In a hotly contested campaign, orthopedic surgeon Dr. Brian Day, the founder of Vancouver's private, for-profit Cambie Surgery Centre, was elected Aug. 22 at the CMA General Council as CMA president-elect for 2006/07. He will succeed Dr. Colin McMillan as president for 2007/08.
In February, Day defeated 5 candidates in 5 ballots to win the BCMA nod to stand as CMA's president-elect at General Council. Dr. Jack Burak was a close second and agreed not to run against Day. The CMA presidency rotates among the provinces and territories.
But a number of influential physicians persuaded Burak, a Vancouver family physician, former BCMA president, to change his mind and muster a candidacy, which he announced July 11.
This is only the third time in CMA's history that the presidency has been contested.
As per CMA policy, only the winner, not the vote count, was announced, although Day received a standing ovation.
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In his election speech, Day, aged 59, said he sought the position because “Canadians are not being well served by our health care system.”
Day has come under intense media scrutiny for his ties to the private clinic and his presumed support of privatization. He pleaded with the press to “listen to what I say, not what you say I say.”
Day insisted he's “never supported the privatization of medicare.” But “like most physicians and most Canadians I believe there is a place for the private sector and for public–private partnerships.”
Day vowed that “as president-elect of the CMA I commit to a policy that all Canadians receive timely access to medically necessary services regardless of ability to pay. My support for universal health care is unequivocal.”
“No CMA policies will change in any radical way with my election.”
Day also pledged to “update” the Canada Health Act to include accountability, efficiency, equality and specific measures to eliminate wait lists and the suffering of children. “CMA needs to … oppose anything that's not in the best interest of patients.”
Burak, meanwhile, emphasized his 19-year involvement with the BCMA and CMA, and ran on a platform of “supporting a strong publicly funded health care system.” He told CMAJ he was “naturally disappointed” at the election results, but added that he supports the decision of the delegate–voters and will “continue to be a member of the board of directors of CMA and assist Dr. Day in whatever way I can.”
“Dr. Day is a breath of fresh air and maybe physicians felt it was time we had someone who could perhaps push us a little harder for options for change,” Burak said, adding that he recognizes the system must change. “But I prefer to make changes within the publicly funded system.”
The 1000-member Canadian Doctors for Medicare (CDM), formed in May to stop what it sees as CMA's drift to two-tier medicine, opposed Day's nomination and view of health care reform.
“Given that he's been elected we're going to hold him to his word that [his position at the CMA] will not be a platform for his views alone, but the views of all Canadian doctors,” said the Chair of CDM's board, Dr. Danielle Martin.
Outgoing CMA president Dr. Ruth Collins-Nakai stressed “CMA policy has not changed as a result of this election. We remain committed to Canadians' timely access to publicly funded health care.”