When it comes to investing in public services, the political class is quick to dish up the same old phony pragmatism: thereâs no money in the coffers (apart from the occasional band-aid measure) and money doesnât grow on trees. In the first article in our series âCan we afford a strong health and social service system?â we looked at the state of public finances to rebut the first claim. This time we consider the revenue sources our government could draw upon to ensure better funding of the public health and social service system.
When it comes to investing in public services, the political class is quick to dish up the same old phony pragmatism: thereâs no money in the coffers (apart from the occasional band-aid measure) and money doesnât grow on trees. In this first article in our series âCan we afford a strong health and social service system?â we assess the first of these claims by looking at QuĂ©becâs current financial situation as outlined in the 2023-2024 budget. And as for the question of whether money grows on trees, stay tuned for our next article on the sources of revenue available to the government.
A number of union organizations, including the APTS, are calling loudly and clearly for universal pharmacare that would give the entire Canadian population access to public prescription drug insurance. The question that arises is how this demand is relevant to Québec.
Over the past two years, the APTS has been working to develop a new political platform. The second Carrefour des idĂ©es conference, Comprendre pour choisir (Understanding so we can choose), was held on May 5 and 6 as part of this process. Presentations and discussions were intended to help us take a step back and look at the overall context as we think about the best way to move forward. Hereâs a recap of the opening talk by Damien Contandriopoulos, associate professor at the FacultĂ© des sciences infirmiĂšres of the UniversitĂ© de MontrĂ©al.
The pandemic has cruelly highlighted the cracks in QuĂ©becâs seniorsâ housing model, which relies heavily on private facilities. Two researchers recently looked into who owns seniorsâ residences and where their profits come from.
As the second wave surges, we urgently need to learn from last springâs events in order to prevent a grim repeat of the death tolls witnessed among our elders. Thatâs why we responded to the call issued by the QuĂ©bec Ombudsman (Protecteur du citoyen) in its investigation into the management of the COVID-19 crisis in CHSLDs.
On May 25, George Floyd suffocated to death, choked under the knee of a Minneapolis police officer. The tragic death of this African American man rekindled racial tensions in the United States, sparking weeks of protests across that country. These events have also reopened the debate in Québec and Canada on systemic racism.
In addition to the current health crisis, we will soon be facing a major crisis in public finances. Maintaining the social safety net that has been so invaluable these past few months will be no small feat. Our governments must not under any circumstances let the wealthiest among us duck their tax obligations. Thereâs a tool available to make the governmentsâ task easier.
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the extent to which Québec depends on overseas manufacturing plants to supply even the simplest of products, like masks. With protectionism on the rise in many countries, have we been relying too heavily on globalization and free trade?
The federal elections are just around the corner, with election day fast approaching on October 21. The electoral campaign comes with its share of promises, commitments and attacks that may or may not be founded. Given that weâre being bombarded with a variety of positions, some issues may escape us.