WHEREAS the Province of British Columbia is seeking to privatize the Medical Services Plan records administration; AND WHEREAS American companies are seeking to bid on the privatization process; AND WHEREAS American companies can be compelled by the USA Patriot Act legislation to turn over confidential information controlled by the corporation to the FBI without notifying Canadian officials or the individuals involved; AND WHEREAS this will result in the confidential information of British Columbia residents being turned over to American government authorities: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of BC Municipalities request that the provincial government not privatize the administration of our personal medical records to any American company or any affiliate of an American company that can be compelled by the USA Patriot Act.
MINISTRY OF HEALTH SERVICES The number one complaint from MLAs across British Columbia is that people cannot get through to register for MSP. An example of the need for modernization is that the public process of registration with MSP has not changed much in more than 30 years - a paper process in a computerized world. Government is currently negotiating a service agreement that will be with a B.C.-based service provider that is indirectly held by a U.S. parent company. The ministry has included measures that prevent the US parent from being able to compel the disclosure of information from the B.C. service provider, for example, under the USA Patriot Act. Contract negotiations are still underway. British Columbia is not privatizing the administration function of MSP and PharmaCare. Under the new service delivery model, the government would continue to own all information, be accountable for all services and will ensure it meets or exceeds provincial privacy legislation. The business proposal was open to Canadian and international bidders. The final proponent was selected based on their proven ability to modernize the current public process of registration with MSP and ensure it can be sustained well into the future. Government submitted a report in July to the Information and Privacy Commissioner. The submission outlined plans to include tough new privacy protections in legislation and contracts with service providers, specifically responding to the USA Patriot Act. Government is looking forward to reviewing the Information and Privacy Commissioners report.