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Unifor members joined the Canadian Health Coalition, the PEI Health Coalition and labour allies in Charlottetown for the Stop Two-Tier Health Care Rally, to stand up for Canada's public health care system and oppose the expansion of privatized health care during the Council of the Federation.
"Public health care is one of Canada's greatest achievements, and we cannot allow it to be eroded by privatization," said Atlantic Regional Director Jennifer Murray. "The answer to long wait times isn't creating a two-tier system that pulls workers and resources out of our public hospitals. Governments need to invest in the public system, improve working conditions for health care workers, and ensure every Canadian has access to quality care based on need, not on their ability to pay.”
The rally took place as premiers met in Charlottetown for their annual summer meeting to discuss health care, affordability, Canada-U.S. trade and other national priorities. Participants called on governments to reject policies that expand private, for-profit delivery of medically necessary services, warning that privatization threatens the accessibility and sustainability of Canada's universal health care system while diverting public dollars away from frontline patient care.
"Health care workers have carried our public system through years of staffing shortages, burnout and increasing demand," said Ontario Regional Director Samia Hashi. "Privatization worsens challenges in our system by drawing skilled workers away from public hospitals and into private clinics. Canadians deserve governments that strengthen public health care, and invest in the workforce.”
Unifor is calling on governments to strengthen public health care by investing in hospitals and community care, improving recruitment and retention of health care workers, ending the expansion of private, for-profit delivery of medically necessary services, and upholding the principles of the Canada Health Act.
The Stop Two-Tier Health Care Rally brought together health care advocates, labour organizations and community members from across the country to send a united message to Canada's premiers: Canada's public health care system must remain universal, accessible and publicly delivered.
