Media Advisory: About the Premiers’ Silence on Public Health Care

Health Professionals to Demand That Council of Federation Make the Future of our Public Medicare System Their Priority

QUEBEC CITY, QUEBEC–(EMWNews – July 17, 2008) – Linda Silas, president of the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions (CFNU) and Lina Bonamie, president of the Federation interprofessionnelle de la sante du Quebec (FIQ) will release a document that highlights what health care professionals expect from the Premiers and the Council of Federation.

The document stems from a one-day think-tank in Quebec City yesterday on the most pressing issues facing our public health care system. The think-tank gathered seventy-five or so health professionals, experts, academics, administrators and executives of various professional organizations in the health care field.

The document, titled “Achieving Our Health Care Vision:Key Considerations for Premiers,” reflects the convergence of views among a representative sample of stakeholders and participants in the delivery of care across the country.

WHEN:           10:00 a.m.
                Friday, July 18, 2008

WHERE:          Room: Salle Dufour I
                Clarendon Hotel, 57 rue Sainte-Anne , Quebec, QC

WHO:            Linda Silas, president of the Canadian Federation of Nurses
                Unions (CFNU), and Lina Bonamie, president of the 
                Federation interprofessionnelle de la sante du Quebec (FIQ)

“Right now all we get on health care from the Premiers is silence on human resources shortages, silence on creeping privatization and silence the value of a universal public system. As health care professionals, we want leadership from the Premiers,” says CFNU president Linda Silas, president of the Canadian Federation.

“The Premiers’ job descriptions make them answerable to the people as to why the real challenges to the system are not addressed head on,” says FIQ president Lina Bonamie. “That they don’t talk about health care is wrong and worrisome.”

The CFNU represents over 158,000 members and associate members in nine provinces. The Federation interprofessionnelle de la sante du Quebec represents 57,000 nursing and cardiorespiratory care professionals in Quebec. Together, the CFNU and FIQ members represent over 215,000 Health Care Professionals.