Events to be held across the country to mark expiry of health accord
Posted March 31, 2014 10:34 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Dozens of events are planned Monday across the country to mark the expiry of a health-care deal between Ottawa and the provinces.
The Canadian Health Coalition is holding a news conference in Ottawa and has more than 40 demonstrations planned in other parts of the country.
Actress Shirley Douglas — the daughter of politician Tommy Douglas, widely credited as the father of medicare — is scheduled to speak at a rally in Toronto.
The left-leaning Council of Canadians also says at least 19 of its chapters will stage events in various locations.
The 10-year, $41-billion health accord struck in 2004 expires today.
In 2011, former finance minister Jim Flaherty said the Canada Health Transfer to the provinces and territories would grow by six per cent a year until 2017-18.
After 2017-18, health transfers will be tied to the rate of economic growth and inflation, but the government says the annual rate of increase won’t fall below three per cent.
