2026 Canadian Political Thread

[licks2nite]

VANCOUVER — British Columbia Premier David Eby says U.S. President Donald Trump's latest statement that he's not looking to renew the trade deal between Canada, the United States and Mexico is a "bit bizarre," given that the three countries are now in talks on the deal.

Eby says B.C. and Canada would prefer the stability of a 16-year extension, but status quo is fine as well.

https://www.biv.com/news/economy-la...ewing-cusma-lame-sequel-to-1987-book-12404792

Just Trump being Trump.

A compulsory option to renew each year up to 16 years while current terms of CUSMA remain in force.

 

[80watts]

If Canadians manufactured their own shit, this would be a non-sequitur......
A year to year basis for renewal is not stable enough considering for all 3 economies.

 

[80watts]

B.C. hospitals are increasingly dealing with a form of medical dine-and-dash, where foreign visitors get treatment and then take off without paying their bills.

The amount is spread over four years, from fiscal 2020-21 to 2024-25, with Fraser Health having the highest losses at $95.6 million, followed by Interior Health at $54 million, Vancouver Coastal at $31 million and Island Health at $21 million. Northern Health did not produce costs.

B.C.’s Ministry of Health said in a statement it does try to collect payment up front for non-residents, but that in emergency situations it will not refuse care if a person cannot pay.

“No one is denied care. Patients are triaged and treated based on severity of their illness.”

The government tries to recover medical bills “thoughtfully and thoroughly” the ministry said, without explaining how it does so and whether that process could be improved.

“Let’s say you did get health care in Canada, and you left, well, you’re not allowed back in unless you pay for the treatment,” said a physician. “And I think that’s fair.”

https://www.biv.com/news/commentary...d-dash-costing-bc-hospitals-millions-12394673

Canada supports reciprocal pension agreements with over 50 nations including China. But I'd doubt many Canadians take the reciprocity to balance payment unless working Chinese in Canada retire in China. Canada offers no reciprocal health care of foreign travellers.

Canadians becoming hard assed Americans should of been the tittle.... but hey our magnifique ideas of being fair and helpful fall down when people need a lifting hand.
United we fall.... is more like it....

 

[Neelsmith1234]

Canadians becoming hard assed Americans should of been the tittle.... but hey our magnifique ideas of being fair and helpful fall down when people need a lifting hand.
United we fall.... is more like it....

I dont buy this idea that foreign visitors are coming to British Columbia for medical care and leaving without paying. The ministry statement says that emergency care is not denied. It does not say all care is not denied. If someone is indeed in an emergency, the legal framework in our country requires that the emergency be addressed. The hospitals are required to stabilize the patient. Its the same in the US or any other developed country. If you visit there and have an accident, let's say a car accident and you have broken bones, they are required to treat you to stabilization -- surgery or whatever is needed, whether you can pay or not. They can deny you non-urgent after care without payment, which is the same in Canada.

For routine medical care, you have to produce your MSP number/care card.

Also, to put it into perspective, assuming the OPs numbers are correct, that is a problem of $200 million over 4 years. That is a fraction of the total health budget.

This seems to me more of maga style internet fear mongering -- illegal immigrant are destroying our health system by not paying.....illegals are jumping the line....etc. this kind of stuff is being spread around the internet in Europe, Australia too.

These days, we cant always believe what's on the internet.

Im not denying that out health care system doesn't have challenges. But we must be very careful about distinguishing actual challenges and facts from internet garbage.

 

[westwoody]

Emergency medical services are not the same as medical tourism. Are people with a bursting appendix travelling to Canada to get a free appendectomy? Not likely.
A friend of mine had a miscarriage while on holidays in Florida. If you see a woman hemorrhaging on the sidewalk should you just ignore her?
(A lot of you would, everyone knows)
I believe she Japan has started checking arrivals to see if they have health insurance to avoid this issue.

That linked article is deliberately vague, like Fox style rage farming.