Categories: The Bull Meter

The Bull Meter: Michael Ignatieff on the Conservatives' investments in health care

Is it true Harper hasn’t invested “a new dime” in health care?

by Julia Belluz on Thursday, April 21, 2011 4:57pm - 29 Comments
Ignatieff_bull
"[Harper] has not added a new dime to the money committed [to health care] by [former] prime minister [Paul] Martin."
- Michael Ignatieff
April 17, 2011

Bull Meter score:

In 2004, then Liberal Prime Minister Paul Martin promised to “fix health care for a generation” by committing to a 10-year guaranteed six per cent yearly increase on health transfers from the federal government to the provinces and territories. This deal doesn’t expire until 2014, meaning Harper has not had to commit “a new dime” to health care—there’s a six per cent escalator built in to the agreement Martin negotiated in 2004. And the Department of Finance breakdown of federal support to the provinces and territories shows the Canada Health Transfer has indeed increased by 6 per cent annually over the past few years.

So the Liberal leader is being misleading when he says Harper hasn’t added a “new dime” to health care. As Morris Barer, director of UBC’s Centre for Health Services and Policy Research, put it, “It looks to me like Iggy is being a bit disingenuous by suggesting that the 6 per cent was an old commitment and that the feds would need to be committing to annual increases greater than 6 per cent in order for the Liberals to view any of it as ‘new money.’”

Heard something that doesn’t sound quite right? Send quotes from the campaign trail to macbullmeter@gmail.com and we’ll tell you just how much bull they contain.

Sources:

Michael Ignatieff in Vancouver

Department of Finance Health Transfers

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  • Olivier

    Health care numbers are all BS.

    I wonder what it's going to take for an adult discussion take place on the issue. Hopefully not a catastrophe.

  • catherine

    Ms. Bellua, I'm confused by this bull – are you saying Harper put in more than was mandated by the Martin agreement or not? Ignatieff was saying not, but are you suggesting Harper did put in more? If so, how much more? As written, your correction seems to agree with what Ignatieff has been saying.

    • LdKitchenersOwn

      I'm confused too. Did Harper put more money into Health Care than Paul Martin committed us to? If yes, then the above line from Iggy is clearly B.S., but if Harper hasn't done so, then isn't what Ignatieff said true? It's a cheeky way of framing the argument, for sure, but if Ignatieff said that Harper hasn't spent any more money on Health Care than was planned for by Paul Martin, and it's true that Harper hasn't spent any more money on Health Care than was planned for by Paul Martin, where's the bull? (let alone FOUR bulls).

      It seems to me that Ignatieff said X, and X is true. More to the point, it's an easy line to deflect, so what's the big deal anyway? Isn't the simple answer to this argument "Why would we need to spend more money on Health Care than is provided for in the plan that 'fixed Health Care for a generation'???"

  • Jan

    I thought the accord called for ongoing improvements to pharmacare coverage and homecare. As far as know Harper has never met with the provinces to facilitate those. That's what Ignateff is talking about.

  • chet

    It's a good thing Iggy's "bull" attack on Harper's position on healthcare isn't a central part of the Liberal plank…..oh wait….never mind.

  • Joshua

    You don't have to worry about what Mr. Harper did or didn't do with the Health Care……it's the Thieving Liberals you must be concerned aobut. Google "E-Health" Scandal, and the company that E-Health repalced and that scandal…..Liberal party of Ontario….thieves. They stole Billions of dollars from our health care and now they are trying to put the blame on the shoulders of Mr. Harper. Sounds like one of your as- hp– stunts Iggy. Go back to where you come from. People up here "work" for a living.

    • t.905

      Provincial Healthcare has nothing to do with it. Gov't gives all provinces an allotted amount. Then the province uses it according to their needs.

      The point Ignatieff is making, is that Harper hasn't gone beyond the original Liberal committment to assist provinces with Healthcare. End of story.

      And why is work in quotations? Is an academic, a professor, journalist, author not a suitable way to earn a living? All these journalists providing you with info must be all pretentious ass*** not worth listening to, right?

      • Jenahlin

        All these journalists providing you with info must be all pretentious ass*** not worth listening to, right?
        I think many of them are not worth listening to. They seem to have an agenda, right or left, and are reluctant to present both sides of the issue, and very often they will omit some of the facts to justify their headline.

  • ABHarperRegime

    Layton Mania !

    Jack won the debates for me, no other leader can touch Jack as an average Joe Canadian you can TRUST.

    I was considering voting Liberal(ABHarperRegime), but when Jack mentioned the Liberal leaders lack of attendance it really hit a nerve for me, as I've always thought to myself that I just cant picture Iggy sitting their in opposition if he looses the leadership?, I think he'll be long gone back to his American home.

    The hardest working MP in Parliament, bar none.

    • Anon

      So if Jack is PM or Opposition Leader he will be in the House all the time?

      As should have been pointed out during the debates it is usual that the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition don't vote on Private Members' Bills.

      As well, a Leader of the Opposition needs to also be out on teh road introducing him/herself to Canadians and hearing what they have to say.

      Jack wouldn't know that because he's a professional politician and have never had either of those positions.

      If the country is lucky then he won't after May 2nd either.

    • Jenahlin

      Yes Jumpin Jack will promise you everthing, while knowing he will never have to deliver anything.

  • LdKitchenersOwn

    I'm confused by this one too. I don't disagree that Ignatieff's being a bit cheeky here by accusing Harper of not adding MORE than Paul Martin committed us to, and he clearly hopes an inattentive listener/reader will misinterpret this as meaning that Harper hasn't added more money to Health Care, but is what Ignatieff said actually inaccurate??? This is what the conclusion of the post is: "The Liberal leader is being misleading when he says Harper hasn’t added a 'new dime' to health care". And this is what Ignatieff said: "[Harper] has not added a new dime to the money committed [to health care] by [former] prime minister [Paul] Martin." Can you spot the difference?

    Ignatieff's said that Harper hasn't committed any new money to Health Care beyond what Paul Martin already committed us to years ago. He didn't say that Harper hasn't spent any new money on Health Care. I mean, OF COURSE HE HAS, Paul Martin tied his hands.

    Maybe I'm being too generously literal, but my own personal bull meter goes off when a politician says something and then a journalist argues that what he said was bull by ignoring half of what the politician said. It's like me saying that Harper has no reason to fear losing the upcoming election and being accused of saying that "Harper has no reason".

    • Jenahlin

      Speaking of health care spending, why are our "Investigative Journalists" not asking Jack, the great debater, about his promise to add 5000 doctors?
      Where is he going to find all these doctors and who is going to hire and pay for them, the feds?
      I thought this was a provincial responsibility.
      Let's go journalists, start doing your job properly.

  • Sally

    This journalist should get 4 bulls for that posting

    • catherine

      Yes, I agree. A day later and she still hasn't provided any evidence of money that Harper spent on healthcare beyond what Martin committed in the 2004-2014 deal.

  • WaterlooAl

    I have to agree with Iggy's interpretation.

    • excanuck

      What a pathetically inane and useless conversation in these last few posts! Stop it, all of you.

  • Joshua

    At least Mr. Harper and Jack…..are at work every day. Iggy lost 135 days the last sessions of Parliament and neglected to vote on 70% of the bills that went through. This scum bag is talking to Mr. Harper about "Democracy" He had better learn what the word means. G.D.phoney.

    • WaterlooAl

      So if you're out talking to the people of the country, you're a scum bag. Look in the mirror buddy.

    • Kathryn_C

      Harper's attendance was barely better than Ignatieff's – definitely not there every day. And don't forget he gave himself a couple of generous paid vacations by proroguing. In fact, Parliament has sat less under Harper than any other PM.

  • Amateur Hour

    Harper is continuing the Martin Government commitment on health spending, true.
    Harper has NOT added to heath spending, also true.
    Not sure how his makes what Iggy said "Bull" — was any NEW health cash committed by Harper during his 5 years in government?
    Another factor to consider: the population has increased by approx. 2.3 million since the Martin commitment was made … yet Harper's added nothing.

    • LdKitchenersOwn

      On that last point though, are you saying that Martin came up with a plan for health care funding that went until 2014, and he didn't factor in population growth???

      • Amateur Hour

        Dunno. Good question.

        I brought population up as Harper often says that we've replaced all of the jobs lost in the recession – ignoring the presence of an additional 1,000,000 workers. I wonder how it plays on the Health front.

        The main point: I just don't see how Iggy's assertion that Harper hasn't added any "new money" (ie non-Martin plan money) rates as bull.

  • Leo

    I see Count Doot-Doot Disingenuous is at it again, lol!!

    Wake up, wake up Canada!!!

  • modster99

    As election day gets closer, the liberal lies and attack ads get worse. Smells of desperation. . . . and doesn't appear to be working.

    • WaterlooAl

      The Cons spent millions on ads against Iggy PRIOR to the election and you say their desperate. Wow

  • inmyopinion

    You actually feel sorry for the Liberals? What about the Conservatives who constantly had opportunistic Iggy nipping at their heals along with the tag team msm on bogus and non-issues. That's who I think did a great job considering the antagonistic opposition.

  • Atchison

    It's looking more and more that the title Her Majesty's Loyal Leader of the Opposition will be bestowed on Jack Layton.

    Ignatieff's as useful as teets on a bull.

  • dave

    With all due respect to you and Morris Barer, the point is that Harper has made no steps on health care funding that he wasn't already contractually obligated to by the previous government. Unless you can demonstrate otherwise, the point is not incorrect.

    I'd honestly be shocked if that were hard to do though. All you need to beat is a dime and there's gotta be some token funding promises in a budget somewhere over the course of five years.

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