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Each day until the October 14 federal election is an enormous opportunity for citizens to raise their voices in support for public health care. Candidates from all parties are in their neighbourhoods and constituencies and spending time listening to the issues that voters care about most.
The BC Health Coalition is urging all British Columbians to make Medicare an issue for all federal candidates. The BCHC has identified three key actions that will stop the growth of for-profit private health care and will strengthen and expand public health care services for all. They are: enforce the Canada Health Act, implement public solutions for wait times, and establish national standards for continuing care.
B.C. leads the country in the growth of private, for-profit surgical clinics. Today, billing patients for insured services - in violation of the Canada Health Act - has become common place.
"Medicare is under attack, especially here in B.C.," says BCHC Co-chair Joyce Jones. "Private clinics are not the answer to wait times. We need a federal government that will send a clear message to the provinces that the Canada Health Act will be enforced, and not allow the kinds of violations that have been happening here in B.C."
"The provincial government's neglect of the health needs of seniors and people with disabilities also highlights the need for national standards for continuing care," says Jones, who noted the increasing number of seniors being placed in for-profit long-term care homes.
"We call on voters to demand that politicians support positive, public solutions to make Medicare stronger, reject the false claim that public health care is financially unsustainable and oppose reforms that promote for-profit health care."
Click here to go to our federal election TAKE ACTION webpage and send a message to media outlets that are asking for public opinion this federal election. Add your voice to the call for federal support for Medicare with proven public solutions that will strengthen health care services for all!
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| Vancouver Centre Candidates Debate the Big Issue |
On Tuesday September 23, 2008 the BC Health Coalition joined together with the 411 Seniors' Centre Society and Women Elders in Action to host a federal election health care All-Candidates debate in the riding of Vancouver Centre. Election Candidates Hedy Fry (Liberal), Lorne Mayencourt (Cons), Michael Byers (NDP), Adriane Carr (Green), and Michael Hill (Marxist/Leninist Party) took written questions from a packed room of 70 citizens during the afternoon event at the 411 Seniors' Centre. Candidates spoke about issues related to seniors, pharmacare, home support, long term care, private clinics and enforcement of the Canada Health Act.
Contact candidates NOW and demand health care that is not-for-profit, accessible and universal!
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| Get your "Vote Medicare!" Ribbon Here! |
If you are serious about protecting Medicare from for-profit interests, then you'll want to put up a line that they cannot cross. The BC Health Coalition's "Vote Medicare" ribbon comes in rolls and can be put up like police tape - wherever and whenever you think this message needs to been seen. Its uses are limited only to the imagination!
Click here to go to our federal election RESOURCES webpage where you can order ribbons , buttons, pens, leaflets and fact sheets.
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| BCHC "Vote Public Health Care" Resources now available |
If you are active in your community during this federal election or attending an all-candidates meeting then you'll want to get some our election materials into the hands of voters. We have produced a "Vote Public Health Care" leaflet with our top federal election issues, fact sheets, buttons, pens and ribbons.
Click here to order
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| Abbotsford P3: On Time? On Budget? |
If you listen to the politicians, the new Abbotsford P3 was built using the best and most cost-effective model - a public private partnership. But, if you look at the facts, the Abbotsford Hospital is dramatically over-budget, was completed late, and has too few beds to meet community needs.
Click here to download our fact sheet on the true costs of this project.
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| Ombudsman Launches Systemic Investigation into seniors' Care - submit your concerns today |
Ongoing complaints about health care issues facing seniors in British Columbia has prompted B.C. Ombudsman Kim Carter to launch a systemic investigation into problems with seniors' care in our province.
Carter said she decided to launch the systemic investigation after meeting with a number of seniors groups and in response to complaints about neglect in care facilities, accessibility of services, placement decisions, separation from spouses and the closure of facilities.
The Ombudsman's mandate is to ensure that public administration in B.C. is fair, transparent and accountable. The investigation will examine various aspects of seniors' care, including access to services, standards of care in facilities, and monitoring and enforcement of those standards.
If you have a complaint about care you or a family member has received, click here to send your message to the Provincial Ombudsman.
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