THUNDER BAY – New Democrat Leader Jack Layton will make a campaign stop in Thunder Bay this Wednesday, attending a Town Hall meeting co-hosted by local New Democrat candidates Bruce Hyer and John Rafferty.
“I and my NDP colleagues have taken pride in listening to our constituents, and keeping our doors open for people,” said John Rafferty, New Democrat candidate in Thunder Bay-Rainy River. “We’re continuing that by welcoming Jack Layton to Thunder Bay with a Town Hall meeting to talk to people about a key issue this election: the crisis in our health care system, and what we can do about it. On the doorstep, I’m hearing from people concerned about our health care system every day. People here want to see practical solutions.”
The town hall meeting will be open to the public and media:
Health Care Town Hall
Wednesday, April 20, 5:00pm
Current River Community Centre; 450 Dewe Avenue, Thunder Bay, Ontario
“In 2014, the Canada Health Accord is up for re-negotiation,” said Thunder Bay-Superior North New Democrat Bruce Hyer. ”How those negotiations turn out will be absolutely critical to the future of health care in Canada. It’s fundamental to solving many of the challenges our public health care system faces. The question is, do people trust Stephen Harper to defend and strengthen our public system in these negotiations? Or will he just accelerate the privatization of health care in Canada?”
Both Hyer and Rafferty pointed out that over the years the federal government has made drastic reductions to its original health care funding. When the NDP’s Tommy Douglas helped created Canada’s public health care system, the federal government-funded half. Today, it contributes less than one-quarter of Canada’s total health care funding.