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WINNIPEGAn ambulance rushing across the country to save Canadas health care system will travel across Manitoba this week.

The ambulance, driven by health care activists, is on a cross-country trek organized by the Canadian Union of Public Employees as part of an emergency response to Premier Ralph Kleins plans to allow private, for-profit health care providers to set up shop in Alberta. Ambulances have been dispatched from both coasts to converge on the Alberta emergency scene before its too late.

“Kleins health care scheme puts the future health of all Canadians at risk,” said Marlene Tartsch, on tour with the CUPE Emergency Response Team. “We have to stop private hospitals in Alberta. We also have to press the federal government to take decisive action to protect Medicare.”

The ambulance plans to make Medicare emergency stops in Manitoba from Tuesday, February 22nd through Friday, February 25th.

  • WHAT: Ambulance driven by CUPEs health care emergency response team.
  • WHEN: TODAY Tuesday, February 22nd
  • WHERE:
    Selkirk Hospital (1 p.m.)
    Gimli Hospital (2:30 p.m.)
    Betel Home (3 p.m.)
    Stonewall Hospital (4 p.m.)
    Carman Hospital (6:30 p.m.)

CUPE is Canadas largest union, representing 475,000 women and men including 140,000 health care workers. In Manitoba, CUPE has 23,000 members who work in health care facilities, hospitals, schools, universities, municipalities, social services, child care agencies and seniors homes.

For more information, please contact:
Marlene Tartsch (On Tour), CUPE Emergency Response Team
Cell: (204) 794-6817
Lorraine Sigurdson, CUPE Health Care Coordinator
Cell: (204) 981-6499 Office: (204) 942-0343

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