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_ EDITORIAL

Do patients need a lobby?

A number of doctors are taking steps
whose ultimate outcome can only be the
out-manoeuvring and destroying of
Canada’s health care. system.

As examples, in Alberta, many doctors
— not all — are stubbornly insisting on
Over-charging patients. It’s called
Scrsbillind. that is, billing beyond the
fee schedule permitted under the health
care system. ;

In Ontario, many doctors — not all —
are on a rampage for more money, al-
though their average net income, after
paying their business costs, is 83,000.
That’s average; not at all the high.

Health care, if any, has been constitu-
tionally a provincial responsibility, with
various federal services buttressing the
Provincial and municipal programs. The
Medical Care Act of 1966 brought in
federal funding on a per capita basis for
the purpose of making health care uni-
form across the country. All provinces
had joined by April 1972.

New federal-provincial medical
scheduled to be
negotiated shortly, and Canada’s Health
Minister Monique Begin is blunt in say-
Ing she would like to see extra-billing by
doctors made illegal.

It is useful for Canadians, millions of
whom would like to retain a respect for
and trust in their doctors, to realize that
right now they can form a strong lobby
for this and related legislation. (Ontario
doctors’ threats to close their offices in
rotating lockouts of patients are to en-
force their demand for an increase of
$50,000 in annual income.)

As Health Minister Begin stated, it is
not appropriate for Ottawa to withhold
health funds from provinces to bring the
doctors into line with human needs and
social responsibility, but a crackdown is
in order. Legislation is needed to pre-
vent such extortion. .

No one begrudges competent doctors
proper remuneration. Governments
should ensure that health care makes
such services accessible to all. But the
scheme cannot be used to create an elite
with more interest in investments than in
the wellbeing of people.

Universal, free medical care, should
be the goal of the labor movement and all
forward-looking forces in society. The
socialist countries, much maligned by
“human rights” dilettantes guarantee
this human right.

For real budget battle

There is widespread agreement that
the MacEachen budget for the bankers
Should be torn up and flushed away.

:Whatis lacking in all the clever thrusts in
| parliament is ‘a program to put Canada -

back to work. And the way to do that is

- through independent Canadian policies

designed to serve the interests of the
working people of Canada. The way to
do itis by utilizing our own resources and
developing diversified, two-way trade.
The Tories, with their overly clever
Speeches, have no program except to try

to turn widespread anger against the |

budget into Tory votes. In power, the
 Ories traditionally serve the most reac-
“onary interests — and as the Clark To-
Ties have demonstrated — the interests
of the USA come first.

Nor have the New Democrats, despite
their justified denunciation of the
MacEachen budget, offered a program
to rally‘the millions being impoverished

by capitalism.

Only the Communist Party, and its
leader, William Kashtan, the day after
November budget, came out with a full
program to overcome the crisis. That
program was carried to the great
November 21 demonstration in Ottawa,
and it is as valid today as then.

The damage done by the budget and
the monopoly policies it reflects can only
be repaired by a massive coalition of
working-class, democratic forces with
clear goals.

Is code cracking routine?

z The question of whether or not the
nendly” imperialist power to the south
as cracked Canada’s diplomatic code
Talses concerns for Canadians. The
comments it brought forth shows once
more the subservient position
ashington assigns and Ottawa accepts.

The diplomatic message intercepted
ad to do with U.S. procurement of the
Tion (Aurora) patrol aircraft and
Canadian jobs or loss of jobs in the sup-
Ply of parts.

In matters which involve the White
House, the Pentagon, the Lockheed
Tporation, and the Canadian defence
€stablishment and external affairs
€partment, there might be expected to
be a mish-mash of leaks and loyalties.
That leaves open the question of
Whether the code was cracked or
Whether someone simply handed over

an official document to an unauthorized

Person,
According to a media report, a U.S.

Congressional source said: “This was just
a routine intercept.” If U.S. spying on
Canadian official affairs is routine, it
strengthens all previous demands for
greater independence in Canadian
policies. It strengthens such demands
because the more the USA is*permitted
to think it can dictate to Canada, the
more it feels it has the need and the right
to meddle in any matter it chooses.
' Canada’s minister of external affairs,
Mark MacGuigan, says the computer-
ized code Ottawa uses for sree to its
embassy in Washington is “foolproof”.
Evidently the same is not true of the
minister. It’s often difficult to know,
when he speaks, whether it is MacGuigan
voicing Canadian policy, or General
Haig hiecupping. :
ine for ihe ke of measurement of
the department's “outrage” over the
interception or leaking, imagine the
clamor and cold war rhetoric had it been
a socialist country doing the inter-

cepting.

ACROSS CANADA

More layoffs feared says CMA

OTTAWA — The Canadian Manufacturing Association
warned that Canada faces as many as 100,000 more layoffs in
the country’s already hard-hit manufacturing industry.

Assailing the Liberal budget brought down by Finance
Minister Allan McEachen last November, the CMA said
Canada has experienced the severest drop in manufacturing in
its history with 235,000 jobs lost since last August.

Begin assails extra billing

OTTAWA — Health Minister Monique Begin criticized
Alberta doctors charging the practice of extra billing will even-
tually kill the federal medicare program. In a cable to Alberta
Hospitals’ Minister Dave Russell, Begin said doctors who

’ insist on charging above the normal rates are guilty of pro-

fessional misconduct.

She dismissed claims that extra billing is required by doctors
because of training courses they take and gave the example of
an Ontario man charged an extra $685. on his bill. The Health

“Minister suggested Ottawa may introduce a plan to ban extra
billing in the future as a condition for federal funding. ‘‘One of
the conditions (for federal funding)’ Begin said, ‘‘is reason-
able access. If extra billing prevents people who need care
ron —e it because they can’t afford it, then the contract is

No job dismissal for age

WINNIPEG — According to a ruling Jan. 26 by five judges
of the Manitoba Court of Appeal, no one in the province can be
ousted from his or her job because of age. They pointed out
that the Manitoba Human Rights Act which prohibits age
discrimination supercedes previous mandatory retirement
legislation, such as the Civil Service Superannuation Act.

Johnson family’s right to sue

TORON TO — Lemona Johnson, widow of Jamican immig-
rant Albert Johnson who was shot and killed by Metro To-
ronto Police in August 1979, has been granted the right to sue
the Metro Board of Police Commissioners and former chief
Harold Adamson.

The Supreme Court of Canada reached the decision Jan. 26,
on the case which roused wide public outcry when witnesses
testified that Johnson had tried to surrender to police who

~ burst into his home. They said despite this he had. been gunned
down.

Charles Roach, a Toronto civil rights lawyer and member of
the Albert Johnson Committee Against Police Brutality, said
he thought it might take until 1984 before the case goes to trial.

The case may take more time because it is unique, said
Charles Campbell, lawyer for the 31-year-old widow and her
four children ranging from 6 to 12 years.

B.C. jobless wait for cheques

VANCOUVER — A one year 37% increase in unemploy-
ment insurance claimants has created a backlog at the B.C.
offices of the Canadian Employment and Immigration Com-
missio:: offices here with 38,000 more claims being made than
this time last December. The figure stood at 140,000 by Dec.
31, 1981 with 5,000 more claims added in January. Officials
estimate it will take two months before the backlog is sorted
out. The provinces’ Ministry of Human Resources also re-

_ ports a 36% jump in persons seeking social assistance over the

same period.

Profiteer of the week

Perhaps not as well known as Ma Bell, Northern Telecom Ltd., is
a transnational in the manufacture of telephone and telecommu-
nications equipment. As an indication that you don’t get this stuff
at cost, Northern had an after-tax profit for the year ended Dec. 31,
of $120,702,000.
Figures used are from the company’s financial statements.

Editor — SEAN GRIFFIN
Business and Circulation Manager — PAT O'CONNOR

Published weekly at Suite 101 — 1416 Commercial Drive,
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PACIFIC TRIBUNE—FEB. 5, 1982—Page 3