smith, President<\/em> Grey Bruce Labour Council<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dr. Ted Haines, Member & Rolf Gerstenberger, Co-Chair<\/em> Hamilton Health Coalition<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tara Kainer, <\/em>Justice, Peace & Integrity of Creation <\/strong>Committee of the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul, Kingston, ON<\/strong><\/p>\n

Harold Pickering, Co-Chair <\/em>Kingston Health Coalition<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jo-Anne M. Boulding, Barrister, Solicitor and Executive Director <\/em>Lake Country Community Legal Clinic<\/strong><\/p>\n

Claire B\u00e9langer, President <\/em>Le Centre des a\u00een\u00e9s francophones de Port Colborne<\/strong><\/p>\n

James Mulhern, President <\/em>Lindsay & District Labour Council<\/strong><\/p>\n

Peter Bergmanis, Co-Chair<\/em> London Health Coalition<\/strong><\/p>\n

Susan Doyle, Executive Director<\/em> Lumacare<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bob Harrick, Chair<\/em> Mississauga Seniors\u2019 Council
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dr. Amarjit Banwatt, President<\/em> Mississauga Seniors Club
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Zul Kassamali, President <\/em>Multicultural Council for Ontario Seniors<\/strong><\/p>\n

Herb John, President <\/em>National Pensioners Federation<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sue Hotte, Chair <\/em>Niagara Health Coalition<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sue McIntyre, Co-Chair <\/em>North Bay Health Coalition<\/strong><\/p>\n

Erin Harris, Past-President <\/em>Older Women\u2019s Network<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sayed Hassan Fazl, Director <\/em>Ontario Afghan Family and Seniors Services Association
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Michael Hurley, President <\/em>Ontario Council of Hospital Unions <\/strong><\/p>\n

Suzanne Clancy, President <\/em>Ontario Federation of Union Retirees <\/strong><\/p>\n

Natalie Mehra, Executive Director<\/em> Ontario Health Coalition<\/strong><\/p>\n

Eugene Lefrancois President <\/em>Ontario Network Injured Workers Group<\/strong><\/p>\n

Warren (Smokey) Thomas, President<\/em> Ontario Public Services Employees Union <\/strong><\/p>\n

Mike Donaldson, President <\/em>Ontario Public Services Employees Union \u2013 Local 464<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tara Maszczakiewicz, President <\/em>Ontario Public Services Employees Union \u2013 Local 684<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Gareth Jones, Executive Board Member Ontario Public Services Employees Union \u2013 Region 4<\/strong><\/em>
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Paul Elliott, President <\/em>Ontario Secondary School Teachers\u2019 Federation <\/strong><\/p>\n

Mary Lou Cunningham, President <\/em>Ontario Secondary School Teachers\u2019 Federation \u2013 Active Retirees Members Chapter 11 Thames Valley<\/strong><\/p>\n

Manfred Netzel, President <\/em>Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation \u2013 Active Retirees Members Chapter 12 Toronto<\/strong><\/p>\n

Stuart Ryan, Co-Chair<\/em> Ottawa Health Coalition
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bryan J. Smith, Chair <\/em>Oxford Coalition for Social Justice<\/strong><\/p>\n

Marion Burton, President <\/em>Peterborough and District Labour Council<\/strong><\/p>\n

Charlene Avon & Roy Brady, Co-Chairs<\/em> Peterborough Health Coalition<\/strong><\/p>\n

Threasa Watchorn, Manager<\/em> Port Colborne Senior Centre<\/strong><\/p>\n

Len Hope, Chair<\/em> Port Elgin Health Coalition<\/strong><\/p>\n

Doris Grinspun, Chief Executive Officer <\/em>Registered Nurses\u2019 Association of Ontario<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bob Martin, Chair <\/em>Ritz Lutheran Villa<\/strong><\/p>\n

Shirley Roebuck, Chair <\/em>Sarnia Lambton Health Coalition<\/strong><\/p>\n

Margo Dale, Chair <\/em>Sault Ste. Marie Health Coalition
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ron Sim, General Manager<\/em> Sault Ste. Marie Soup Kitchen Community Centre<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sue Hotte, Chair <\/em>Save the Welland Hospital Group<\/strong><\/p>\n

Karu Navarajnarajah, <\/em>Sri Lankan<\/strong> Tamil Seniors Group of Etobicoke<\/strong><\/p>\n

Doug Macpherson, National Coordinator<\/em> Steelworkers Organization of Active Retirees <\/strong><\/p>\n

Dorthy Klein, Co-Chair <\/em>Sudbury Health Coalition<\/strong><\/p>\n

Elizabeth Forestell, Executive Director <\/em>The Neighborhood Group<\/strong><\/p>\n

Greg Snider, President <\/em>Thunder Bay and District Injured Workers Support Group<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jules Tupker, Co-Chair <\/em>Thunder Bay Health Coalition<\/strong><\/p>\n

Phyllis Creighton, <\/em>Toronto Raging Grannies<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jerry Dias, President<\/em> Unifor <\/strong><\/p>\n

Len Hope, Executive Board Member <\/em>Unifor Retired Workers Council<\/strong><\/p>\n

Les MacDonald, Chairperson <\/em>Unifor \u2013 Local 222 Retired Workers Chapter \u2013 Oshawa<\/strong><\/p>\n

Roxie Baker, Chairperson <\/em>Unifor \u2013 Local 1325 Retired Workers Chapter \u2013 Stratford <\/strong><\/p>\n

Bob Such, Chairperson <\/em>Unifor \u2013 Local 1520 Retired Workers Chapter \u2013 London <\/strong><\/p>\n

Gerry Graham, President <\/em>United Senior Citizens of Ontario
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Phuoc Tran, President<\/em> Vietnamese Cambodian Laotian Services Association<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ken Lewenza Jr., Co-Chair <\/em>Windsor Health Coalition<\/strong><\/p>\n

Pat Armstrong, Distinguished Research Professor of Sociology <\/em>York University<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

– 30 –<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

For more information: <\/strong>Natalie Mehra, executive director, Ontario Health Coalition (416) 441-2502; Derrell Dular, managing director, Older Canadians Network (416) 260-3429.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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