MEDIA RELEASE
July 28, 2009

Private N.B. clinics off the table for now:
Canadian Health Coalition says there is a need for vigilance on privatization

(Ottawa, ON) While New Brunswickers should be congratulated for helping to force their government to back down on a plan to introduce private diagnostic clinics across the province, they must be constantly vigilant to prevent the plan from being brought back, said Michael McBane, National Coordinator of the Canadian Health Coalition (CHC).

“When CHC raised the issue of privatization of essential health services a few months ago, the people of New Brunswick let their Premier know that they would not stand for it,” said Mr. McBane. “Now we have to make sure that privatization doesn’t return in any form to health care for New Brunswickers.”

Premier Shawn Graham confirmed last week that his government will not be moving forward on a $65 million proposal to open private diagnostic clinics around the province.

“The Premier claims the decision was made for economic reasons,” said Mr. McBane. “But we believe that community pressure from concerned citizens, including the New Brunswick Health Coalition and the Canadian Health Coalition, made the difference.”

Mr. McBane said he was pleased to see that former Health Minister Mike Murphy was replaced in a cabinet shuffle. “Mr. Murphy would not budge on the issue of privatization,” said Mr. McBane. “We hope that this cabinet shuffle means that Premier Graham is listening to New Brunswickers on the issue of public health care.”

Mr. McBane said he will be seeking a meeting with the new health minister to discuss how public solutions can improve the health care system and keep it public.

“We can consistently show that made-in-Canada public solutions are the best way to improve fair and equitable health care for all Canadians,” said Mr. McBane. “If we want to keep our system public - and clearly a vast majority of Canadians and New Brunswickers do - we have to stop private, for-profit services like the diagnostic clinics and implement public sector solutions now.”

The Canadian Health Coalition is a not-for-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to protecting and expanding Canada’s public health system for the benefit of all Canadians. It includes organizations representing seniors, women, churches, nurses, health care workers and anti-poverty activists from across Canada.

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For more information:
Michael McBane, 613-277-6295
Canadian Health Coalition

Private N.B. clinics off the table for now, but vigilance needed [30 kb]