Halifax

Press Conference to Outline Alternative Vision for Medicare

9:30am
Thursday July 26 2012

 

Public health care advocates from across the country are paying close attention to the Council of the Federation meeting in Halifax. The Nova Scotia Citizens’ Health Care Network and Council of Canadians are hosting a media conference Thursday, July 26th at 9:30 am aboard The Harbour Queen ship featuring prominent national speakers. 

Please note: Some limited remarks will be given in French as well.

 

Speakers include:

• Maude Barlow, National Chairperson, Council of Canadians
• Ken Georgetti, President, Canadian Labour Congress
• Dr Bob Woollard, Founding Member, Canadian Doctors for Medicare
• Mike McBane, National Coordinator, Canadian Health Coalition
• Kyle Buott, Coordinator of the Nova Scotia Citizens’ Health Care Network will be the MC.

“Stephen Harper is the biggest threat to public health care we’ve ever encountered. It is imperative that he return to the 2014 Health Accord negotiation table, or we risk losing our high-quality, universal health care. Every generation has fought to ensure that we can all access the health services we need. Now is the time for all of us to come together once again to defend this great Canadian value,” says Maude Barlow, National Chairperson of the Council of Canadians.

“For 50 years our governments have worked together to pay for public health care but last year the federal Finance Minister gave the premiers a take or leave it package on money all the way through 2024. That’s not good enough. We want Ottawa to remain a full partner in our health care system and to negotiate with the premiers on funding,” says Ken Georgetti, President of the Canadian Labour Congress.

"Federal leadership is essential to secure the future of Medicare and meet the health care needs of all Canadians.  Medicare works: it is more cost-effective, efficient and equitable than market health care. Canadians need more Medicare not less.  It's time for the Harper government to come back to the table and work with premiers to expand Medicare, starting with pharmacare and a continuing care strategy," says Michael McBane, National Coordinator of the Canadian Health Coalition.

"We need to continue the progress of the 2004 Health Accord with a strong 2014 Health Accord that preserves national standards and moves us towards public-sector innovations. We need to make sure that Albertans get the same standard of care as Nova Scotians, and that a successful new approach for wait times developed in Victoria is used in St. John’s too." says Dr. Robert Woollard, a founding member of Canadian Doctors for Medicare.

 

About the Nova Scotia Citizens' Health Care Network:

 

Formed in 1996, the Nova Scotia Citizens' Health Care Network's goal is to stop the privatization of the public health care system, ensure high levels of care, and create a forum for people and communities to discuss issues in health care. 

The Network is a coalition of local health committees, community groups, organized labour, faith groups and individuals dedicated to protecting and advancing public health care to include services like pharmacare, dental care and long-term and home care.

The Network is political but non-partisan and receives no government funding.