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WINNIPEG The Canadian Union of Public Employees is giving the Romanow Commission on Canada’s Health Care a qualified thumbs up.

For Canadians the Romanow recommendations reflect a renewed commitment to a public health care system, said Paul Moist, CUPE Manitoba President. Over the last few years the most important goal of our health care system was lost that it should serve every Canadian and assure our access to the best preventative and curative care system in the world.

The Commission provides our governments with a blueprint for action it now depends on their political will to make it happen, said Moist.

Where we think the Report is weak is on ancillary care. While most of the report is very thorough and comprehensive, the Commission leaves open the possibility for private delivery of support services such as laundry, dietary care and housekeeping services. This weakens the entire health care system as this kind of thinking allows in companies which will reduce the quality and responsiveness of health services, adds Moist

The call for more than $15 billion in new money to improve the current health system over the coming decade is important, but this is not the most important recommendation in the Report said Moist. He emphasized that the new money will help stabilize the system in the short-term and then help stimulate sustained change in the long-term.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees is Canada’s largest union representing more than a half-million women and men. In Manitoba, CUPE represents 24,000 members who work in health care, school divisions, municipalities, personal care homes, childcare, public utilities, libraries and emergency services.

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For information, contact:

Paul Moist, President of CUPE Manitoba, Phone: 981-2873
Dennis Lewycky, Research/Communications Representative, Phone: 942-0343, ext. 298