About 180 health-care workers from across the country gathered in Halifax on the weekend to discuss workers rights and the future of the public health system. <\/p>\n
Hosted by Unifor, Canadas largest private-sector union, the conference aimed to highlight the challenges facing health care and rally the troops for the struggle ahead. <\/p>\n
I think weve seen a steady erosion in the last 20 years of workers rights across the board, but also in particular those workers who are employed in the public sector, said Lana Payne, Unifors Atlantic director. <\/p>\n
The 2004 Health Accord, an agreement between the federal and provincial governments that sets the terms for health-care funding and priorities, expired at the end of March. A new funding formula, to be implemented in 2017, could mean a drop of $150 million in health-care funding per year for Nova Scotia alone Payne said. <\/p>\n
Both the lack of co-ordination between provinces, as well as the funding decrease, will spell trouble for health-care workers and residents alike, Payne said. <\/p>\n
We have in Atlantic Canada the oldest population in the country, so that in itself poses a challenge, and then of course less health-care dollars from the federal government will also contribute to a funding crunch. <\/p>\n
Shouldnt we be getting the same kinds of services in every province? Payne asked. If Nova Scotia is strapped for cash to be able to provide decent health care, does that mean we get lesser health care here than what you would get in a province like Alberta, which has more money? <\/p>\n
Vancouver East MP Libby Davies said she hopes health care becomes a key issue during the federal election next year. <\/p>\n
Stephen Harper has basically thumbed his nose and said, Well, I dont really care. You guys do what you want. <\/p>\n
The fact that we now have a federal government that has basically washed its hands of health care is a really serious matter and I really hope that in the federal election ... it will be a vote-determining issue, she said. <\/p>\n
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Unifor gathering looks at challenges in public health care<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" About 180 health-care workers from across the country gathered in Halifax on the weekend to discuss workers rights and the future of the public health system. Hosted by Unifor, Canadas largest private-sector union, the conference aimed to highlight the challenges facing health care and rally the troops for the struggle ahead. I think weve seen a steady erosion in the last 20 years of workers rights across the board, but also in particular those workers who are employed in the public sector, said Lana Payne, Unifors Atlantic director. Continue reading