Previously published in Examiner
The history of providing medical care and other charities for the poor in Canada is older than Canada itself. It goes back to the colony of New France now known as Quebec, and Montreal key players such as Jeanne Mance, Margaret BOURGEOYS, and Margaret D’Youville lead the way. Hotel-Dieu is the oldest hospital in Canada and is located on St. Urbain Street in Montreal.
The need for medical care for the poor always remained a humanitarian issue and the Great Depression led the way for modern day revamping of the medical system in Canada. It was the individual provinces who began medical coverage on a wide scale platform.
Modern Day Healthcare began at the provincial level after the great depression.
By 1966, the Medical Care Act was created to enable each province to have a universal medicare program.
Universal and Private Healthcare in Canada
There are many people who are disenchanted with Canadian Medicare these days. The system is old and was created in 1966 by Tommy Douglas under the Lester B. Pearson government. Quebec has a shortage of doctors at this present time. But all Canadians are entitled to health care free of charge. If a Montrealer or Quebecer does not have a family doctor, he or she can go to any walk-in-center to be seen. Emergency services exist at hospitals and there are no insurance forms to fill out, or other things that would impede the the patient from being seen.
Our system is simple; the government at the provincial level foots the bill ( it also gets some funds from the Canadian government) and the Canadian goes to the doctor, gets the care he or she needs and then goes home. A Canadian can go to any province and receive treatment. We all have what is called a medicare card to show our proof of residence. In Quebec, and Montreal, the medicare card is called a carte du soleil. Everyone rich or poor is entitled to the same health care just by presenting this card. The card has to be renewed every four years. Some provinces will not cover dental or vision, but that is a small price to pay considering one does not have to pay for doctor visits, hospital stays, tests, treatments, operations, and more.
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_care_in_Canada
http://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/medical-cost-disability-11/slideshow-top-11-medical-expenses?ecd=wnl_day_062511