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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News Record, 2014-04-09, Page 3Wednesday, April 9, 2014 • News Record 3 Demonstrators stand up for Canada Health Accord Federal transfers set to dwindle over coming years Gerard Creces Clinton News -Record On Monday, March 31, concerned citizens from communities across Ontario took part in a day of demon- strations, protesting the federal govern- ment's declining role in delivering health care to Canadians. The Federal Health Accord, an agree- ment that lays out funding for health care between the feds and the prov- ince, expired March 31, leaving many to question the motives behind the lack of a new accord. For Mary Straus, organizer of the Huron -Bruce protest outside MP Ben Lobb's office in Goderich, the threat of privatization is very real, and the lack of real discussion on the topic is worrisome. "It is happening in silence," she said in an interview with the News -Record. "We've got some privatization already and we just don't want to see any more." She is concerned Canada is down- grading to an American style of health- care, even as the USA is trying to adopt a universal insurance system. With no health accord, funding is expected to decline to about 12 per cent from the federal government. Originally the costs were 50-50 split between Ottawa and the provinces. As funding from the federal government decreases, the rate of funding is also being set to the rate of inflation. As the population ages, however, those rates are unrealistic. CEO of the Huron -Perth Healthcare Alliance, Andrew Williams, said any time there are fewer dollars coming in to health care, it puts additional pres- sure on a system already trying to do more with less. "We are seeing that now very clearly," he said. "At best we are being flatlined with the current revenue we are getting." While not all change is bad, he said the funding arrangements are forcing the system to change. Reactionary change may help get through the short term, but a long-term vision is needed to fully adapt. Resource allocation has been shift- ing from acute care to community care, promotion and preventative medicine. The healthier a population is, the less pressure they will put on the acute care system, Williams said. However, like many woes of rural Ontario, resources are being allocated more to higher population areas rather than those with static populations, like Huron or Perth counties. "As resources shrink and federal transfers reduce it certainly exacer- bates that," Williams said. But with no clear commitment on funding, it's a challenge to make sure Submitted Demonstrators picket outside Huron -Bruce MP Ben Lobb's Goderich office Monday, March 31, rallying for consistent universal health care on the day the Canada Health Accord expired. the money is being spent in the most appropriate ways. Even setting out a lesser amount for a budget would give health care providers some- thing to plan for. But, there are two different ways of looking at it, Williams said. From a national standpoint, getting health care spending in line with the growth of the economy makes sense. However, the lack of long-term planning is where the challenges lie. "The federal government has been very clear - do not see a role for themselves in the delivery from health care," he explained. "The want to move away from an accord with expectations to funding payments and they will decrease over time." For the Huron -Perth Healthcare Alliance and others like it to just react to the financial side of the changes still doesn't address what will hap- pen in years to come as funding decreases. "All change isn't bad, sometimes you need something like this to cause changes to occur," Williams said. "We want forward thinking with the planning so we know what changes are going to take place." THE 38TH LONDON SPRING H0MIE S GARDEN decorating relaxing entertaining landscaping renovating gardening building Design Centre - Home Theatre - Landscape & Outdoor Living Model Home - Green Thumb Marketplace - Idea & Garden Stages Grilling School - Great Prizes - Flower Show Paul Zammit Nancy Eaton Director of Horticulture at the TORONTO BOTANICAL GARDEN Marc Atiyolil Andrew Downward from HGTV and the W Network's DIVINE DESIGN Presented by F'IY y Fri. 12.9 Sat. 10-8 Sun. 11-5 Editor -in -Chief Canadian and host of the MARC ATIYOLIL SHOW and DIY HOTLINE Admission $12 Senior $9 Under 12 Free w/adult londonhomeandgardenshow.com AGRIPLEX WESTERN FAIR DISTRICT Still, that does not solve the longer-term problem, and for the demon- strators across Ontario, the need to get the federal government inter- ested in healthcare is paramount to the success of the universal system. But, with a heavy hand in the Prime Minister's Office, even the protes- tors feel there is little to be gained speaking to individual MPs. "They are smart people but they are like puppets, she said. "It's what- ever Steve says. "When they big guy says do it, you do it." Public reception to the demonstration was great, she said. She and her husband have been delivering leaflets throughout Huron County asking people to take a stand to save their local hospitals and health services. In the coming weeks they will also be speaking with Huron - Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson, to see how she can defend the local posi- tion in the provincial parliament. We will be closed April 18th , 2014 Deadlines are Thursday April 17t" at 2:00 pm (Editorial & Advertising) Open again on Monday April 21 Happy Easter to All!