Dental care will help millions: labour leader Bea Bruske
This week’s edition of who is saying what about public health care is compiled by Pat Van Horne.
Dental care plan will help millions of Canadians struggling to make ends meet
“Public programs like dental care help to alleviate some of the pressures facing working-class families as they struggle to find an affordable place to live, put food on the table or simply afford everyday necessities,” said Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress.
Biggest expansion of public health care in generations, says NDP’s Don Davies
“By working in co-operative partnership with our Liberal colleagues, New Democrats have helped secure dental care for nine million Canadians. . . It’s no exaggeration to say that this is the biggest expansion of public health care in Canada in many generations,” said NDP Health Critic Don Davies to The Canadian Press, December 12, 2023
Canadian Dental Association hopes oral health care access fund addresses staff shortages
“We do have staff shortages, as in every health-care sector. So what I’m hoping is that part of the oral health care access fund will work toward addressing some of those issues,” said Canadian Dental Association President Dr. Heather Carr to The Canadian Press, December 12, 2023
9 million Canadians to see change with dental program
“The core success of this plan is making sure oral health professionals are signing up,” he said. “I’m extraordinarily optimistic there is going to be very strong uptake,” said Federal Health Minister Mark Holland to CBC, December 12, 2023
Hope springs eternal for pharmacare
“We’re still hoping that we can introduce legislation before the House rises. We’re close enough to be able to envision that. . . We think what’s more important is that we get such a fundamentally important advance in our public health-care system correct, rather than meet an artificial deadline,” said NDP Health Critic Don Davies (NDP Vancouver Kingsway) to Halifax City News, December 11, 2023
Manitoba NDP must act now to protect seniors in care
“Sadly, like most things when it comes to seniors abuse — whether in personal-care homes or other facilities — governments drag their feet on it. For whatever reason, there doesn’t seem to be a sense of urgency around protecting seniors in care. Despite the rhetoric by politicians, it’s rarely a priority,” wrote columnist Tom Brodbeck in the Winnipeg Free Press, December 11, 2023
Ontario doubles cost for agency nurses – at least $170 million last year
“Hospitals are saying they’re worried they won’t even make payroll because they’re having to spend so much more, year after year, month after month, on these private agencies… When it comes down to it, this is all about [the government] diverting more of our public health care dollars into their private shareholder friends’ pockets,” said Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles to CBC, December 7, 2023
“Nurses have better things to do”
“Our nurses have better things to do than be outside in the cold… The government pushed us to this point,” said Roberto Bomba, Fédération interprofessionnelle de la santé du Québec(FIQ).
“I get the impression that there is no urgency from the government on these negotiations that are so important to us and the public… How are there 80,000 workers, 90 per cent of them women, in the street and the government can’t speed this up? For the population to get the best health care, things need to change,” said FIQ President Julie Bouchard to CBC/Radio Canada, December 11, 2023
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Poll shows deep concern over children’s health care
“This poll confirms what parents intuitively know or have experienced firsthand, that demands on children’s healthcare systems are increasing, and the system simply doesn’t have the capacity to deliver care in a timely fashion. . . Children’s Healthcare Canada is on a mission to right-size health systems serving children, youth and their families,” said Emily Gruenwoldt, president and CEO of Children’s Healthcare Canada, December 5, 2023
Public service health insurance a great big mess
“To those who had a poor service experience these past months: we are sorry,” said Ryan Weiss, Canada Life vice-president of national accounts, to House of Commons Committee.
“The transition was poorly done. The website was poorly done. They didn’t have enough people trained to answer questions. They tried to chew off more than they could handle,” stated retired Colonel Conrad Namiesniowski, to CBC, December 8, 2023
A modest proposal: Affordable housing – for nurses
“We hear about the cost of living. If you talk about big cities… there is the issue of how expensive is housing, the parking to go to work, and child care… The real issue here is compensation and benefits,” said Doris Grinspun, CEO of the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO), to the Toronto Star, December 10, 2023
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