Released on July 5, 1995
Health Minister Lorne Calvert will attend a conference of provincial,federal and territorial health ministers in Ottawa on July 4, which
will focus on preserving medicare.
Calvert says the meeting, which follows the April gathering of
provincial and territorial health ministers in Vancouver, will discuss
proposed federal budget cuts to health and health system renewal across
the country.
"The proposed reductions to funding for health care and other services,
which were unilaterally announced by the federal government last
February, will make it difficult for Saskatchewan and other provinces
to maintain health, education, and social assistance at their current
levels," Calvert said. "Saskatchewan is committed to a strong national
health system, based on the principles of medicare, pioneered here in
Saskatchewan."
The health ministers are also scheduled to discuss health renewal
strategies at the one-day conference. Calvert will share
Saskatchewan's health renewal experience with his counterparts.
"Saskatchewan is several years ahead of other provinces in terms of
health renewal," Calvert said.
"Our leadership in this area will benefit other regions, as all
governments in Canada move through their own health system renewal and
work to manage health dollars more wisely."
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For more information, contact:
Mark Seland
Communications and Public Information Branch
Saskatchewan Health
Regina
Phone: (306) 787-3825