More Neo-Liberal Smoke & Mirrors Policies in BC

On February 21st, the BC "Liberal" government brought forward its budget.

One "highlight" of the budget was a proposal to cut Medical Services Plan Premiums by 50%.

That would be nice, IF it was completely true.  There are a number of devils in the details.

I have some records here in the file cabinet.  They show that we had to pay $96 per month for health care coverage back in 2006.  It's now 2017 and it costs $150 per month for the two of us.

Roughly, that is a 50% increase in premiums in about 10 years.

Now the government is proposing to reduce this a bit, but not until after January 1st, 2018.  And you have to apply for this reduction by completing an on-line form.

I understand that BC is the last province to charge such health care premiums.  On the one hand, having to pay these premiums each month does serve to remind everyone what health care costs and that it isn't "free".  On the other hand, sending out invoices each month must be one of the more inefficient and costly ways of handling the whole issue.

Years ago, in Saskatchewan, where health care costs were handled directly by the province, we occasionally received a statement showing us what our use of the medical system cost each year, just to remind us what we were getting for our taxes.

My concern is that the government, having spent the past few years raising the fees and rates for most things while pretending taxes are low, is engaging in more smoke and mirrors.

Over the past decade or more, funding has been taken away from the public education system.  Following a recent court decision, money is being put back in.  I'm just not sure that the government should be bragging about it.