"These meetings should be about improving our health care system; instead they are about power politics, turf wars and making sure any new money has no strings and no real accountability," said Anil Naidoo, Health Care Campaigner for the 100,000-member Council of Canadians. "To be clear, it's not only the provinces that play games. While the recent statements by the federal Health Minister sound reassuring, they ring hollow because they don't address the central issue: Will this federal government continue to allow provinces to undermine the principles of the Canada Health Act by increasing private, for-profit health care? Expanding the system is commendable, but if the expansion facilitates increased privatisation, then this jeopardises the sustainability of the system even further."

Commissioner Romanow was unequivocal in his report when it came to increasing private, for-profit health care. He asked for proof that increased privatisation and profit would improve health care in Canada. He clearly stated after 18 months of investigation, that there is no evidence private health care is in the interest of Canadians.

"Supporting the implementation of Romanow would be the clearest signal that our politicians are in touch with the will of Canadians. The money is there and Canadians are willing to pay for an improved and functional health care system. The Premiers' responsibility is to ensure that these wishes are fulfilled," said Naidoo. "Anyone, including the federal health minister or the Prime minister, who invokes the likes of Kirby, Mazankowski, doesn't understand the will of Canadians. The Romanow Commission is the only one that engaged Canadians across the country and its report reflects Canadian values. This is why it must be adopted."

The Premiers of the ten provinces and three territories are meeting today and tomorrow in Toronto to prepare a health care strategy for the First Ministers' Meeting in February. Minister McLellan, in a speech presented yesterday at the University of Ottawa, announced the federal government's intention to implement a few handpicked recommendations of the Romanow Report. The Council of Canadians, along with a group of 70 high-profile signatories of a health care manifesto, is asking the federal government to take a much stronger stand against the increasing privatisation of our system.

The Council of Canadians, along with other groups, is asking its members to take action in the days preceding its National Health Care conference. This Conference will take place in Ottawa on February 7, 8 and 9 as a popular counter to the First Ministers' meeting and to study the future of public health care in Canada. Rallies will be held in Toronto and Ottawa and Canadians are invited to contact their MPs and MPPs in support of the Romanow Report.