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Cape Breton Post Wed Aug 31 2016

On Aug. 17, members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) and its supporters rallied outside my constituency office in New Waterford over a one per cent reduction in long-term care funding outlined in this year's budget. Let me be clear. I have no problem with CUPE and its supporters voicing concern on issues. However, I do believe some clarity needs to be provided.

Our government is committed to caring for our citizens and improving our health care system. In Cape Breton alone, our long-term care facilities have received operating funding of over $100 million. And, since 2013 we have increased home support funding by $59.1 million, including $14.4 million this year. This increased funding allows more Nova Scotians to stay in their homes longer and benefit from quality care. During the 2016-17 budget, we asked long-term care facilities to find savings without impacting care offered to residents. This could be done through administration and by coming together to purchase supplies.

Oct 17, 2016

Sudbury laundry workers who received layoff notices last week and local jobs, “are collateral damage” of the Ontario Liberals’ continuing plan to underfund hospitals, says Michael Hurley the president of the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions (OCHU). Hurley will be among others from the community out to support the laundry workers at a rally tomorrow (Tuesday) October 18, 2016 at 11:30 a.m. in front Sudbury Hospital Services, 363 York Street.

Winnipeg Free Press Wed Oct 19 2016

OTTAWA - Provinces may get additional money for health care but only for specific initiatives such as home care or mental health, federal Health Minister Jane Philpott signalled at the end of a meeting with her provincial counterparts in Toronto. The tensions from the meeting spilled into the post-event news conference, as provincial ministers talked about federal cuts to health care and Philpott fought back, saying provinces never delivered promised health-care innovations when the 10-year health accord was signed in September 2004. That accord guaranteed six per cent annual increases in health care for a decade, and that formula was extended for two more years. The provinces argue Ottawa's plan to cut the annual increase in health transfers to the provinces from six per cent to three per cent will result in $60 billion less in federal cash going to the provinces over the next 10 years. They call that a "cut" to health care. "We are being asked to do more with less," said Quebec Health Minister Gaétan Barrette.

"All provinces and territories will have to make difficult choices." Philpott disagreed with his assessment. "There will be no cuts," she said. "There will be increases." Canada transferred $36.1 billion to the provinces for health care this year. A six per cent increase next year would be $2.2 billion more. The previous Conservative federal government announced intentions to reduce the increase in health transfers to three per cent, and the Liberals have taken up that plan. Additional funds will be available for health care but in targeted ways, such as for home care or mental health. During the election, the Liberals promised to spend $3 billion on home care over four years, money that has yet to materialize. "Canadians want to see their health-care system get better," said Philpott. Developing a new multi-year health accord with the provinces was the first task assigned to Philpott in her mandate letter in November 2015. Philpott said when the previous accord was signed, it put a lot of money on the table and it was negotiated in good faith by all parties involved that "there would be the changes that needed to take place."

Oct 18, 2016

As health ministers from across Canada meet with the federal health minister to discuss a new Health Accord, CUPE calls on the federal Liberal government to step up and ensure adequate funding for hospitals and health care in Canada by boosting the Canada Health Transfer (CHT).

An Oakville resident and pediatrician is calling for more government funding for equipment and nurses after raising the alarm about a lack of beds for critically ill babies in this province.

Late last month (Aug. 22) Dr. Rick MacDonald took to social media tweeting "No NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) beds tonight anywhere except maybe Ottawa; my chief sends us this notice with a 'Good Luck' which echoes around the province."

MacDonald, who has served the community as a pediatrician for 27 years following a residency at the Hospital For Sick Children and a neonatal intensive care unit fellowship in the Mount Sinai SickKids program, said the tweet came after he received a notice that the level three NICUs in the province of Ontario were undergoing a significant bed shortage.