Scheer must cancel closed-door event that promotes private health care
April 11, 2019
Ottawa, ON – The following is a statement by Liberal MPs: Hon. Dr. Hedy Fry, John Oliver, Kamal Khera, Sonia Sidhu, Rob Oliphant, Hon. Dr. Carolyn Bennett, and Dr. Doug Eyolfson.
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“Andrew Scheer’s Conservatives have been caught holding a private, closed-door $250 strategy session on health care privatization. Yesterday, we wrote to Andrew Scheer, calling on him to cancel this inappropriate event.
“For $250, Conservatives are selling access to Lisa Raitt, Pierre Poilievre, and Marilyn Gladu for a one-night-only event to discuss the ‘business of healthcare.’
“They’re calling Pierre Poilievre the next Finance Minister and Marilyn Gladu ‘our next Health Minister.’ It’s completely inappropriate. If this isn’t selling access, we don’t know what is.
“It’s no accident when Conservatives talk about the healthcare and business in the same breath. Canadians know that they mean privatization.
“The Conservative example in Ontario is alarming. Doug Ford was recently accused of making plans to privatize healthcare and he has made indefensible cuts to funding for children with autism.
“Liberals are committed to public health care – like our Budget 2019 commitment to move forward on implementing national pharmacare to make prescription drugs more affordable and accessible to more Canadians. Meanwhile, Conservatives want to roll back the clock to an era when your quality of healthcare depended on how much you could pay.
“Liberals are proud of Canada’s healthcare system, one based on need and not ability to pay. We believe in patients over profits and that all you should need to get healthcare in Canada is your health card, not your credit card. It was a Liberal government that introduced the Canada Health Act and our Liberal government will continue to ensure that all Canadians have access to health services and to ensure our system remains fair for all Canadians.”
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Letter to Andrew Scheer from Liberal MPs: http://www.liberal.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Letter-to-Andrew-Scheer-The-Business-of-Healthcare.pdf