Warning message

Please note that this page is from our archives. There may be more up-to-date content about this topic on our website. Use our search engine to find out.

CUPE vows to mobilize its members and put pressure on governments in order to insure the renewal and improvement of the Federal-Provincial Health Accord, scheduled for 2014. The National Executive Board of CUPE adopted an important resolution on the subject of the Accord at its meeting of December 14 and 15. 

CUPE will push the federal government to negotiate a new ten-year accord with the provinces and territories to provide stable and adequate funding of public health care. The new agreement must also ensure the application of the Canada Health Act, stem privatization, improve long-term care, home care and community care, and set up a truly universal drug insurance program. CUPE promises to put pressure on both the federal and provincial governments to hold a First Ministers’ Meeting on this issue in 2012.

The text of the resolution

THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MUST:

  1. Call on the federal government to take a leadership role in promoting public health care in Canada;
      
  2. Lobby the federal government to initiate a First Ministers’ meeting in 2012 in order to begin negotiations for a new pan-Canadian Health Accord;
      
  3. Urge all provincial governments to demand the federal government convene a First Ministers’ meeting in 2012;
      
  4. Advocate for a ten-year Accord with a six per cent annual escalator for funding, enforcement of the Canada Health Act, a ban on privatization of infrastructure and delivery, and extension of Medicare to residential long-term, home and community care and universal pharmacare;
      
  5. Support a CUPE national campaign in all regions to mobilize and educate CUPE members on the importance of the renewal of the Canadian Health Accord and protection of the Canada Health Act;
      
  6. Lobby the federal government to fully include First Nations, Metis and Inuit governments in the negotiations of the renewal of the Health Accord.


Two weeks ago, a number of CUPE members and activists participated in a lobby day on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, coordinated by the Canadian Health Coalition, to raise Members’ awareness of the renewal of the Accord.