Liberals put health care at risk

Cindy Stewart, President of the Health Sciences Association, called on Premier Gordon Campbell today to live up to his promise to make health care a priority for British Columbians.

"Every day, Premier Gordon Campbell pulls another piece out of a public health care system that has been envied around the world," Stewart said.

She said the governments wholesale attack on health care puts the system and British Columbians who rely on health care services at risk.

"Premier Campbell has changed his tune from what he said during the election campaign. He said health care would not suffer ... and not six months later, hes saying, well, maybe a little bit. Whats next?"

"Earlier this week, it was news that health regions have been given the green light to explore taking services out of the public health care system. Yesterday, he finally came clean on what maintaining health care funding in the new era really means ... not a penny more for health care in the next three years. Quickly, and steadily, he is dismantling the health care system in the name of fiscal prudence."

"In the first few months of the Liberal era in health care, we have seen the morale in the system spiral downward as health science professionals had an unfair two-tiered contract imposed on them, followed by secret discussions about restructuring, a plan to reduce Pharmacare coverage and now a clear signal that maintaining funding means reduced services," she said.

Stewart said the government is leaping before it looks on health care, just as it has on its economic policy.

"Gordon Campbell cut taxes without considering the consequences. And the consequences are that in four months he has led British Columbia to its largest deficit in history."

The governments unveiling of its plans for the health care system this week comes weeks in advance of public meetings, including a "Dialogue on Health" meeting scheduled for October 22 and public consultations across the province by the Select Standing Committee on Health.

For more information, contact:
Miriam Sobrino, Director of Communications
(604)439-0994 or (604) 328-2886