SUDBURY, ON – Universal health care supporters from Sudbury will be among those from other northern Ontario communities, heading to North Bay tomorrow for a national health care day of action rally and a special mail delivery to Conservative MP Jay Aspin’s North Bay.
March 31 is a national day of action to save public health care and similar rallies are happening at MPs’ offices across Canada.
It’s been a year since the federal Conservative government killed the Health Accord with the provinces. Since then, under a new plan for federal health funding Ontario has seen a $319 million funding drop.
Under the new scheme Ontario will get $13.95 billion less for health services over the next ten years. That’s equal to 3,475 fewer hospital beds, or 23,253 fewer registered practical nurses (RPNs) every year for ten years.
With a public health care system that is already dangerously overstretched, the federal Conservative’s plan an estimated $36 billion in cuts over a ten year span. This will mean longer wait times and less care for patients.
Residents of Sudbury would see $165 million less in health funding. This is equal to a loss of 275 RPN staff, or 41 hospital beds or 259 long-term care beds every year for the next ten years.
Rally to save our health care system
WHO: Universal health care supporters, Council of Canadians, Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE)
WHEN: Tuesday, March 31, 2015 12 noon -1 p.m.
WHERE: Jay Aspin’s office, 133 Main Street West, North Bay
Media are invited to attend.
For more information please contact:
Stella Yeadon
CUPE Communications
416-559-9300
saveourhealthcare.ca