Kelowna was one of 42 communities across Canada to take part in a day of action protest surrounding healthcare. Around 100 people gathered outside MP Ron Cannan’s office today.
Organized by the Canadian Health Coalition, the rallies are designed to raise public awareness about a multi-billion dollar health accord between the federal Government and the provinces that expires today.
The protestors worry that the expiry will mean a lot less in the transfer payments provinces receive from Ottawa.
“That will leave BC 255 million dollars short in from April 1st 2014 to march 31st 2015″, says local organizer Ken Robinson.
Local organizer Ken Robinson says the fear is that this will have a huge impact on healthcare.
Cannan wasn’t in his constituency office today. The Conservative MP is out of the country on a trade mission. However, a statement was issued from his office shortly after the protest.
The statement reads “There have been a lot of rumors and misinformation spread about federal health transfers by those with a political motive to confuse the facts. I would like to take this opportunity to set the record straight. In 2014-15, our Government will provide British Columbia with $4.17 billion through the Canada Health Transfer – an all time high”.
Princeton was the other community in our region to also hold a similar protest.
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