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Toronto, ON – Monday, March 31 2014, marks the end of the Health Accord − a ten-year agreement between the federal government, provinces and territories − that provided stable federal funding and set national standards for health care.
The federal Conservative government has flatly refused to renegotiate a new accord. Provinces and territories will be hit with a $36 billion cut to federal health transfers.
But unlike the federal government, Ontarians value Medicare and see the federal government walking away from the Health Accord as a betrayal of universal health care, they hold dear. This is why on Monday, March 31, they are mobilizing across the province to protect Medicare.
From Sault Ste. Marie to Ottawa to Toronto, Ontarians are joining Canadians across the country in participating in the Canadian Health Coalition national day of action to let the federal government know what the expiration of the Health Accord means to them and the harm this will cause to our public health care system.
In Toronto, Medicare activists will be in front of the Ontario Legislature (Queen’s Park) at 12:00 noon on March 31 at a “honking for health care” event. They will encourage the provincial Liberal government to intensify its push with the federal government for a renewal of the Health Accord.
With the expiration of the accord, Ontario will be the biggest loser among the provinces, receiving billions of dollars less over the next decade in federal health program funding.
“The Stephen Harper Conservative government is doing all that it thinks it can get away with, to undermine public Medicare in Canada. They’ve cut health services for veterans and refugees.
They refuse to reaffirm the federal government’s commitment and uphold the Canada Health Act. They cancelled the Health Council, refused to meet with the provinces on health care. Now they
are forcing through cuts that will hurt Ontario patients most,” Ontario Health Coalition Director, Natalie Mehra who will be at the Toronto Queen’s Park action on Monday.
A complete list of the Health Accord day of action events across Ontario can be found at: www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca.
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For more information please contact:
Natalie Mehra, Director Ontario Health Coalition (OHC) 416-230-6402
