The Council of Canadians spearheaded national day of action today to save Medicare and renew the Canada health Accord.
Federal Perth Wellington NDP candidate Ethan Rabidoux promoted a noon hour rally in front of MP Gary Schellenberger's constituency office in Stratford.
The Council of Canadians says this is the first anniversary of the expiry of the ten year Accord which was signed in 2004.
Campaign Michael Butler says the federal government is ignoring calls by the provinces and territories to work out a new deal.
In fact, he says instead, the government has announce dover 36-billion dollars in health care cuts which are due to take effect following the 2015 federal election.
Butler claims the Conservatives have already reduced health funding by $987 million ...to create a pretext for privatization.
However, Perth Wellington Conservative Candidate John Nater suggests federal funding for healthcare is at record high levels through the Canada Health Transfer.
He says federal funding for health care is increasing at 6% a year until 2017
Then the increase will drop to 3% a year, or the nominal GDP growth if it is higher.
He says by 2018, federal health funding will be nearly double the amount it was in 2006.
"As a candidate and as a Canadian, I am committed to a publicly funded, universally accessible health care system," said Nater. He added, "As a father, I want to see a strong, sustainable health care system in Canada that is there when our families need it."
