Open letter to the federal government on proposed interpretation of Canada Health Act

The Honourable Mark Holland, P.C., M.P.

Minister of Health

The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, P.C., M.P.

Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs

RE: Concerns regarding proposed interpretation of the Canada Health Act

Dear Ministers Holland and LeBlanc,

On behalf of the Calgary business community, the Calgary Chamber of Commerce expresses our concerns regarding the unintended repercussions of the Government of Canada’s proposed interpretation of the Canada Health Act. The proposed change to ban employer-funded virtual care would be extremely disruptive to the existing care system, which is currently backfilling a significant shortage of family doctors. Critically, this change would also limit the provision of health care services in Canada without sizably increasing government expenditure to fill the gap created by this limitation.

Businesses deeply value their ability to support employee health and well-being, including access to virtual care through employer benefit plans. Employer-funded virtual care is critical to maintaining a healthy and productive workforce, particularly for businesses with geographically dispersed employees. These services were, rightly, welcomed and encouraged during the pandemic, and the impact on changes to employer-funded virtual care would be significant: 10 million Canadians have access to a virtual care platform through their employer and more than 50 per cent of people using a virtual care platform do not have access to a family doctor. These services augment existing public healthcare: without virtual services, those Canadians would have to rely entirely on walk-in clinics and emergency rooms, which would disproportionately impact rural and remote communities, and increase the strain on our already overburdened public system

The proposed interpretation, rightfully aimed at eliminating out-of-pocket expenses for Canadians seeking virtual care from nurse practitioners and doctors, would inadvertently jeopardize access to care currently covered by employer benefit plans for over 25 per cent of Canadians. Employer-funded virtual care is a critical component of Canada’s healthcare system, providing enhanced capacity without increasing government expenditure, while ensuring Canadians receive access to healthcare with no out-of-pocket costs. Under the current system, Canadians do not pay for virtual services out of pocket; rather they are covered by employers as part of their healthcare plans.

We strongly support universal access to public healthcare, including support for mental health services, and recognize the importance of zero-cost access to healthcare for patients. The Government of Canada can achieve its policy goals without adverse consequences by explicitly allowing for employer-funded care in the interpretation letter to provinces. In doing so, the government can preserve access to supplemental care for millions of Canadians while avoiding out-of-pocket costs for patients.

Banning employer-funded virtual care would strain an already burdened healthcare system and create significant liabilities for provinces, ultimately compromising the quality of care for all Canadians. As the Government of Canada progresses toward ending patient charges for doctors’ and nurse practitioners’ services through virtual care, we urge you to ensure provinces can continue working with employers to provide no-cost, low-barrier complementary care for Canadians and their families.

We respectfully request your attention to this matter and urge the government to safeguard the availability of employer-funded virtual complementary care for the benefit of all Canadians.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Deborah Yedlin
President & CEO
Calgary Chamber of Commerce  

cc Hon. Danielle Smith, Premier of Alberta
Hon. Adriana LaGrange, Alberta Minister of Health

ABOUT THE CALGARY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 

The Calgary Chamber of Commerce exists to help businesses reach their potential. As the convenor and catalyst for a vibrant, inclusive and prosperous business community, the Chamber works to build strength and resilience among its members and position Calgary as a magnet for talent, diversification and opportunity. As an independent, non-profit, non-partisan organization founded in 1891, we build on our history to serve and advocate for businesses of all sizes, in all sectors across the city.