October 17, 2008	PDF format: 92 Kb

The BC Nurses' Union has sent a letter to the President and CEO of the BC Automobile Association (BCAA), Mr. Bill Bullis. The letter thanks the organization for its decision to cancel the offer of for-profit, privatized health insurance by Acure Health Corp here in BC.

The text of that letter will appear in major newspapers this weekend. BC's nurses want the public to know that they will work with BCAA members who support public healthcare and with any like-minded organizations who seek to protect and enhance our public healthcare system.

Early in October BCAA began offering the "medical care access" insurance to its 700,000 members, so that those who could afford it could jump the queue and obtain services faster at for-profit clinics. Medicare defenders and BCAA members were outraged because such schemes break not only the Canada Health Act, but also BC's own Medicare Protection Act. Although Health Minister George Abbott admitted that the insurance was out of line because it offered private insurance for public healthcare services, he did nothing to stop it.

"It was the BCAA members and others who support our public healthcare system who took this on, and we want to thank the BCAA for responding to its members and the public outcry," says Debra McPherson, President of the BC Nurses' Union.

"Nurses and most British Columbians know that public health insurance for medical services covers everyone, regardless of how much money they have, and this reflects our values of equality and fairness. We need the provincial government to turn away from profit-driven plans for healthcare in BC and recognize, as the public has, that we have to focus on the innovations and solutions that will improve the public system, not line the pockets of a few investors."