As the country’s health ministers hold critical meetings about the status of health care in Canada, the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions (CFNU) is urging the federal government to defend and enforce the Canada Health Act. That was the message nurse union leaders from British Columbia to Newfoundland and Labrador brought to federal health minister, the Hon. Marjorie Michel, today.
“As I told Minister Michel, underinvestment has left public health care systems stretched beyond their limits. More and more, we’re seeing provincial and territorial governments look to private health care options instead of investing in sustaining permanent public health care capacity. But privatization only diminishes patients’ access to care,” explained CFNU President Linda Silas. “Public health care offers a strong return on investment for both patients’ health and the economy. Public health care is essential economic infrastructure that should be included in what it means ‘Building Canada Strong’.”
At the meeting, Silas also underscored the importance of the federal government continuing to work with provinces and territories, and health care stakeholders, on long-term care funding agreements to ensure stable and quality care. With collaboration on a strong pan-Canadian health human resources plan, public health care jobs can provide good resilient jobs in every community.
Silas was encouraged that Minister Michel listened to the both the concerns and solutions Canada’s nurses brought to the table.
“Minister Michel heard our concerns that renewing expiring funding agreements is critical for safe patient care and acted on them. Minister Michel summarized it well when she said that we live in a world of Canada first, and that includes are public health care system,” Silas said. “Now we need to ensure funding stabilizes long-term, and work collaboratively with all levels of government to better serve patients within our public health care systems across the country.”
The CFNU will be hosting a policy meeting with federal, provincial and territorial health ministers about a national plan for seniors’ care on Friday, October 16.