The Canadian Press reports this morning, “Provincial and territorial health ministers will meet in Halifax today with federal Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq to discuss how to reform and pay for health care after the current accord expires in 2014.”
“A coalition of medicare advocates believes Ottawa should expand health care programs by increasing taxes. Maude Barlow of the Council of Canadians said the federal government should commit to a 10-year health transfer plan with the provinces that would see a six per cent hike in funding annually.”
At noon hour today, Council of Canadians health care campaigner Adrienne Silnicki and regional organizer Angela Giles will speak at a rally that will be held in Victoria Park (corner of Spring Garden Rd. and South Park St. near the Lord Nelson Hotel where the ministers are meeting) to demonstrate to them that public health care remains a high priority for Canadians.
The Council of Canadians has already begun to consider its intervention at the Council of the Federation meeting on the Canada Health Accord on January 16-17 in Victoria. The Council of the Federation is a forum where the premiers meet to discuss key issues. Its main function is to provide a united front among the provincial and territorial governments in dealings with the federal government.
