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When Canada’s premiers gathered for their bi-annual meeting in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, they were greeted by a group of labour activists from across Canada demanding they make a stronger commitment to health care funding.
“We need a federal government committed to Medicare and to providing quality, accessible care for everyone, and we need our premiers to stand with us in this fight,” said Katha Fortier, Unifor Ontario Regional Director speaking to the crowd of labour and civil society members gathered in Bannerman Park on July 16.
Later that day, news broke that the premiers were requesting Ottawa cover at least 25 per cent of health care costs instead of the proposed model of per capita spending which would see a loss of more than $43 billion over the next eight years from the health system.
“We’re pleased the Premiers are pushing the federal government on health care. Strong political leadership is critical to protecting the health care system Canadians so value,” Fortier later said.
The Premiers also launched a Canadian Energy Strategy at the gathering and discussed Aboriginal children in care.
“Important issues are discussed and decisions made at these meetings,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias. “Unifor participates because they offer an excellent opportunity to impact political decisions.”
