President's Message
Dr. Brian Arthur
By the time you read this report, the Premier will have likely called an election. To date, thirty-six BCCA members have met with their local MLA candidates and we anticipate meetings with the remaining candidates. The Board would like to thank those members who have or will be meeting with their respective candidates.
Although the Liberals have not divulged what they will do if elected, meetings with local chiropractors have provided them a better understanding of issues surrounding 'supplemental' professions. These issues include long-term funding and first day coverage. I encourage all BCCA members and their patients to be as active as possible when the election is called. Our message becomes louder with each and every individual effort.
Officials of the present Ministry of Health (MOH) are renewing efforts to address supplemental profession funding issues during the election process. Although we have been without a contract for three years, it is unlikely that an agreement will be reached prior to the election. Instead, recommendations will likely be passed on to the next Minister of Health.
If you would like to meet with your local candidate, please contact Dr. Robert Masse or the Association office. Dr. Masse has been doing an excellent job developing meetings between D.C.s and their MLAs. In addition, we can supply you with information to provide to your MLA.
This year's Provincial Presidents Meeting was held from March 2- 4 in Winnipeg. The need for better communication between the provinces emerged as the major theme. Better communication is necessary due to the increased inter-provincial sharing of information between various insurers and agencies. Therefore, it is important to know what insurance pilot projects, fee negotiations and additional initiatives are being contemplated in other provinces, as they may eventually impact BC. In addition to ongoing dialogue between provincial associations, presidents have requested the CCA assist inter-province communication through existing committees. BC will be hosting the Provincial Presidents meeting next year. Attendees and the CCA share the cost of these meetings.
One provincial effort worth mentioning is that Alberta will spend $500,000 during spring and fall of 2001 primarily on TV advertising. This was facilitated by the increase in annual fees of all Alberta members. It will be interesting to see if the campaign results in a significant increase in chiropractic utilization.
Unfortunately, the CMCC's bid to become part of York University has come to a halt. The university's Senate voted in favour of allowing CMCC to pursue affiliation in May of 1998. The next step required that CMCC pursue affiliation with Atkinson College of York University. On March 28th, 2001, the Atkinson Faculty Council voted 26 to 21 against affiliating with CMCC. Given the perceived level of support for affiliation within Atkinson's faculty, this outcome was very unexpected. Although the CMCC will continue to explore other viable affiliation options, words cannot express the disappointment of the Affiliation Committee and chiropractors across the country. For six years, CMCC President Dr. Jean Moss has worked immensely hard, with great personal sacrifice, to achieve university affiliation. On behalf of the BCCA, I extend a heartfelt “thank you” to Dr. Moss and others who have endeavored to advance our educational status.
Now that CMCC membership is no longer part of the BC College of Chiropractors annual dues, I sincerely hope that BC chiropractors will continue to become members of, or contribute to, the CMCC. The high caliber of education provided by CMCC must be maintained and advanced in the future. Our profession's detractors in Canada are only too willing to exploit any perceived educational weaknesses, as they have often done in the past. The philanthropic spirit of Canadians is among the greatest in the world. Let us continue this tradition by contributing financially to the CMCC.
< Return to Library