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In March, after he spent a month in hospital following another dementia-related incident, he was moved into a local retirement home. However, it’s not a secure facility.

Lees has been in and out of hospital since moving into the home, in one case due to effects of being overmedicated.

In the Collingwood area with five long-term care homes, for example, wait times for nine out of 10 patients wanting a basic room vary from 78 days to 746 days.

Simcoe-Grey MPP Jim Wilson has taken up Lees’ case, raising it in May and June in the Ontario Legislature with the Associate Minister of Health, Dipika Damerla. At the end of July, Wilson wrote a letter directly to Premier Kathleen Wynne to plead Lees’ case.

The family estimates they’ve paid out about $5,000 a month for Lees’ accommodation at the retirement home, as well as for personal care services. The family was eventually able to get additional hours of personal care through CCAC.

“The first one we were offered was up in Gravenhurst,” Jim said, saying the family discounted it because of the distance. It would also take his father off the ‘crisis’ list, Lees said, where he has been since April.

Wilson puts the blame on the provincial government, saying it hasn’t developed any new long-term beds after more than a decade in power. In February, the government announced it would redevelop 30,000 existing beds in 300 homes over the next decade.

Four years ago, Wilson presented a private members bill that called on the government to build new long-term care beds in Simcoe and Grey counties. The bill was defeated.

"She was there for a month before she caught the flu and died. Staff never returned our many phone calls or responded to our e-mails. "This system has to change. It's a disgrace on all levels, both home care and facility care. "Julie Cameron, Vancouver "When the Ontario government cut acute-care beds in the 1990s, adequate home care was not put in place first, reflecting the headin-the-sand approach of successive governments to an aging society. "Home care has long been the Cinderella of the health-care system, underfunded and undervalued, yet it is of increasing importance. "Preventative support to keep seniors independent in the community has markedly decreased, because resources are concentrated on the acute needs of patients discharged from hospitals. This leads to unnecessary early institutionalization. "The burden is increasingly born by patients and their informal caregivers. These caregivers are often frail and vulnerable themselves or, if they are the patient's children, there is the economic impact of taking them away from their work. "Inevitably, there is a two-tier system, where the wealthy are able to obtain necessary support, while the rest are on waiting lists, receiving less than adequate care.

"With an aging society, the problem will become worse. "It is time to review the whole community care system and, learning from other jurisdictions, put in place a comprehensive, transparent and properly funded home-care system. "Rory Fisher, professor emeritus, medicine, University of Toronto

"My wife has advanced multiple sclerosis. Two years ago, she got a cut on her foot, which became infected. She was seen at a local hospital, where it was determined she would need intravenous antibiotic every eight hours. With the first treatment at 1 p.m., every third treatment was at 5 a.m. "After the fourth visit, a nurse at the hospital asked why we were not getting these treatments through home care. We did not know it was an option. "She picked up the phone and by the time we returned home, we had a message from the Champlain CCAC to schedule a nursing visit for the treatment.

"Within 48 hours, my wife was assessed and services assigned that exceeded our expectations in quality and oversight of her condition. Over a two-year period, she has received regular reassessment, with treatment plans adjusted according to her needs. "There is no doubt in my mind that home care is not only more cost-effective, but allows treatment to be delivered in a more comfortable setting without travel and waiting room purgatory. "There is also no doubt that the government planning process has failed this system miserably. "We are an hour from Ottawa, which may have something to do with it, but I cannot believe we are the only people in Ontario who have been this fortunate. "Ken Duff, Vankleek Hill, Ont.

"I used to "warn" my patients' families that the first thing CCAC tries to do is to get the family to take over care, even though they "promise" home care while in hospital (to get them out of the hospital). Then, CCAC cuts back on the hours until they "decide" that they must not need home care, because they are only getting four or five hours per week (instead of the 15 or 20 they were originally promised!). It is not the doctors and nurses trying to "get rid of patients," it is administration because of bed times (days in hospital). "Linda Steele, Grand Bend, Ont. "Government needs to put this on speed dial. "April Nairne, Vancouver

"Let's not paint the home-care system with one brush. My husband had excellent, timely and compassionate care through the last weeks of his life which allowed him to die at home, as was our wish. Nurses, personal support workers and supervisors were kind and empathetic. We could never thank them enough. "Ann A. Estill, Guelph, Ont. "Caregivers are frustrated and burning out. One in five Ontarians is a caregiver and they are not receiving the support they need to keep their loved ones at home - be it aging and/or ill parents, spouses or children. "Ontario has acknowledged the need for caregiver supports and more home care. That is great - but where is the change, instead of just lip service?

"In the meantime, families increasingly abandon their loved ones at hospital emergency departments, more caregivers fall into depression, and care recipients end up in hospital or longterm care when they could have stayed home. "We are ready for improvements to home care - any time now. "Lisa Levin, chair, Ontario Caregiver Coalition "Anyone wondering why we baby boomers are demanding the right to assisted suicide should read Kelly Grant and Elizabeth Church's excellent coverage of the Ontario home-care situation to learn the reasons. "Brian Caines, Ottawa " "Associated Graphic "'Care recipients end up in hospital or long-term care when they could have stayed home.'

"ADAM BERRY/GETTY IMAGES

We’ve grown tired of seeing assets owned by citizens sold off at fire-sale prices to friends and donors of the governing Tories without a scrap of evidence to justify these actions and with decision process shrouded in secrecy.

While MacLean claimed the profit motive had been a proven success in many sectors formerly in the public sector, he offered not one piece of evidence to back up his laughable claim.We’d like to set the record straight.

Liquor stores:

A report by the Parkland Institute at the University of Alberta in 2012 that compared the liquor systems in Alberta, B.C. and Saskatchewan, concluded that privatization in Alberta and B.C. has “resulted in higher prices, lower revenues for government and increased social harms in comparison to Saskatchewan’s public system.”

Since privatization, Alberta has forgone nearly $1.5 billion in tax revenue. Albertans are paying more for their liquor, but getting way less in return. It’s enough to drive you to drink if only we could afford to buy that bottle of hooch.

Elder care: Another Parkland study, drawing on data from Statistics Canada and Alberta’s Health Facilities Review Committee, revealed that “for-profit elder care is inferior to care provided publicly or by a not-for-profit agency.

The 2013 report cited the failure of for-profit facilities in long-term care “to achieve staffing levels that point to minimally acceptable care.” Similar problems were found in the assisted-living sector.

“massive profits” averaging about 27 per cent per year on accommodation costs, or about $5,500 per bed per year. Remember, every dollar that goes to profit is a dollar that could go toward better care.

Health care: A 2012 Parkland study focusing on the failed Health Resources Centre (this was the private surgery facility in Calgary that went bankrupt) said “supporting private health facilities with public health dollars costs more, damages the public system and puts tax dollars and patient care at risk.”

When it comes to medical labs, the privatization road is littered with failure. While DynaLifeDX is operating successfully, all in-patient lab work in Edmonton had to be brought back into the public sector in 2005 after a privatization experiment failed. Meanwhile in Calgary, a similar move to privatize all lab services was a complete failure, with the corporations pulling out and leaving the public sector to pick up the pieces.

t follows that humanity’s very provision for the universal human life necessities that have evolved over millennia are blinkered out by the life-blind value measures of what is miscalled ‘the economy’. Everything that makes a society civilised or liveable is excluded from view – life-protective laws including sufficient minimum wages and environmental regulations, common water and sewage systems for all, free movement pathways and life spaces without cost to use, non-profit healthcare and disease-prevention by public institution

public income security from disemployment, old age and disability, primary to higher education without multiplying debts, family housing, food and life means assistance for children without sufficient parental money, and public libraries and arts facilities with accessible books, films and works of art and art creation. This is more or less a complete index of the collective life capital bases modern society has evolved, but all are dismantled by the global corporate disorder to maximally profit from.

Heinrich stresses that of the 75 reductions announced on Jan. 9, 26 were vacant positions that will not be refilled, including 16 registered nursing jobs. Other areas affected include clerical, lab and general support positions. The layoffs are following terms of the Health Centre's various collective agreements and are the result of ongoing changes in medical care. "The NBRHC has made many positive improvements over the past two years by increasing community and out patient service, reducing the need for hospitalization through more ambulatory services and working with community partners to improve patient transition from hospital to community," Heinrich said.

Included in these most recent changes is the reduction of eight mental health beds. These long-term patients will be moved to more appropriate accommodations in the community, said Heinrich. "Three will be transitioned to Nipissing Mental Health Housing and Support Services which recently received $400,000 in funding for assisted living services to support acquired brain injury patients," he said. Heinrich said this new funding will also support new jobs. That's good news for Shank who questions where laid off hospital workers can find employment. Despite patients receiving care in other facilities or while at home, "I haven't seen one posting for any jobs with these community agencies," Shank. "I don't know where the (health care) jobs are."

This newest round of reductions brings the total bed cuts at the Centre to 26. "Our plan is to move toward 23 more bed reductions," said Heinrich. "But not all of the reductions announced are tied to beds. We are looking at (lowering) our costs per case which are now similar to other hospitals of our size in the province." He estimates health care in other areas of the province with hospitals of similar size to be about $1,000 per day. "We were definitely north of that number," he said. Heinrich says the Centre is inline to meet its three-year goal of reducing costs by $30 million. "I think we're down to bare bones now," said Shank, "but I've been told there will likely be more cuts in the future."

By Bob Peterson / Rethinking Schools

long history of being staff-dominated.

And it has. In New Orleans, following Katrina, unionized teachers were fired and the entire system charterized.

But it recognizes that our future depends on redefining unionism from a narrow trade union model, focused almost exclusively on protecting union members, to a broader vision that sees the future of unionized workers tied directly to the interests of the entire working class and the communities, particularly communities of color, in which we live and work.

It requires confronting racist attitudes and past practices that have marginalized people of color both inside and outside unions.

Having decimated labor law and defunded public education, Walker proceeded to expand statewide the private school voucher program that has wreaked havoc on Milwaukee, and enacted one of the nation’s most generous income tax deductions for private school tuition.

For nearly a decade we pushed for a full-time release president, a proposal resisted by most professional staff.

“Social Justice Unionism: A Working Draft”

Social justice unionism is an organizing model that calls for a radical boost in internal union democracy and increased member participation.

business model that is so dependent on staff providing services

building union power at the school level in alliance with parents, community groups, and other social movements.

The importance of parent/community alliances was downplayed

instead of helping members organize to solve their own problems.

Our challenge in Milwaukee was to transform a staff-dominated, business/service-style teachers’ union into something quite different.

only saw the union newsletter after the staff had sent it to the printer.

Key elements of our local’s “reimagine” campaign and our subsequent work include:

Building strong ties and coalitions with parent, community, and civic organizations,

broader issues

action.

earliest victories was securing an extra $5/hour (after the first hour) for educational assistants when they “cover” a teacher’s classroom.

lobby

enlist parents

we amended the constitution

consistently promoting culturally responsive, social justice teaching.

encourage members to lead our work.

release two teachers to be organizers

appear en masse at school board meetings

to shift certain powers from the staff to the elected leadership

new teacher orientation and mentoring are available and of high quality.

The strength of the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) 2012 strike,

rested in large part on their members’ connections to parent and community groups

Karen Lewis

Portland, Oregon, and St. Paul, Minnesota

In Milwaukee, our main coalition work has been building Schools and Communities United,

We wanted to move past reacting, being on the defensive, and appearing to be only against things.

Key to the coalition’s renewal was the development of a 32-page booklet, Fulfill the Promise: The Schools and Communities Our Children Deserve.

concerns of the broader community beyond the schoolhouse door

English and Spanish

Currently the coalition’s three committees focus on fighting school privatization, promoting community schools, and supporting progressive legislation.

schools as hubs for social and health support,

This work reminds me of the words of activist/musician Bernice Johnson Reagon, of Sweet Honey in the Rock: “If you are in a coalition and you are comfortable, that coalition is not broad enough.”

Our new professional staff is committed to a broader vision of unionism with an emphasis on organizing.

We need to become the “go-to” organizations in our communities on issues ranging from teacher development to anti-racist education to quality assessments.

nonprofit organization, the Milwaukee Center for Teaching, Learning, and Public Education

We provide professional development and services to our members

reclaim our classrooms and our profession.

We partner with the MPS administration through labor/management committees

multiple committee meetings, inservice trainings, book circles (for college credit), and individual help sessions on professional development plans or licensure issues.

we offered workshops that drew 150 teachers at a time.

More teachers were convinced to join our union, too, because our teaching and learning services are only open to members.

mandate 45 minutes of uninterrupted play in 4- and 5-year-old kindergarten classes

We also won a staggered start

convincing the school board to systematically expand bilingual education programs throughout the district.

school-based canvassing around issues and pro-education candidates, and organizing to remove ineffective principals.

With the plethora of federal and state mandates and the datatization of our culture,

It’s clear to me that what is necessary is a national movement led by activists at the local, state, and national levels within the AFT and NEA—in alliance with parents, students, and community groups—to take back our classrooms and our profession.

social justice content in our curriculum

waiting to use any perceived or real weakness in public schools as an excuse to accelerate their school privatization schemes,

On the other hand, speaking out can play into the hands of the privatizers as they seek to expand privately run charters

including participation on labor/management committees, lobbying school board members, and balancing mass mobilizations with the threat of mass mobilizations.

In the end, we recognize a key element in fighting privatization is to improve our public schools.

In Los Angeles, an activist caucus, Union Power, won leadership of the United Teachers Los Angeles, the second largest teacher local in the country.

St. Albert physician Dr. Darryl LaBuick said while a bit more money for home care will help the situation, it barely scratches the surface in addressing the biggest issues facing healthcare in Canada. "We've got a huge increasing requirement for seniors care. We look at home care, we look at long-term care, we look at assisted living care, palliative care," he said. "We look at all those areas nobody has looked at closely from a political point of view to address some of the issues." The importance of home care is something stressed by Dr. Kim Fraser, a nursing professor at the University of Alberta and expert on the topic.

She said while seeing the commitment to improve home care in the province is a step in the right direction, simply throwing more money at the problem won't be enough. Instead, we've got to rethink how home care in Canada is provided. "Co-ordinated home care programs first came into effect in the late '70s and 1980s in Canada, and our approach to home care has not changed since that time," she said. "It's really kind of episodic, targeted, taskspecific care rather than a more comprehensive integrated care approach." So rather than simply having more home-care aides providing this kind of task-oriented service to patients in their home, we should look at providing a higher level of care to patients with more complex needs.

"We have got just so many more patients going into that system," she said. "I think funding will help the growing home care problem, and will help provide, perhaps, more professional nursing services from RNs and LPNs in the community." Alberta Health Minister Sarah Hoffman said she was pleased to see the commitment to home care on the federal agenda, noting it was one of the main pieces of the NDP platform with respect to the healthcare system. "Home care is certainly one of the pieces we're focusing our effort on as a government, and I look forward to working with the new federal government to make that a reality," she said. When pressed for specific details about what form home care may take, she said she couldn't talk about specifics until they're released as part of the provincial budget next week.

"The pillars of the platform should be reflected in the work we're doing," Hoffman said. LaBuick also identified the importance of a national drug strategy that would cover the cost of prescriptions for all Canadians. Seniors still must pay a portion of prescription drug costs, and many young adults without health benefit plans are left in a position where they must pay the full cost or simply go without; it's something he's seen in his own practice. "We see young folks that don't have a good prescription plan, or any prescription plan," he said, "And the Blue Cross plan doesn't cover everything either, so there's gaps within that system, too."

It's a concern echoed by Friends of Medicare director Sandra Azocar, who spoke with the Gazette prior to the election and said a national drug plan was high on her organization's agenda. She expressed concern that the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a trade deal negotiated by the previous government behind closed doors that has yet to be approved by Parliament, could make it more difficult to get cheaper generic drugs. "We see that as having a negative impact for generics to be available in the market, and people will pay significantly more for drugs," she said. "I don't think medicine should be a luxury, it should be available for all people who need it. These are huge concerns we have." Hoffman said bringing down the cost of prescription drugs is something she's heard is important to Albertans, but is also significant within her own ministry when it comes to budgeting. She said a provincial prescription drug plan is something worth considering, but it's not going to happen in the near future.

"I think it's a great long-term objective, but in the short-term I need to address the immediate pressures of drug costs," she said. "I think we can find ways to do bulk buying and find other efficiencies in a pan-Canadian strategy, and look at other partnerships in taking it further so we can maximize those savings and pass those savings on for an increased benefit to all Albertans." Health Accord Azocar identified the need to renew the Canada Health Accord as an important component of what the federal government must do to support healthcare in the country.

"We need to go back to the level of leadership in our healthcare system for it to be functional all across the country," she said. "That's not something we've seen coming from some of the parties." The Liberal platform includes a commitment to renew the waccord, and to include a long-term funding agreement. This is a crucial element, Azocar noted, because in tough economic times federal funding in health care tends to decrease to the detriment of Canadians. "People don't stop needing health care when the economy is down, in fact it's the reverse," she said. "Studies have shown people need more services when the economy is down, so it's a situation that doesn't play well for the sustainability and the long-term planning that health care needs across the country."

Hoffman said she's unsure what negotiating a new accord might look like, as she hasn't been through the process before, but said it's something she looks forward to working on with the federal government. "We were elected not too long ago and they were elected more recently, and I think Albertans deserve to have the very best public health-care system," she said. "I look forward to working with the federal government to make that a reality." Elephant in the room One element of the discussion around health care that is absent and has been for quite some time, LaBuick suggested, is the "elephant in the room" of increasing private delivery as a way to reduce the budget impact of health care. "The minute we start to talk about it, they catastrophize the whole conversation," he said. "The reality is we need to talk about it because we simply can't afford it."

He noted roughly 30 per cent of health care in Canada is already provided privately - things like dental, vision, psychology, and private insurance plans. Furthermore European countries that blend public and private have better outcomes. LaBuick suggested the way forward is to look to European models that provide universal health care with a blend of public and private delivery - many of which have better outcomes at a lower cost than the Canadian model. He's not optimistic, however, that a federal Liberal government or provincial NDP government will engage in that discussion.

We have all of these areas that are private, but nobody talks about it," he said. "Nobody talks about a strategy around how it can benefit all citizens, for the betterment of everybody."