Alberta on the right healthcare track

The recent Global News report on the Alberta government’s efforts to invest in home care, for the anticipated explosion in healthcare demand by aging baby boomers, is significant.

Amid a recent Canadian Medical Association call for all levels of government to develop a national strategy for seniors’ healthcare, a recent Ipsos Reid poll found that 80% of Canadians are concerned about healthcare availability and quality in their retirement years.

In my opinion, Alberta has it right. The Federal government is in the midst of a long-term investigation into the CPP and what changes, if any, ought to be made. A national strategy for seniors’ healthcare, good as it may sound, could therefore be hard to achieve.

Consider the differences in provinces’ population levels, ethnic composition, economic activity, budgets and even geography, and the number of doctors in the many regions of Canada, and you will appreciate why.

I am confident that all provincial and territorial governments are looking into numerous healthcare plans for seniors. But, with or without a national strategy, they will all have to prepare for increased healthcare demand as our population ages.

This ad ran in the Richmond News on August 23, 2013.