Canada’s investments in health, training too valuable to treat like paper clips

From an accounting, budgeting, and reporting perspective, government investments in intangible assets, like early treatment programs, bear little distinction from spending on paper clips. And that's a problem.

Finance Minister Bill Morneau and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured with the 2019 federal budget last March. A lack of reporting around government investments in intangible assets can cloud the decision-making process and distort values and priorities, potentially leading to inefficiencies and missed opportunities, writes Jeremiah Hurley.The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Opinion

BY JEREMIAH HURLEY

November 6, 2019

Imagine you have to decide whether it’s worthwhile to fund a government program to provide early intervention for psychosis The program is expensive. Setting it up requires establishing treatment protocols, organizing special teams and services, and a myriad of other costs. And the hospital-based...

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