Labour To Host Its Own PG Health Forum

By 250 News

"Talking Health Care" is a public forum slated for this Monday evening in Prince George, jointly hosted by the Prince George and District Labour Council and the B.C. Government and Service Employees’ Union.

It comes to town one month before the government-sponsored, "Conversation on Health" forum and, in a release publicizing the event, says, "In an effort to convince British Columbians that privatization is the only way we can heal health care, our government has resorted to using scare tactics on us that would make us believe that our public system of health care delivery is not financially sustainable."

BCGEU Communications Officer, Brian Gardner, says privatization will obviously be part of the discussion.  "I think there’s a feeling amongst many people that the ’Conversation on Health’ being promoted by the Liberal government...is really softening the ground for more privatization in the health care system."

Gardner says the BCGEU represents a lot of home support workers and says home support is a key future part of the health-care system because it can take pressure of the acute aspects of health-care.  He’s hoping union members, health professionals and the public at-large turns out to Monday evening’s meeting at the Ramada.

The Prince George gathering is the first one being held by the union and will test the waters.  "I think the feeling is, if it’s a success and, obviously, the attendees get something out of it and the union gets something out of it, that we would try and hold some other ones."

The event runs from 6pm until 9pm with registration at the door at 5:30pm, but Gardner says those wishing to register in advance can call 1-800-667-1033.

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