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Senators looking at the future of Canadas health care system are either nav0065 or dishonest when they say it doesnt matter who owns the institutions and services that assure Canadians health.

There is clear evidence that privatization kills, says National President Judy Darcy, responding to last weeks release of the Kirby Report. Independent medical research demonstrates that for-profit ownership of health care services results in a greater number of deaths.

Kirbys report also ignores the risks posed by NAFTA that further privatization of our health care system would open the doors to a wholesale invasion of our health care system by American HMOs.

We know that under trade agreements, if we expand for-profit medicine well see precious health care dollars sucked out of the country into the pockets of big business, says National Secretary-Treasurer Claude Gnreux. Corporations and competition are a recipe for dismantling our public health care system, not rebuilding it.

Canadians are looking for solutions that ensure we get top quality health care when we need it, says Darcy. Were not interested in creating profits for big business. Kirbys support for private hospitals and clinics diverts money from care into corporate profits and does nothing to reduce wait times.

Our health care system needs urgent, even radical reform, but its not in the direction of increased privatization, says Darcy. The way to improve access, reduce waiting lists and increase efficiency is to strengthen and expand our public health care system.