Michael Ignatieff had to clarify his position on medicare today in his closed-door caucus session after concerns among his MPs that he was sending a message the party supported user fees.
In a pre-emptive strike, Mr. Ignatieff spoke before caucus got under way this morning, telling MPs and Senators that Liberals are the party of medicare and he is against user fees, according to sources.
This is the second time in almost as many weeks that Mr. Ignatieff has had to get ahead of potential trouble brewing in his caucus. Usually he speaks at the end of the session, wrapping up concerns and debate that came up during the meeting.
Before the week-long Easter break, however, Mr. Ignatieff apologized to his caucus after the embarrassment of watching the Liberals losing their own motion on maternal health care.
There was concern today over recent remarks Mr. Ignatieff made concerning the Quebec budget in which Premier Jean Charest plans to make patients pay a $25 fee for each visit to the doctor. Rather than condemning this practice, Mr. Ignatieff had said provinces should be open to experimenting with health care as long as it doesn’t contravene the Canada Health Act.
Well, that didn’t sit well with some Liberals, especially after news reports criticizing Mr. Ignatieff for not being stronger on the issue.
“If we open the door to user fees we might as well all go home,” said one Liberal MP, noting that others were surprised Mr. Ignatieff had not come out more forcefully against the Charest budget.
This led to his clarification today; insiders say it was a big topic in the Ontario caucus that precedes the national caucus.
“Better late than never,” the MP said. “This has been languishing.”
And Mr. Ignatieff addressed the issue in speaking to reporters after the morning caucus meeting.
“I am saying no user fees,” he said. “I want to make it very clear that our party and I personally am a passionate defender of the Canada Health Act and we understand that provinces are facing substantial challenges facing the financing of their health care systems.
Mr. Ignatieff said Liberals will oppose any government in any province that introduces user fees. And he went further, asking why Prime Minister Stephen Harper hasn’t made a similar defence.
“I said last week … this is not just about health care. This is the spine of Canadian citizenship that is at stake and our party wants to make position and stance on that very clear.”
(Photo: Fred Chartrand/The Canadian Press)
