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CALGARY - The President of CUPE Alberta expressed relief today that the Provincial Government did not announce wholesale reforms to the public health system.

D’Arcy Lanovaz said he was glad the government appears to have abandoned earlier schemes, as expressed in the Graydon Report, to introduce user fees in health care.

“Public health care should be available to all, regardless of your ability to pay,” said Lanovaz. “The government is right to not go down that path.”

However, Lanovaz expressed some caution that health authorities are being encouraged to be ‘innovative.’

“ ‘Innovative’ sounds like a good word, but it’s usually code for private companies providing services that belong in the public domain,” said Lanovaz. “Study after study, including the Romanow Commission, said public systems are cheaper, and provide better health care.”

The CUPE leader said he doesn’t see the need for the Premier to take this plan on the road to eastern Canada. “There is little news here. It seems like another excuse for the Premier to travel when he should be at home
looking after Alberta’s problems.”

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