Budget Response: CFNU calls on Ottawa to move on negotiating Health and Social Accord

The Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions welcomed renewed commitments by the federal government to renegotiate a new national Health Accord with provincial and territorial government.

In its response to today’s federal budget CFNU, of which United Nurses of Alberta is a proud affiliate, also welcomed the positions taken by the government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on increasing child care benefits, improving immunization coverage, and making investments for those who need it most, including seniors, Indigenous peoples, and veterans.

“Over the coming months we expect more movement toward investing in health care as the federal, provincial and territorial governments negotiate Canada’s next Health and Social Accord,” CFNU President Linda Silas said in a news release today.

“Canada’s nurses know the impact of poor health financing,” she said. “We see and feel the cutbacks happening in our hospitals every day and the lack of home care available to Canadians. Patients and their families suffer. It is time to negotiate a new Health and Social Accord with the provinces and territories, and for the federal government to pay its fair share.”

Nurses represented by CFNU affiliated unions believe all levels of government need to work together to set a strong course forward by implementing a national Health and Social Accord that includes stable federal funding to a minimum of 25 per cent by 2025, a national prescription drug plan and a country-wide strategy for healthy aging.

CFNU also called for a co-ordinated national health human resources plan.

“Now that the budget is released it is time for better co-ordination of health and social services by all levels of government,” Silas stated.