By Nav Persaud affordable drugs, benefits, Canada Health Act, Canada health system, drugs, essential medications, health care benefits, House of Commons, medication plans, medications, Members of Parliament, MPs, Pharmacare, pharmaceuticals, publicly funded medication
The MPs mulling options for publicly funding medications this week will likely take their sweet time. There is no rush for them because they already have the type of publicly funded access to medications that is being contemplated for other Canadians. While approximately three million Canadians do not take medications as directed because of the […]
By Robert Brown benefits, Canadians, employee drug benefits, health coverage, insurance, national pharmacare, national pharmacare program, Pharmacare, pharmacare benefits, prescription drugs
The Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO) recently published a report outlining the expected costs and benefits of a possible National Pharmacare Program – and it’s pretty good news for most Canadians. The pharmacare program that was assessed was one proposed by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health in 2016. This committee provided the program’s […]
By Robert Brown benefits, Canadian Guaranteed Income Supplement, Canadian pension plan, CPP, GIS, Ontario Retirement Pension Plan, retire, retirement, RRSPs
It was as recently as June 20, 2016 that the federal and provincial Finance Ministers agreed to expand the Canada Pension Plan (CPP). This is such a recent event, in government terms, that many of the details of benefit entitlements, costs and investment criteria are still not known. But it has been long enough for […]
By John Have and Robert L. Brown benefits, Canada healthcare system, Health care costs, Health care costs and spending, private healthcare, private healthcare costs, publicly funded healthcare system, savings
Imagine having your private health insurance — dental, vision, prescription drug, life, travel and disability coverage — suddenly terminated by your employer at age 65 while you’re still working for them, and just when you may really need it.
By Robert Brown benefits, Canadian pension plan, contributions, CPP, retirement, retirement savings, savings, seniors
The Fraser Institute has argued recently that the federal government has failed to make a convincing case for Canada Pension Plan (CPP) expansion.
By John Have and Robert L. Brown benefits, Canada healthcare system, Health care costs, Health care costs and spending, private healthcare, private healthcare costs, publicly funded healthcare system, savings
Last week, the media carried a story about a nine-year-old boy in New Brunswick who was denied private health coverage because of his weight (at 5 foot 2 inches and 135 pounds). His family were shocked – as were many reading the story – that a child could be denied private health coverage in Canada.
By Robert Brown benefits, Canadian pension plan, contributions, CPP, retirement, retirement savings, savings, seniors
Amazingly, eight of ten provincial finance ministers and the federal government have agreed to a modest increase in the Canada Pension Plan (CPP).
Why we need to think twice about adopting an Australian model of pension reform
By Robert Brown Australia, benefits, Canadian pension plan, CPP, Ontario Retirement Pension Plan, retire, retirement, RRSPs
In their recent “Report on Business” commentary, authors Charles Lammam and Stephen Kirchner of the Fraser Institute urge the Province of Ontario to adopt an Australian model of pension provision instead of expanding the Canada Pension Plan as proposed in the Ontario Retirement Pension Plan.