Canadians Want Federal Leadership in Health Care: National Day of Action Starts Campaign for New Health Accord

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - March 31, 2014) - The Canadian Health Coalition (CHC) will launch a national day of action March 31st to kick off a campaign for a new Health Accord. Events are organized in over 40 communities across Canada, including a luncheon in Ottawa with Dr. Jeff Turnbull - Past-President of the Canadian Medical Association, and a concert in Toronto with several Canadian artists - including Shirley Douglas.

"We are sounding the alarm to alert Canadians to the fact that the Harper government is not providing federal leadership in health care. This will lead to a fragmentation of services across the country, and access to care will depend on where you live and your ability to pay," says Michael McBane, Executive Director of the CHC.

The Canadian Health Coalition will follow up the day of action with a Medicare Tour, visiting eight cities across the country and meeting with citizens at community events, public forums, and workshops. The tour features Alex Himelfarb, former Clerk of the Privy Council to three prime ministers, and Wendell Potter, former VP of Communications for Cigna, one of the largest American health insurers.

For more information see: https://www.facebook.com/events/258678364292244/270445723115508/

A list of national events occurring on March 31st can be found at: http://healthcoalition.ca/map/

Facebook: National Day of Action for a New Health Accord

Twitter: #stand4medicare




List of National Events

1. St. John's - Contact: Mary Clarke, maryc_hcnl@hotmail.com
2. Charlottetown - Contact: Mary Boyd, maryboyd@live.ca, 902-892-9074
3. Summerside - Contact: Mary Boyd, maryboyd@live.ca, 902-892-9074
4. Souris - Contact: Mary Boyd, maryboyd@live.ca, 902-892-9074
5. Halifax - Contact: James Hutt, james@nshealthcoalition.ca, 902-406-9422
6. Bridgewater - Contact: Mary Wright, wrightmary123@gmail.com, 902-527-
0766
7. Dieppe - Contact: Daniel Legere, dlegere@cupe.ca
8. Moncton - Contact: Serge Landry, slandry@clc-ctc.ca, 506-851-7088
9. Saint John - Contact: Jean-Claude Basque, basquejc@nb.sympatico.ca, 506-
875-4232
10. Fredericton - Contact: Daniel Legere, dlegere@cupe.ca
11. Ottawa - Contact: Erin Sirett, medicarelobby@gmail.com, 613-688-4973
ext. 2
12. Ottawa - Contact: Marlene Rivier, marlene_rivier@rogers.com, 613-222-
8392
13. Kingston - Contact: Ross Sutherland, elbe@web.net, 613-532-7846
14. Oshawa - Contact: Charlie Courneyea, wccourneyea@gmail.com, 416-557-5935
15. Scarborough - Contact: Kingsley Kwok, mercury28@gmail.com, 416-835-3377
16. St. Catharines - Contact: Sue Hotte, suehotte@yahoo.ca, 905-932-1646
17. Toronto - Holler 4 Health Care - Contact: David Craig,
davidscraig@rogers.com, 416-271-3030
18. Toronto - Honk for Health Care - Contact: Kim Johnston,
ohc@sympatico.ca, 416-441-2502
19. Brampton - Contact: Pat McGrail, activist@taxlite.org, 647-724-8530
20. North Bay - Contact: Henri Giroux, 705-471-7746
21. Orillia - Contact: Kim Johnston, ohc@sympatico.ca, 416-441-2502
22. Sarnia - Contact: Arlene Patterson, arlene.patterson13@gmail.com, 519-
542-1895
23. Sault Ste. Marie - Contact: Kim Johnston, ohc@sympatico.ca, 416-441-2502
24. Thunder Bay - Contact: Jules Tupker, jtupker@tbaytel.net, 807-577-5946
25. Winnipeg - Contact: Laurissa Smerchanski-Sims, smerchanskisims@gmail.com
26. Winnipeg - Contact: Ric McAlpine, cupe1973@gmail.com
27. Brandon - Contact: Vanessa Hamilton, hamiltonv@live.ca, 204-724-2163
28. Yorkton - Tria Donaldson, Tdonaldson@cupe.ca
29. Prince Albert - Tria Donaldson, Tdonaldson@cupe.ca
30. Regina - Contact: Tom Graham, tomgraham@sasktel.net
31. Saskatoon - Contact: Stan Rice, jsrice@sasktel.net, 306-280-5315
32. Edmonton - Contact: Sandra Azocar, 780-423-4581
33. Kamloops - Contact: Rick Turner 250-819-5694
34. Kelowna - Contact: Ken Robinson, krobinson@heu.org, 604-838-3844
35. Nelson - Contact: Lorne Burkart, lorneburkart@bcnu.org, 250-354-5311
36. Princeton - Contact: Ed Staples, edwardstaples8@gmail.com, 250-295-0822
37. Surrey - Contact: Kelly Aujla, kellya@shaw.ca, 604-626-8806
38. Richmond - Contact: David Huespe, daivdhuespe@hotmail.com, 604-619-5124
39. Nanaimo - Contact: Paul Manly, paulmanly@shaw.ca, 250-729-1254
40. Campbell River/Comox Valley - Contact: Rich Hagensen,
surfdust@telus.net, 250-286-3019
41. Vancouver - Contact: Bev Trynchy, btrynchy@heu.org, 604-837-1433
42. Yellowknife - Contact: Ben McDonald, info@alternativesnorth.ca, 867-873-
8123



FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Canadian Health Coalition
Michael McBane
Executive Director
(613) 277-6295
mike@healthcoalition.ca