Cambie

Canadian Doctors for Medicare is proud to have participated in the Cambie trial as an intervenor. Our role was to bring key evidence before the courts in defence of Canadians' access to health care based on need, not ability to pay. On April 6, 2023 the Supreme Court of Canada announced that it would not hear Cambie Surgeries Corporation’s appeal, putting an end to this decades-long battle.

Court decisions

• The BC Supreme Court's 880-page ruling was released on September 10, 2020:
  To read our Top 5 reasons the Cambie verdict at the BC Supreme Court was a huge win for public health care, click here.
  We've also produced a 46 page summary of some of the key findings. Click here to read it.
  For the full ruling, click here. 
  
  
• The BC Court of Appeal upheld the BC Supreme Court's decision on July 15, 2022
  
  To read our press release, click here. For the decision, click here.  
  
  
• The Supreme Court of Canada dismissed Cambie's application for leave to appeal on April 6, 2023. 
  
  To read our press release, click here. 

Visit SaveMedicare.ca to learn more about the trial and intervenors.

What was the case about?

CDM held a webinar in July of 2020 to walk through the significance of this case. Karen Palmer, adjunct professor at Simon Fraser University and health policy advisor, walked participants through the details of the case.

Frequently Asked Questions

Want to learn more about the Cambie Charter challenge, and its potential impact on Canada's public health care system? Visit our Frequently Asked Questions page. For an excellent primer on the case by policy expert Karen Palmer, click here.

CDM and Cambie in the News

• Doctor's appeal over right to pay for private health care dismissed by B.C. court
  CBC News (July 15, 2022)
  CDM Chair Dr. Melanie Bechard is quoted. 

• Cambie Surgery Centre's appeal of 2020 court ruling prioritizes profits over progress
  Vancouver Sun (June 18, 2021)
  Written by CDM Chair Dr. Melanie Bechard and BCHC Co-Chair Edith MacHattie

• Cambie court decision a victory but health care still requires changes
  Toronto Star (September 15, 2020)
  Written by CDM board member Dr. Monika Dutt and Ed Broadbent of the Broadbent Institute
  
  
• Private Vancouver clinic loses constitutional challenge of public health-care rules
  CBC News (September 10, 2020) 
  Featuring quotes from CDM Chair Dr. Danyaal Raza
  
  
• B.C. Supreme Court rules against private health care
  The Globe and Mail (September 11, 2020)
  Featuring quotes from CDM board member Dr. Monika Dutt
  
  
• Canada’s publicly funded health system under threat: Three things you should know about the Charter challenge
  The Province (March 4, 2020)
  Written by CDM board Members Dr. Rupinder Brar and Dr. Richard Klasa
  
  
• How a B.C. court case over doctors’ rights to privately charge extra fees could endanger Medicare
  The Globe and Mail (February 22, 2020)
  Written by CDM Chair Dr. Danyaal Raza
  
  
• BC Supreme Court trial has far-reaching implications for the future of Canadian healthcare
  Media Advisory (February 18, 2020)

• The cautionary tale of Cambie and Australian health care
  The Toronto Star (December 3, 2019)
  Written by CDM Chair Dr. Danyaal Raza, Dr. Bob Bell and Stefan Superina

• What's at risk in the B.C. Supreme Court hearing on health care? The future of our system
  The Globe and Mail (November 22, 2019)
  Written by CDM board Member Dr. Melanie Bechard and Dr. Ali Damji

• Closing arguments begin in B.C. case launched in 2009 over private health care
  CTV News (November 17, 2019)
  Featuring quotes from CDM Chair Dr. Danyaal Raza

• Universal health care on trial: What you need to know about a historic Charter challenge in B.C.
  The Globe and Mail (November 12, 2019)
  Featuring quotes from CDM board member Dr. Rupinder Brar

Visit our "CDM in the News" section for more media highlights on pharmacare and other priorities.

Cambie Press Releases

• Cambie ruling a victory for public health care in Canada
  September 10, 2020
• Closing defense statements to proceed in Cambie trial
  November 22, 2019

Visit our press release section to view a full archive of our news releases, starting with the latest. You can also subscribe to our RSS feed to ensure you're always up to date.