ONTARIO SOCIETY (COALITION) OF SENIOR CITIZENS' ORGANIZATIONS
MEDIA RELEASE
April 24, 2001
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PUBLIC MEDICARE: WE CAN AFFORD IT!
Toronto -- As Roy Romanow's Commission hears from Canadians in 18 cities, Toronto senior community leaders prepare to fight for public Medicare.
"Health care spending is not out of control, " says Ethel Meade, Co-chair of the Ontario Coalition of Senior Citizens' Organisations (OCSCO).
"As a percentage of the provincial economy, health care spending has shrunk from 5.7% for 1994-5 to 5.3% in 2000-1. This is a bogus made-in-Ontario crisis."
"Elected officials and industry lobbyists tell us that Canada's public health system is not sustainable. After telling us it doesn't work, they make sure it doesn't work. We see the federal and provincial governments arguing over health care like schoolchildren. But health care belongs to Canadians. It makes us angry!" says Jack Pinkus, chairperson of the Alliance of Seniors to Protect Canada's Social Programs.
"Our Health care system has been the envy of the world and it can survive! But we need to provide accurate information, and develop "tools" to save public Medicare, " said Goldie Leibman, Coordinator of Association of Jewish Seniors.
These three seniors' organisations have planned an all-day forum, Medicare, We Can Afford It! to add their voices to the Save Medicare Campaign. The forum will feature writer and community physician Dr. Rosana Pellizzari, social activist Ann Emmett and leaders from the major seniors' organisations who will strategize on how to save Public Medicare.
The Medicare Myth -- that Canadians can no longer afford public Medicare-- will be shot down once and for all.
Event Details:
Forum: Public Medicare: We Can Afford It!
Time: 9:30 am - 3:00 pm
Date: Thursday, April 25
Place: Holy Blossom Temple, 1950 Bathurst St. (one block south of Eglinton)
Lunch provided.
Ethel Meade, Co-Chair, OCSCO - 416-785-8570
Gisela Côté, Manager of Communications, OCSCO - 416-785-8570
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