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TRURO Health care workers with the Northern Regional Health Board, tired of talking, have decided to start walking to protest the impact of cuts to health care spending.

Hospital workers at the Colchester Regional Hospital, members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 2525 and the Nova Scotia Nurses Union, are holding an information walk starting at 4:15 p.m. today, marching from the hospital to the constituency office of the Minister of Health on the Esplanade.

Were concerned the government isnt listening, says Karen MacKenzie, spokesperson for the CUPE staff at the hospital. At a time when we need new spending to meet the growing demand for health care in this community, the Hamm government is cutting funds.

In its May budget, the provincial government slashed $83 million from its health care spending, resulting in cuts to beds and jobs and threatening several hospitals with closure and service cuts. For the Northern Regional Health Board, the cuts total $4.6 million.

Anyone whos been in hospital or had a family in care knows that we need to increase staff if were going to provide the level of care that patients need, says MacKenzie. Instead were being told to make do with fewer staff.

Its a disgrace that our community is represented by the Minister of Health and yet theyre cutting funds to local hospitals. I dont remember him campaigning on a platform of slashing health care funding, MacKenzie adds.

Members of the public are invited to join in the protest. These cuts effect everyone, says MacKenzie. We know that health care is the number one concern of all Canadians and were counting on their support for a properly funded Medicare system.

For more information, contact

Wayne Thomas at 902-752-2244.