Editor:
As I recently wrote to the ministers of Health and Finance, I am wondering why we are the only province where residents have to pay MSP and why these medical service payments are not included as medical expenses on the federal and provincial tax forms. Essentially, if the MSP payments are bona fide medical payments, B.C. residents should be able to claim them on income tax. Otherwise, they are clearly a misnomer. I understand the debate currently raging relates to the fact that only roughly 15 per cent of the MSP revenue collected actually goes to health care. If that is true, the remaining 85 per cent of these MSP payments paid are essentially a B.C. tax. If the government has not legitimately authorized this taxation, these payments should be claimable as a credit against personal income tax collected. That Canada Revenue Agency refuses to allow B.C. MSP payments as medical expenses makes my argument all the more valid and your tax treatment suspect.
Please join me and write to lobby for a change to MSP treatment.
J. Rolfe, Halfmoon Bay
