For the past six years the Canadian budget has been creating a surplus. Since that time the question on what to do with the surplus has arisen. There are several main areas that Canadians want the government to spend money on. Three areas Canadians want to see the government focus on are healthcare, education and research, and taxes. A look at the budget will show what the federal government is doing about these important issues.
For years people have been complaining about the terrible state of healthcare. Doctors and nurses have been leaving Quebec and Canada to go to the US for better job opportunities. This has created long lines and long waits, overcrowding, and the shutting down of several hospitals. The 2003-2004 budget allows for a $34.8 billion increase to healthcare over the next five years. The money will go to solving problems such as length of waiting, quality of care, reducing length of time needed for a diagnosis, research, and home care. Over the next five years $9.5 billion will be transferred to the provinces and territories. An immediate transfer of $2.5 billion will go to relieve some of the more urgent healthcare problems. Also $16 billion in a Health Reform Fund over the next five years will be used for "primary care, home care and catastrophic drug coverage;" (Budget Speech 6). Lastly, $5.5 billion will be invested to promote the health of Canadians; which includes better diagnosis and medical equipment, among other things. The current budget also makes allowances for the health of Aboriginal Canadians. The federal government has provided $1.3 billion for Aboriginal healthcare over the next five years, as well as $600 million that will go to improving water treatment and waste disposal on the reserves. As an added bonus the government has expanded the employment insurance program to include those who must stay home and take care of a sick loved one for an extended period of time, it has been entitled compassionate care leave.
