The Chaoulli Case: a two-tier Magna Carta?
There has been considerable speculation about the potential impact of the Supreme Court of Canada's judgment in Chaoulli v. Quebec. Even if those who are most friendly--or most hostile--to Canadian medicare are exaggerating the impact of the decision, its impact will be large. While the decision does not strike down any existing single-payer medicare system in any province, including Quebec's single-payer system, it is certainly capable of becoming the Magna Carta for two-tier medicare through future judicial interpretation and extension. In any event, it has already become the battering ram of choice for medicare's most tenacious opponents.
Marchildon
Gregory P
GP
Graduate School of Public Policy, University of Regina. greg.marchildon@uregina.ca
D002170:Canada; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000458:organization & administration; D017149:Private Sector; D018855:Single-Payer System