FEDERATION of LABOUR PRESIDENTS CALL ON PREMIERS TO STAND UP FOR HEALTHCARE
(TORONTO) -- The Presidents of the Provincial and Territorial Federations of Labour are calling on Canada’s Premiers to reject an irresponsible Federal Conservative “plan” for healthcare. In an open letter from the labour leaders to the Premiers, attending a meeting of the Council of the Federation in Victoria today, the Premiers are asked to stand up and support Canada’s most important social program: universal healthcare.
“We believe, as many Canadians do, that the Harper Government’s December announcement is an abdication of its responsibility,” said Sid Ryan, President of the Ontario Federation of Labour. “Our letter to the Premiers is a call for true leadership on healthcare - leadership that we are not getting from Ottawa.”
As the Federation Presidents outline in their letter, the Harper Government has proposed significant cuts to healthcare funding, beginning in 2017. The announced cuts come after the federal government made the decision to ignore the issue of establishing a new Health Accord, the latest of which is set to expire in 2014.
“In a style that has become typical of the Harper Government, the provinces are going to be handed a take-it-or-leave-it decision without any meaningful dialogue whatsoever,” said Ryan. “If Prime Minister Harper is not willing to play a leadership role in securing the future of the healthcare system, then the Premiers to make a stand on behalf of Canadians, on behalf of the values upon which our nation and our healthcare system are founded.”
“The federal Conservative plan of further corporate tax cuts, on the one hand, and reduced funding for healthcare, on the other, will simply further reward the one percent and punish the 99 percent. We need our premiers to become health care champions and step in to defend the public interest against the recklessness of the Harper government,” said Ryan.
The Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) represents 54 unions and one million workers in Ontario. OFL President Sid Ryan is the voice of Ontario’s labour movement.
Related Web Sites:
http://www.Twitter.com/OntarioLabour
http://www.Facebook.com/OntarioFedLabour
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“We believe, as many Canadians do, that the Harper Government’s December announcement is an abdication of its responsibility,” said Sid Ryan, President of the Ontario Federation of Labour. “Our letter to the Premiers is a call for true leadership on healthcare - leadership that we are not getting from Ottawa.”
As the Federation Presidents outline in their letter, the Harper Government has proposed significant cuts to healthcare funding, beginning in 2017. The announced cuts come after the federal government made the decision to ignore the issue of establishing a new Health Accord, the latest of which is set to expire in 2014.
“In a style that has become typical of the Harper Government, the provinces are going to be handed a take-it-or-leave-it decision without any meaningful dialogue whatsoever,” said Ryan. “If Prime Minister Harper is not willing to play a leadership role in securing the future of the healthcare system, then the Premiers to make a stand on behalf of Canadians, on behalf of the values upon which our nation and our healthcare system are founded.”
“The federal Conservative plan of further corporate tax cuts, on the one hand, and reduced funding for healthcare, on the other, will simply further reward the one percent and punish the 99 percent. We need our premiers to become health care champions and step in to defend the public interest against the recklessness of the Harper government,” said Ryan.
The Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) represents 54 unions and one million workers in Ontario. OFL President Sid Ryan is the voice of Ontario’s labour movement.
Related Web Sites:
http://www.Twitter.com/OntarioLabour
http://www.Facebook.com/OntarioFedLabour
For More Information:
Patrick (Sid) Ryan, President
p: 416.441.2731 | m: 416.209.0066 | f: 416.441.0722
Toll-free: 1-800-668-9138
Joel Duff, Communications Director
p: 416-443-7665 | m: 416-707-0349 | f: 416-441-1893
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