Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff speaks to reporters on Parliament Hill after attending a caucus meeting on April 14, 2010.FRED CHARTRAND
Michael Ignatieff has had to clarify his position on medicare in a closed-door caucus session after concerns arose among his MPs that he was sending a message that the party supported user fees.
NDP Leader Jack Layton weighed in on the issue later Wednesday, demanding to know in Question Period whether the Harper government was planning to amend the Canada Health Act to impose user fees.
The issue is a hot one on Parliament Hill as a result of the recent Quebec budget, in which Premier Jean Charest plans to make patients pay $25 for each visit to the doctor.
Neither Prime Minister Stephen Harper nor Mr. Ignatieff reacted strongly to it, prompting some derisive commentary.
So far, however, it seems to be causing the most problems for the Liberal Leader.
In a pre-emptive strike, Mr. Ignatieff spoke before caucus got under way yesterday morning, according to sources telling MPs and senators that the Liberals are the party of medicare and that he is against user fees.
This is the second time in almost as many weeks that Mr. Ignatieff has had to get ahead of potential trouble brewing in his caucus. Usually, he speaks at the end of the session, wrapping up concerns and debate that came up during the meeting.
Before the week-long Easter break, however, Mr. Ignatieff apologized to his caucus after the embarrassment of watching the Liberals lose a vote on maternal health care that they had put forward.
There was concern yesterday over recent remarks Mr. Ignatieff made concerning Mr. Charest's plan for the doctor-visit fee. Rather than condemning the idea, Mr. Ignatieff had said provinces should be open to experimenting with health care as long as it doesn't contravene the Canada Health Act.
Well, that didn't sit well with some Liberals, especially after news reports criticizing Mr. Ignatieff for not being stronger on the issue.
"If we open the door to user fees, we might as well all go home," said one Liberal MP, noting that others were surprised Mr. Ignatieff had not come out more forcefully against the Charest budget.
This led to his clarification. Insiders say it was a big topic in the Ontario caucus that precedes the national caucus.
"Better late than never," the MP said. "This has been languishing."
And Mr. Ignatieff addressed the issue in speaking to reporters after the morning caucus meeting.
"I am saying no user fees," he said. "I want to make it very clear that our party, and I personally, am a passionate defender of the Canada Health Act and we understand that provinces are facing substantial challenges facing the financing of their health-care systems."
Mr. Ignatieff said Liberals will oppose any government in any province that introduces user fees. And he went further, asking why Mr. Harper hasn't made a similar defence.
"I said last week … this is not just about health care. This is the spine of Canadian citizenship that is at stake and our party wants to make its position and stance on that very clear."
But Mr. Ignatieff didn't ask about this in Question Period. He was focused on the Guergis affair.
Rather, the NDP Leader raised it.
"Some have recently opened up discussions about the possibility of imposing user fees on patients," said Mr. Layton. "Is the government committed to enforcing the Canada Health Act or is it preparing to amend it?"
Mr. Harper says his government supports the Canada Health Act and that he expects the provinces to follow the law.