Ontario Institutes Health Care Premiums

Aaron · Post by **Aaron** » 2004-06-21 08:44pm

CBC

CBC wrote:TORONTO - Ontario's Liberal government has introduced controversial legislation to create a health premium fee for residents.

The premium comes into effect on July 1 and is expected to raise about $1.6 billion in revenue this year.

The Liberals were widely condemned when they announced the reintroduction of the health-care premium during last month's budget. They were accused of breaking an election promise not to raise taxes.

Ontario residents will pay between $60 and $900 per year for the premium, based on income.

The opposition parties are still seething.

Conservative MPP John Baird says the Liberals are not only breaking their signature election promise, the premiums will also kick in before the bill becomes law.

"We don't even get to debate and vote on a new tax before you start putting your hands in the pockets of working families," said Baird.

The Liberals say they had to make the move because of the financial mess they inherited from the Conservatives. They say the only way to improve health care without making other cuts is through the monthly premium.

"It's going to provide the resources that we need to transform health care," said Ontario Finance Minister Greg Sorbara.

This is ridiculous, one of the reasons why I am moving my family back to Ontario in July is to get away from this crap in BC.

aerius · Post by **aerius** » 2004-06-21 08:52pm

What the Liberals claim is complete fucking bullshit, it's nothing but a blatant cash-grab. What they've done to healthcare has pissed me off bigtime and guaranteed that I will not vote for their sorry asses again. Besides the premiums fee, they've also cancelled coverage for eye exams and physiotherapy, but...but...all kids now get free immunization! That was totally worth it right? Please, think of the children!

Aaron · Post by **Aaron** » 2004-06-21 08:57pm

aerius wrote:What the Liberals claim is complete fucking bullshit, it's nothing but a blatant cash-grab. What they've done to healthcare has pissed me off bigtime and guaranteed that I will not vote for their sorry asses again. Besides the premiums fee, they've also cancelled coverage for eye exams and physiotherapy, but...but...all kids now get free immunization! That was totally worth it right? Please, think of the children!

Child immunization was free before wasn't it? I spent six and a half years in Ontario and never had to pay to have my children immunized. I tell you this is putting a dampner on my exictement about moving back to Ontario. I didn't know that there was a Liberal government in power back there. There's a Liberal government in power in BC and they've done nothing but fuck their citizens over.

aerius · Post by **aerius** » 2004-06-21 09:14pm

Cpl Kendall wrote:Child immunization was free before wasn't it? I spent six and a half years in Ontario and never had to pay to have my children immunized. I tell you this is putting a dampner on my exictement about moving back to Ontario. I didn't know that there was a Liberal government in power back there. There's a Liberal government in power in BC and they've done nothing but fuck their citizens over.

As far as I know it was free, or at most there may have been a small nominal charge. When I got my hepatitis shots about 10 years ago it was free, and my parents even the allergy shots I got when I was a kid were covered. However, my parents say that when they first came to Ontario about 30 years ago they had healthcare premium fees, these fees were phased out some time back, they don't quite remember how long ago it was.

Aaron · Post by **Aaron** » 2004-06-21 09:20pm

aerius wrote: As far as I know it was free, or at most there may have been a small nominal charge. When I got my hepatitis shots about 10 years ago it was free, and my parents even the allergy shots I got when I was a kid were covered. However, my parents say that when they first came to Ontario about 30 years ago they had healthcare premium fees, these fees were phased out some time back, they don't quite remember how long ago it was.

I just remembered. When I was in Ontario, I was in the army. And my kids were covered under the army healthcare plan. So they may have picked up the tab. I'm hoping that these fee's will be phased out under the next government. It seems like it's just a tax grab.

aerius · Post by **aerius** » 2004-06-21 09:36pm

Well, I'll put it this way, the Ontario Liberals are the worst bunch of promise breaking tax grabbing shitheads that I can remember. I wasn't old enough when Bob Rae was in power to understand the situation back then, but going from what I've heard and the (admitedly very) limited research I've done, the current government rivals and in some ways surpasses the Bob Rae NDP in terms of being bad for Ontario. Mike Wong or some of the other older Ontario residents could likely fill you in a lot better on this subject, but so far, the current government has done nothing exept piss off damn near everyone in the province.

Solauren · Post by **Solauren** » 2004-06-21 09:43pm

Bob Rae is was an asshole that legislated HIRING practices for lords sack

aerius · Post by **aerius** » 2004-06-21 10:02pm

Solauren wrote:Bob Rae is was an asshole that legislated HIRING practices for lords sack

My dad hates him for those "Rae Days" which cost him a crapload of pay. I liked them since we either got days off school or shortened school days, I can't remember which.