Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall said today his government is opposed to paying a premium to have surgeries done in British Columbia.
“It's interesting B.C. would be saying that,” Wall said today in a scrum, a recording of which was provided to the Tyee. “Certainly that's not been part of the intent here.”
The Tyee reported Oct. 26 that Saskatchewan and B.C. are discussing the possibility of sending Saskatchewanians to B.C. for orthopaedic surgeries.
B.C. health minister Kevin Falcon last week said the initiative would be good for both provinces, reducing Saskatchewan's surgery wait list while bringing money into the B.C. system. The provinces were close to a memorandum of understanding that would have 400 surgeries done in B.C. on people from Saskatchewan, he said.
"The principle would be that we'd charge a premium for the service that would allow us to not only cover our costs but use the additional revenues to then allow British Columbians to get their procedures done sooner and quicker," he said.
But Wall said today he has no plans to pay a “premium” for B.C.'s help.
“This initiative is not about subsidizing anybody else's health care system,” he said. “It's about shorter wait times for Saskatchewan people. If right away other jurisdictions want to talk about that, clearly not . . . You know we didn't talk about premiums when I mentioned it to the premiers. We just talked about capacity.”
The scheme to sell surgeries in B.C. would be inequitable and expensive, said New Democratic Party health critic Adrian Dix. “I think it was bad for the people of B.C.,” he said. “I don't think it was a bright idea for the people of Saskatchewan either.”
B.C. surgeries should go first to people on the wait lists in B.C., and Saskatchewan should build its own capacity, he said. “The solutions in Saskatchewan and in B.C. are in reducing wait times in the public sector.”
Andrew MacLeod is The Tyee’s Legislative Bureau Chief in Victoria. Reach him here.
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crankypants
2 years ago
Yes
So much for Falcon's first venture into private medicine provision.
If only the voters in BC were as intelligent as the Premier of Saskatchewan, we wouldn't be in the mess we are in now.
Polakite
2 years ago
Remember
This is the same Kevin Falcon that "beaks off" at every moment I presume which also made YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G563YUS20tI
In America he'd work for Fox News and get laid every night by some right wing MILF for his blather. And drink tea all the time. He's THAT right wing. The Fraser Institut and Tasha Kheiriddin and PMSH have nothing on this dude.
And some want him as Premier...
salty dog
2 years ago
Kevin Falcon is a a PROVEN LIAR
Who`s lying,Falcon or Brad Wall,both provinces must be feeling the heat,Saskatchewaners and BCers,the people in Sask are furious over the thought of paying double rates out of province for surgeries,BCers are furious over their health services they paid for being re-sold out of province,........
Now we know Falcon Lied,lied in the legislature,lied on CKNW,so now BC won`t be receiving any extra premium,in other words,Campbell and Falcon are illegaly selling our surgeries,getting paid for two surgeries but providing one,to people from Saskatchewan...
Falcon MUST RESIGN OVER THIS
More details here
http://powellriverpersuader.blogspot.com/2009/11/dead-falcon-kevin-falcon-is-morally.html
DPL
2 years ago
The Falconator blew it
The Falconator blew it again. The guy can't seem to keep his mind in gear and his feet out of his mouth
crh
2 years ago
monkey see, monkey do
Kevin Falcon is taking plays right out of Campbell's book.
Come up with all these crazy ideas and then lie to the public so we accept them.
GO AWAY KEVIN FALCON
freebear
2 years ago
MLA's well worth the salary increase
eh?