Charlottetown Premier Binns and Health & Social Services Minister Ballem have agreed to meet with a delegation from the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) prior to the up-coming First Ministers meeting, says Bill McKinnon, CUPE National Servicing Representative.
CUPE requested the meeting in a letter sent to the Premiers office on August 3rd, 2000 in an effort to provide the Premier and Health Minister with a package of recommendations for Health Care developed by CUPE National titled Health Care Reform for the 21st Century.
The package includes recommendations for progressive change in our National, public MEDICARE system. They were designed to improve Health Care, not look for ways to reduce costs and services leading to two-tier health care, which so many governments have been attempting to do in recent months. Bill 11 in Alberta is the most recent, obvious and blatant example of the agenda to provide one health system, for profit to those who can afford it, and one system with the leftovers for the remaining Canadians. We believe our plan balances the need for reform with the continued improvement of our precious MEDICARE program, concluded McKinnon.
The meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, September 6th, 2000 at 1:45 P.M. at the Premiers Office. The delegation will be available for questions and answers outside the Premiers office at the conclusion of the meeting. Copies of CUPEs Health Care Reform for the 21st Century will be made available for media personnel at that time.
For further information or comment please contact
Mr. McKinnon at 566-4006