Unions rally in Nanaimo urging political parties to reinvest in universal healthcare

This week, the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) held a press conference outside Nanaimo Hospital, where union representatives and healthcare workers warned that Canada’s healthcare system could be close to collapse—and called on federal parties to take action.  

With the federal election just two weeks away, the CLC—Canada’s largest amalgamated trade union—called on political parties and their supporters to reinvest in universal public healthcare for all, rather than tax breaks for the rich. 

“Our public health care system is on life support,” said Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress. 

“Staffing shortages have reached a dangerous tipping point. Wait times for surgeries span months or even years. Millions of Canadians are living without access to a family doctor, and far too many must choose between paying for medication and covering basic needs.” 

The CLC says that because of decades of underfunding, understaffing, privatization and political decisions allowing corporate interests to take precedence over Canadians’ health the system is close to collapse. 

“This didn’t happen overnight. It’s the direct result of choices made by politicians who prioritize tax breaks for the wealthy over investments in public health care,” said Bruske.  

In recent years, for-profit healthcare has been on the rise with Canada’s system becoming closer than ever to American-style healthcare.  

“Canada’s health care system was built on the principle that everyone deserves care based on need, not ability to pay,” said Barb Nederpel, President, Hospital Employees’ Union, representing over 60,000 healthcare workers in BC.

“Our members are exhausted. They were called heroes during the pandemic, and now they’re working in a broken, overburdened system, without the support they need.” 

Because of the current state of the healthcare system in Canada, unions are calling on all political parties to commit to: 

• A national health workforce strategy to recruit, retain and properly compensate workers
• A full, universal, single-payer Pharmacare program with no more delays or half-measures
• Reinvestment in public health, long-term care and home care to meet the needs of Canada’s elder population 
• Ending the growing privatization that leaves patients behind while profiting corporations 

The CLC says that Canadians cherish their public health care system and see it as a pillar of their national identity. 

“We don’t want American-style health care where people go bankrupt for getting sick,” said Bruske. 

“We want a system that puts patients before profits—and politicians who are brave enough to fight for it.” 

Canada’s major federal political parties all have different views on the future of healthcare in Canada.

Mark Carney and the Liberals have said that they would leave the recently implemented Pharmacare expansion in place, which allows free access to contraception and diabetes medication, but have not indicated they would expand upon the initiative. 

Jagmeet Singh and the NDP have said they would like to see Pharmacare expanded and would invest more in the public healthcare system if elected. 

Pierre Poilievre and the Conservatives have said they would commit to preserving the Pharmacare and dental care initiatives that have been implemented, but would not be expanding them. 

Additionally, some Conservatives such as North Island-Powell River candidate Aaron Gunn, have voiced their support for introducing a two-tier, Americanized healthcare system that would have patients paying to access physicians. 

The CLC and Hospital Employees’ Union want these parties to commit to their list of concerns, saying that if they do not, the current system will be worse off and Canadians will continue to struggle accessing healthcare.