Unifor delivers 35,000 petition signatures to health ministers

TORONTO, Oct. 17, 2016 /CNW/ - A Unifor delegation will deliver nearly 35,000 signed petition postcards to Ontario Health Minister Dr. Eric Hoskins at his press conference this afternoon with the aim of them reaching Federal Health Minister Jane Philpott.

"We have not been able to secure a meeting with Minister Philpott to discuss the importance and urgency of health care funding," said Katha Fortier, Unifor Assistant to the President. "We know she will be meeting with the provincial health ministers tomorrow, so we wanted to offer our support for a strong health accord and a national drug plan."

Unifor health care members circulated and signed the petition in support of the following four demands:

• Create a national public drug program to ensure equal access to life-saving medication;
• Ensure sufficient Federal and Provincial funding to provide high-quality acute care, home care and long-term care services;
• Develop a Senior's Strategy to increase the care of our aging population; and
• Protect and enforce the Canada Health Act, ensuring health care remains public for the public good.

"Canadians treasure our health care system and want to continue to count on care that is provided to every person equally, regardless of their wealth or location," said Fortier.

Unifor is Canada's largest union in the private sector, representing more than 310,000 workers, including nearly 30,000 in health care. It was formed Labour Day weekend 2013 when the Canadian Auto Workers and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers unions merged.

SOURCE Unifor

please contact Unifor Communications National Representative Shelley Amyotte at [email protected] or 902-717-7491 (cell).