New Brunswick cancels private nurse shifts
This week’s edition of who is saying what about public health care is compiled by Pat Van Horne.
New Brunswick travel nurses told to not come to work
“It’s a no-win every time we spend money on private for-profit entities that take taxpayer dollars out of our province,” said Paula Doucet (pictured above), president of the New Brunswick Nurses Union, who has long called for an end of the use of costly private agency nurses, to CBC, March 4, 2025
Manitoba health care workers set to strike if no deal by March 7
“We still have not enough movement for us to be able to consider making a deal at this time . . .If the Manitoba government wants to avoid a strike and keep their promise to health-care workers and to Manitobans to fix the health-care system, they are going to have to step up and commit additional funding to this process,” said Jason Linklater, president, Manitoba Association of Health Care Professionals, which represents 7,000 allied health professionals, CTV News, March 4, 2025.
Meanwhile, Government of Canada says it’s investing $14.3 million to fix health care labour shortages
“Internationally educated professionals possess the talent and experience our healthcare sector needs. By investing in the Foreign Credential Recognition Program, we’re adding capable doctors, nurses and health practitioners to medical rooms across the country, growing our workforce and delivering better health outcomes for Canadians across the board,” said Steven MacKinnon, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, Canada News Wire, March 4, 2025.
US health care model no cure for Canada
“Health professionals believe in our public health-care system because they believe in equitable access to care, and you can’t have one without the other. They know the American health-care system is certainly not a model to which anybody aspires. They work hard every day not only because it’s their job, but also because they are motivated to make a difference for patients and their families. Canadians want their public health care to remain strong and accessible. This starts with listening to those who dedicate themselves to ensuring quality care is available to all of us when we need it. Every level of government has a responsibility to invest in fixing the human resources crisis,” said Bert Blundon, president of the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE), in The Hill Times, February 24, 2025.
Fill public health positions with public health employees and save money, says BC union study
“Sometimes the public sees long wait times as the inability to access a specialist or a doctor, and we hope this will help them understand the role our members play. . . When we can fill those positions, then the health authorities won’t need won’t need to turn to agency staffing,” said Kane Tse, Health Sciences Association (HSA) in a report to the B.C. Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills and the Ministry of Health, The Tyee, March 4, 2025.
Maritime Pharmacists for No-Cost Contraception urges provincial leaders to use federal funding for all Canadians
“No-cost contraception is not just a health policy—it’s a smart economic decision, a public health necessity, and a critical social justice measure. . .With federal funding now available, we have a unique opportunity to work together across provinces to make this a reality,” said Kari Ellen Graham, Pharmacist, Founder and Co-chair of Access Now Nova Scotia, in a news release issued March 4, 2025.
Contact: <kariellengraham@hotmail.com>
Patchwork private health no solution
“It’s a pay-as-you-go type of environment . . . We’re working really hard to get those diagnostic imaging wait lists down. . .We need to look at where there are vacancies, where there’s capacity and Nova Scotia Health will look at where those resources are required. It’s a shame to have a piece of equipment sitting because of staffing [shortages],”said Nova Scotia Health Minister Michelle Thompson in an interview, CBC News, March 3, 2025.
Measles vaccination necessary now
“Whenever vaccination rates start to go down, we get worried about measles because it’s the first thing that’s going to come back because it’s so, so, so contagious. That is also what allows these outbreaks to grow faster than other types of outbreaks,” Shapiro said. “We’re now at risk of losing our elimination status in Canada if these outbreaks continue,” said Janna Shapiro, Centre for Vaccine Preventable Diseases affiliated with University of Toronto, Winnipeg Free Press; the Canadian Press, February 27, 2025.
And now a confusing word from the federal health minister. . .
“I am announcing a temporary pause of the work of the Canadian Task Force on Preventative Health Care. . .The Task Force has an important mandate and its work includes updates to guidelines in several areas, including breast cancer screening, cervical cancer screening, interventions for tobacco cessation and screening for depression in children and adults. . . The External Expert Review panel will make (its) recommendations to the Public Health Agency of Canada to modernize the work of the Task Force and ensure it provides evidence-based clinical practice guidelines to primary care providers,” said federal Health Minister Mark Holland in a statement from the Public Health Agency of Canada, March 4, 2025.
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