Mr. Speaker, luckily for this couple and their baby, the illness was non-life-threatening and it was not a severe financial hardship to pay up front for their daughter to be treated. While the father told me that he would have come up with the money no matter what to treat his baby, why should this family have been put into that position just because they chose to serve their country as members of the Canadian Forces?
I draw attention to this case to let the government know that well-meaning talk is not addressing the problem. In other countries military health coverage is extended to dependants. However, in the absence of such an obvious and practical solution to this problem, the government first needs to address the charging of the Ontario health premium tax on individuals who should not have to pay it.
While I appreciate the parliamentary secretary telling me that he agrees with me that the tax is totally unfair, military members want action and they certainly know this tax is unfair. They cannot understand why the Minister of Health thinks that health care premiums and extra billing is a good thing and why on behalf of the government he defends the practice.
The time has come to axe this tax on behalf of the men and women who serve in Canada's military.