Better Health Care, Beef Farmers Big Winners At Atlantic Meeting
PREMIER'S OFFICE--Better Health Care, Beef Farmers Big Winners At Atlantic Meeting
Atlantic Canada is standing together for better health care and more support for local beef farmers, Premier John Hamm said today, Feb. 12.
The ninth session of the Council of Atlantic Premiers concluded today in Corner Brook, NL, with the four provincial leaders urging the federal government to make a long-term funding commitment to better health care.
"In Nova Scotia, we have a plan for better health care, with shorter wait times, more doctors, nurses and other health care workers, and greater care for seniors," said Premier Hamm. "But after a decade of federal cuts, Ottawa needs to work with, and invest in, Nova Scotia and all Atlantic Canada to make positive, meaningful changes to improve health care."
The premier said he will continue to highlight Ottawa's lack of support for health care and other social programs since 1993. Overall federal revenues to Nova Scotia have remained stagnant over the last decade, while federal per capita spending on health and social programs has slightly dropped through the same period.
"The question for Nova Scotians, and all Canadians, is: will next month's federal budget focus on the people's priorities -- health, education and growth -- or Ottawa's political promises," asked the premier.
Atlantic premiers also pledged to increase the local consumption of homegrown food products, such as beef. The four provinces established the Atlantic Canada Action Team, with representatives from industry and government, to recommend measures to promote the sales of beef and other Atlantic food products.
"The opening of a new, federally inspected meat processing facility on Prince Edward Island later this year will provide beef farmers in Nova Scotia with a great new opportunity to get more of their product in the local marketplace," said the premier. "The Atlantic Action Team will ensure governments do their part to buy more local beef and help farmers and their families."
The premier noted the Nova Scotia government will also unveil the Brand Nova Scotia initiative later this year to better identify and promote the province's products, such as beef.
The premier said he is pleased Atlantic Canada is speaking with one voice on these and other issues. Atlantic premiers also discussed equalization, affordable insurance, softwood lumber, joint efforts to expand investment in the region and an update on Atlantic Canada's action plan for regional co-operation.