On March 31, sound the alarm for public health care!
by Council of Canadians
We are facing an important moment in the history of public health care. The Health Accord – an agreement between the federal, provincial and territorial governments that sets federal funding for health care, and ensures all Canadians can access good quality services regardless of where they live – will expire on March 31.To date, the Harper government has refused to meet with premiers to negotiate a new accord. Instead, the federal government plans to cut $36 billion over 10 years from public health care and walk away from its responsibilities to ensure equal access to all Canadians.
Join us on March 31 for a National Day of Action!
We are sounding the alarm about the federal government’s funding cuts to wake Canadians up to what this means for our health care services. Removing $36 billion from our health care system will put an end to national standards. It will lead to the fragmentation of services across the country and that increasingly, access to care will depend on where you live.
We are asking people to organize actions in their community on March 31 to speak out against these cuts and to demand that the Harper government negotiate a new health accord. Any action, big or small, is important! You could hold a rally, distribute pamphlets or organize a public forum. See if your community is on the list or organize your own event.
Be sure to let us know about your National Day of Action activities so we can highlight them on our website. Fill out this form or e-mail your event details to webmaster@canadians.org. Don’t forget to check out our resources and publications that you can use to help inform people and raise awareness. Send an e-mail to inquiries@canadians.org if you would like to order materials for your event.
We’re looking forward to raising our voices with people across the country to sound the alarm on the Harper government’s attack on public health care. Together, we can strengthen public health care for generations to come.
NEW RESOURCE: Health Care Media Outreach Kit, Tips and materials for Council of Canadians chapter activists and other health care advocates
It’s time to #Stand4Medicare
ONTARIO:
Kingston: 12:00 p.m. “Honk for Health Care” car parade. Meet at the tourist information office at the bottom of Fort Henry Hill. Bring noisemakers! Contact Ross Sutherland at elbe@web.net or 613-532-7846
Ottawa: 12:00 p.m. Funeral procession to mourn the death of Canada’s Health Accord on Parliament Hill. Bring alarm clocks to make lots of noise! Contact Marlene Rivier at marlene_rivier@rogers.com or 613-222-8392.
Orillia: 12:00 p.m. “Raise the Alarm” Rally with alarm clocks, bells, horns and pots and pans. Outside the office of Bruce Santon, Conservative MP Simcoe-North, 575 West Street South, Willow Court Plaza, Unit 12. Contact Emily Smith van Beek at ohc@sympatico.ca, 416-441-5202.
Oshawa: 12:00 p.m. “Raise the Alarm” demonstration with alarm clocks, bells, horns and pots and pans. Outside the office of Conservative MP Colin Carrie, Lord Simcoe Place, 57 Simcoe St S. Contact Charlie Courneyea at wccourneyea@gmail.com 416-557-5935 or Trish McAuliffe at tmcauliffe@rogers.com 905-436-0665
Sarnia: 12:00 p.m. “Raise the Alarm” Rally with alarm clocks, bells, horns and pots and pans. Outside the office of Conservative MP, Patricia Davidson, 1000 Finch Dr. Contact Arlene Patterson at arlene.patterson13@gmail.com, 519-542-1895
Sault Ste. Marie: 11:00 a.m. "Raise the Alarm" demonstration with alarm clocks, bells and pots and pans. Outside the office of Conservative MP Bryan Hayes, 369 Queen St.
Scarborough *March 24*: 3:00-6:00 p.m. “Raise the Alarm” Rally with alarm clocks, bells, horns and pots and pans. Outside the office of Conservative MP Roxanne James, 1450 Midland Ave, Suite 211. Contact Kingsley Kwok at kingsley.kwok.opseu@gmail.com, 416-835-3377.
St Catharines: 4:00-6:00 p.m. “Raise the Alarm” demonstration with alarm clocks, bells, horns and pots and pans. Outside the office of Conservative MP Rick Dystra, 61 Geneva Street. St Catharines. Contact Sue Hotte at suehotte@yahoo.ca or 905-932-1646.
Toronto: 12:00 p.m. Rally and Raise the Alarm and Honk for Health Care. Meet at Queen’s Park and march down University Ave to Dundas St. alongside taxis driving down, honking for healthcare. Contact Emily Smith van Beek at ohc@sympatico.ca or 416-441-2502.
Toronto: 8:00 p.m. "Artists for the Accord" night of music and performance. The lineup will include David Craig, playwright; Brent Carver, Tony award-winning actor; Bob Rae on the piano and Shirley Douglas. The Trinity St. Paul's Centre. 427 Bloor St W. Contact David Craig at 416-271-3030 or davidscraig@rogers.com
ATLANTIC:
Bridgewater, Nova Scotia Citizen's Health Care Network
Mary Wright, wrightmary123@gmail.com, (902) 527-0766
1) 11:00 am – Noon: Leafleting at South Shore Regional Hospital, Collaborative Health Care Centre, Atlantic Superstore & Sobeys
2) Noon – 1:00 pm: Rally in parking lot of MP Gerald Keddy’s office (Aberdeen Commercial Centre, 129 Aberdeen Rd., Suite 106). Participant parking available in nearby commercial lot not presently in use. Bring signs! See the Facebook event page for more details.
Halifax, Nova Scotia Citizen's Health Care Network
James Hutt, James@nshealthcoalition.ca, (902) 406-9422
Meet at Noon in Victoria Park for a rally with music, speakers, and art. See the Facebook event page for more details.
Fredericton, New Brunswick Health Coalition
Daniel Légère, CUPE/SCFP, dlegere@cupe.ca
Gathering at the corner of King and Carlton St. from 12 to 1:00 p.m.
Moncton, New Brunswick Health Coalition
Serge Landry, CLC/CTC, slandry@clc-ctc.ca, (506) 851-7088 or (506) 871-8496
Noon march from city hall to the office of MP Robert Goguen.
Saint John, New Brunswick Health Coalition
Jean Claude Basque, Common Front for Social Justice - Front commun pour la justice sociale, basquejc@nb.sympatico.ca, (506) 389-1578 or (506) 862-9182
Dieppe, New Brunswick Health Coalition
Daniel Legere, New Brunswick Health Coalition, dlegere@cupe.ca
Gathering at the 4 Corners in front of Dieppe City Hall on Champlain Street from 8-9:00 a.m.
Charlottetown, PEI Health Coalition
Mary Boyd, maryboyd@live.ca, (902) 892-9074
Public demonstration
Summerside, PEI Health Coalition
Mary Boyd, maryboyd@live.ca, (902) 892-9074
Presenting postcards to Conservative MP Gail Shea
PRAIRIES / NORTHWEST TERRITORIES:
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Health Coalition
Stan Rice, jsrice@sasktel.net, (306) 280-5315 or (306) 382-2865
Join us for a news conference featuring physician Ryan Meili at 10 am at the Saskatoon Community Clinic Annex – 424 1st Avenue North.
Regina, Saskatchewan Health Coalition
Stan Rice, jsrice@sasktel.net, (306) 280-5315 or (306) 382-2865
Press conference
Edmonton, Alberta Friends of Medicare
Sandra Azocar, Alberta Friends of Medicare, 780-423-4581
Yellowknife, Alternatives North
Alternatives North, info@alternativesnorth.ca
Leafleting and postcard campaign. Details to follow.
BRITISH COLUMBIA:
Kamloops, Kamloops Health Coalition, Kamloops Chapter of the Council of Canadians, Kamloops Retired Teachers and Kamloops HEU
Rick Turner 250-819-5694 or Barb Nederpel 249-320-1635, bnederpel@gmail.com
Meet at the Smorg deli by 3:30pm to march (about 3 blocks) to Conservative MP Cathy Macleod’s office. We will have speakers and signs and we will present her with one thousand signed postcards calling for a renewed and improved Canadian Health Accord.
Campbell River/Comox Valley, The Council of Canadians
Rich Hagensen, The Council of Canadians, surfdust@telus.net, 250-286-3019
Rally at 3:00pm outside the office of John Duncan, Conservative MP for Vancouver Island North (1250F Cedar Street, Campbell River)
RSVP on Facebook.
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