Tony Martin 'astonished' by Liberal labour slight

Tony Martin, NDP candidate in the June 28 federal election, says he's astonished by the actions of Prime Minister Paul Martin's security detail today at the Group Health Centre.

As SooToday.com reported earlier in the day, plainclothes officers instructed a group of protesters to leave the centre's parking lot.

Read our earlier coverage

The group included representatives of the United Steelworkers of America and the Canadian Union of Public Employees, and at least one member of the GHC's board of directors.

Both the Steelworkers and CUPE were integrally involved in the founding of the GHC forty years ago.

The following news release was issued by Martin tonight:

************************* Improving health care

Tony Martin, NDP candidate for Sault Ste. Marie and district, was astonished to hear that during the Prime Minister’s brief stop-over at the Group Health Centre, steelworkers, who built this facility, were asked to leave the property.

"The Prime Minister had an opportunity to hear directly from founding members of the most innovative health care delivery in Canada, yet chose to push them off the property for his own photo op. This is just another example of the government’s arrogance," Tony Martin said.

"Despite Paul Martin’s recent health care funding announcement, voters in this election need to be reminded that the Liberals cut $25 billion from health care and other social programs when he was Minister of Finance," stated Tony Martin.

"Today, the federal government only contributes 16 percent of the cost of health care."

Reducing the federal government’s contribution to health care makes it possible for provincial Liberals to impose premiums and to de-list essential treatment such as physiotherapy, eye exams and chiropractic treatments.

For the last two months, Tony Martin has been listening to the concerns of ordinary citizens at over 40 community meetings across the riding.

"The common thread is the frustration about Liberal broken promises and the way our health system is starved for resources," he said.

Tony Martin said the NDP is the only party speaking about new ideas to make public health care better and protect it from privatization.

The NDP and Tony Martin will reinvest in health care, promising to increase the federal contribution to the provinces up to 25 percent.

A national homecare program will reduce health care costs and support families in caring for ill and aging loved ones.

Pharmacare will ensure that all Canadians have access to prescription drugs.

Tony Martin and the NDP will strengthen the Canada Health Act by prohibiting public funds for private, for-profit hospitals and clinics.

"We will work with provinces to establish community-based clinics, such as the Group Health Centre in Sault Ste. Marie, acknowledged in Romanow's report as the flagship of innovation in health care in this country," Tony Martin said.

"The Prime Minister claimed that the Group Health Centre helps ease the doctor shortage, yet neither he nor his Liberal candidate seem to be aware of the doctor shortage the Sault area is currently experiencing. I will fight to protect medicare, ensuring that all Canadians have equal access to innovative, reliable public health care," Tony Martin concluded.

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