Taking action for public health care

Council of Canadians’ members and chapter activists are active in communities across Canada in support of public health care. Through rallies, public events and working with health coalitions and other groups in support of medicare, we are on the frontlines of the fight to ensure Canadians have the best public health care system possible.

ACTION ALERT: The 2014 Health Care Accord: Improve public health care for all Canadians

Here are some highlights:

Town Hall on the Future of Public Health Care in Canada

This will be your chance to participate in shaping the public response to the 2014 Health Accord negotiations.

The 2014 Health Accord will set out the national plan for our health care system and play a key role in determining the direction for health care in Canada.

The federal government has already its revealed plans to cut federal health transfers. On January 16-17, 2012 B.C. Premier Christy Clark will host premiers from across the country to discuss health care and fiscal arrangements with the federal government related to the 2014 Health Accord. Now is the time to have our say.

Please join us at the Da Vinci Centre (195 Bay St., Victoria) on January 16 at 6:30pm for a town hall meeting to learn more about the 2014 Health Accord and ways to strengthen our health care system through public innovation, and discuss ways to get a health accord that ensures everyone has access to care when they need it, regardless of their ability to pay.

Keynote speakers include Maude Barlow, Chair of the Council of Canadians, Diana Gibson of the Parkland Institute and Mike Luff of the National Union of Public & General Employees.

This event is co-hosted by the Council of Canadians and the BC Health Coalition
ALL WELCOME!

Download poster

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Health Care Lobby Day, November 30-December 1, 2011 on
Parliament Hill

The Council of Canadians’ activists and board members were well prepared to hear and refute the for-profit cure mantra from Conservative Members of Parliament when we met with them on Thursday, December 1, 2011. The lobbying took place the day after we gathered at the Chateau Laurier to listen to pro-public health care allies such as Roy Romanow, Diana Gibson, Natalie Mehra, Allan Maslove, Saideh Khadir, John Abbott, Michael Rachlis, Marc-Andre Gagnon, and Sharon Sholzberg-Gray (you can hear the same presentation here) talk at the Securing the Future of Medicare: A Call to Care and after we participated in an afternoon lobby session prepared by the Canadian Health Coalition.

Read more:

• Right wing ideology is the greatest threat to Canada's health care
  
• Council activists listen to Romanow in advance of health care lobby day
  
• Join us to Secure the Future of Medicare

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In Halifax as health ministers meet on 2014 Health Accord

On November 24, 2011, Council of Canadians Chairperson Maude Barlow was the keynote speaker at a town hall meeting in Halifax on public health care. It was also an opportunity for people to speak to their priorities for this round of federal/ provincial/ territorial negotiations.

On November 25, a noon-time rally was held in Victoria Park, across the street from the Health Ministers’ meeting, to demonstrate that public health care remains a high priority for Canadians. For more details on these events and more, please see Halifax-based Council of Canadians health care campaigner Adrienne Silnicki’s blog here and here.

Updates:

• NEWS: Council, medicare coalition to rally near first ministers meeting today
• UPDATE: Barlow in Halifax as health ministers meet on 2014 Health Accord
• NEWS: Barlow says health care will be a ‘galvanizing fight’ in Canada
• The Health Ministers Begin Their Talks on the 2014 Canada Health Accord
• MEDIA ADVISORY: 2014 Health Care Accord- Health Ministers Meet in Halifax

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Council members add their voices to rally for public health

Thank you to everyone who supported and took part in the rally to safeguard public health care, which was held in front of Queen’s Park in Toronto on September 13, 2011. Hundreds of people carried signs, waved banners and used their voices to tell provincial candidates that their vote will be a health care vote in the upcoming provincial election. Those who couldn’t be there in person were also able to speak out, as we played inspiring and poignant messages we received from Council members across Ontario at the rally.

Here is what one local media outlet wrote about the event:
“While a sea of faces covered the lawn at Queen's Park holding signs and chanting to keep health care public, some people couldn't make it. That's where the Council of Canadians steps in. The organization constructed a float with a paper mache patient all bandaged up on a hospital bed, which played voicemail messages of those who wanted to attend the rally but were unable to.” (Newstalk 1010)

It is more important than ever for people to fight for public health care. We need to take advantage of this election and get politicians to commit to strengthening our public health care system. Not only is this important for Ontario, but the next Premier in this province will have a powerful seat in the 2014 Health Care Accord negotiation (as many of you pointed out in your messages). Electing an Ontario government that is committed to strengthening medicare will mean a better health care deal for all Canadians.

To read more about the rally, or to see photos of the 10-foot hospital bed float we constructed to deliver your messages from, go here.