Press Releases

VICTORIA – New Democrats are demanding that Stephen Harper come back to the bargaining table and work with Canada’s first ministers to come up with a health care agreement ensures adequate health care for Canadians.

“Canada’s premiers are united in their disapproval of the current Harper formula,” said New Democrat Health critic Libby Davies. "This hands-off approach doesn't work for the provinces and it won’t work for Canadians. Mr. Harper needs to show some leadership and come back to the table. Canadians have been clear – they want better healthcare. So why is our own Prime Minister stepping away from his responsibilities?”

VICTORIA – As premiers gather in Victoria for health care talks, New Democrats today blasted Stephen Harper’s failed leadership on health care, pointing out how the government’s inaction on implementing the much needed reforms included in the current health care accords has hurt the frontline services Canadian families rely on.

“Conservatives talk about being committed to health funding, but then went and announced cuts to health funding. You can’t trust Conservatives to stand up for public health care,” said New Democrat Health critic Libby Davies (Vancouver East). “After investing over $160 billion in health care, many of the reforms included in the 2003-2004 health accords have seen little or even no improvement under Stephen Harper’s leadership.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NOVEMBER 24, 2011

GRAVELLE TABLES BILL FOR NATIONAL DEMENTIA STRATEGY
Canada must act now to avoid catastrophe for a million Canadians and their families

OTTAWA – Nickel Belt MP Claude Gravelle introduced legislation today for a national dementia strategy, invoking the memory of his mother and over 500,000 Canadians already ravaged by Alzheimer's and other related dementia diseases.

Gravelle profiled his mother Leona's story, painfully familiar to Canadians facing dementia. “Long before her death at 83 in 2003, she first started forgetting appointments and things on the stove. It deteriorated to forgetting to take medication, to language loss, and changes in mood and behaviour. We were helpless watching a mild-mannered woman at times turn aggressive and seeing part of her true self slip away. My dad also suffered, learning to sleep with one eye open.”

Gravelle was joined by NDP Health critic Libby Davies (Vancouver East), NDP Seniors critic Irene Mathyssen (London-Fanshawe) and Alzheimer advocates.

Budget fails to provide leadership on job creation, health care, or pensions for Canadians

OTTAWA – Today’s budget showed a continued focus on corporate tax cuts over job creation, with the Conservatives missing the opportunity to make life more affordable and help Canadians still recovering from the effects of the recession.

“The budget is a great disappointment for Canadians who voted for change and to put families first,” said New Democrat Deputy Leader Libby Davies (Vancouver East). “The Conservatives have failed to present a plan for improving health care, lifting seniors out of poverty, strengthening public pensions, increasing affordable housing, or rewarding businesses that create jobs.”