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Union of healthcare professionals to join Shadow Summit in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Edmonton – The Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAANUPGE) will be front and centre at an important battle for the future of Canadian health care in Ontario at the Council of the Federation.
Provincial leaders must stand up for public health care
“We are taking a message to the meeting of premiers in Niagara-on-the-Lake that they have a duty to stand up for the public health-care system in the face of threats from the federal Conservative government,” says Elisabeth Ballermann, HSAA President, which represents more than 24,000 paramedical technical, professional and support workers in health care.
Provincial and territorial premiers are attending a Council of the Federation meeting in Niagara-on-the-Lake on July 24-25, the last time they’ll meet before the 10-year Health Accord expires in 2014.
HSAA reminds Alberta Premier, and others, about the value Canadians place on Medicare
Ballermann and HSAA Vice-President Trudy Thomson will join thousands of others, from across Canada, including NUPGE members, attending a shadow summit that will pressure the premiers to fight for the future of our health-care system.
“Prime Minister Stephen Harper is refusing to meet the premiers and has sent several signals that the federal government wants to abandon its responsibilities in funding and protecting public health care,” says Ballermann.
Harper cuts to transfers for health care will hurt patient care
“Harper’s government has already announced it will cut $36 billion from federal transfers to provinces for health care after the health accord expires. It has done nothing to stop private, for-profit clinics billing patients extra in Alberta and B.C. It has cut funding for the Health Council of Canada and health services for veterans and refugees and has backed away from a national drug program and home care,” she says.
“It is vital that Alison Redford and the other premiers take the opportunity of their meeting to stand up for health care, to stand up to Harper. They must send a strong message to the prime minister and the new health minister, Alberta’s Rona Ambrose, demanding the federal government come back to the table.”
NUPGE
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE