With Canada’s rapidly aging population, our country needs a health care strategy that is reflective of the growing demands of our changing demographics. That’s why BCGEU Community Health Services vice president Carla Dempsey, on behalf of your union, participated in a roundtable and public forum with numerous stakeholders to develop the Declaration Concerning a National Health Care Strategy for Seniors.

The declaration “urges federal, provincial, territorial and local governments to collaborate in the establishment of a national health care strategy for seniors that meets the changing needs of our population; and that protects, transforms and strengthens our national health care system for all Canadians.”

To date, the declaration has been distributed to all Members of Parliament, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Health Minister Jane Philpott, to all of Canada’s premiers, BC’s MLAs and to the health ministers of the provinces and territories. It is our hope that the declaration was a topic of discussion between the Canadian health ministers, who met yesterday in Toronto regarding the development of a new health accord. 

Other roundtable participants included the Canadian Medical Association, Doctors of BC, BC’s Seniors’ Advocate, and the BC Federation of Labour. Your union is proud to endorse this important grassroots document and we will keep you informed with updates.

Download the declaration here.