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TRURO, NS – The president of CUPE Nova Scotia, Danny Cavanagh, is asking Neil LeBlanc, Bill Black and Rodney MacDonald to come clean on the issue of private health clinics.

Cavanagh has written the three Tory leadership hopefuls asking them for their detailed position on what he calls, “a critically important issue to Nova Scotians.”

Says Cavanagh, “I was deeply concerned upon hearing news reports today about your leaders’ debate in Yarmouth last night.  On the subject of private health clinics, Mr. Leblanc was quoted as saying, ‘The system as it is currently structured is not sustainable,’ or words to that effect,” says Cavanagh.

“As Canada’s largest health care union, we in CUPE immediately recognize that kind of language as code for things like P3’s (Public-Private-Partnerships), ASD’s (Alternative Service Delivery models) user fees and two-tier medicine.

“The news report went on to state that Bill Black, when pressed on the subject of private health clinics, urged the crowd to, ‘move on to another subject’.

Cavanagh’s letter goes on to say, “Considering the fact that one of you three men is going to be the next premier of this province, I think the least you can do is be forthright with the people of Nova Scotia on this critically important issue.

“The thousands of CUPE members who not only work in the health care sector (Acute Care, Long Term Care and Home Support) but will be voting in the next provincial election, deserve nothing less from you.

Cavanagh says the union plans to share the responses from the Tory leadership hopefuls with its 5,000 members across the province.

For information:   

Danny Cavanagh          
President, CUPE Nova Scotia    
(902) 957-0822 (Cell)
           
John McCracken
CUPE Communications Rep.
(902) 455-4180 (o)