[LabComm] Hansen Admits Health Privatization to Accelerate, says James

[BC NDP NEWSWIRE]

Hansen Admits Health Privatization to Accelerate, says James

NDP Leader Says Choice on Health Care is Now Clear

Victoria -- Finance Minister Colin Hansen's defence of health care privatization is the strongest hint yet that the BC Liberals plan to accelerate the contracting out and privatization of patient care, NDP Leader Carole James said today.

James said that with only seven weeks left until voting day, the choice for voters on health care is coming into sharp focus.

"Privatization of health care has failed," said James.  "Waitlists are surging.  Emergency rooms are overcrowded.  And patient care is worse.  But the Finance Minister is now suggesting that the government wants to move even faster on for-profit medicine.  It shows that the Liberals have learned nothing and have a hidden privatization agenda."

In response to an NDP question about what public assets the BC Liberals plan to privatize if re-elected, the Finance Minister mounted an aggressive defence of the Liberal record, saying that privatization is a better value for taxpayers, including contracting out of health services.

"If health care privatization was such a good deal, patient care in BC would be improving.  But it's not.  After four years of privatization, patient care is getting much worse.  And pressing even further to privatize services will only hurt patients more," said James.

James said the NDP will halt the privatization of health care.  She said that her plan will focus resources on patients rather than profits with innovative solutions such as not-for profit surgery centres.

"My plan protects and improves public health care.  Gordon Campbell's plan means more privatization, longer waitlists, and dirty overcrowded hospitals."

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