BC FORUM News - from the CURC 2017 Convention

Union retirees stage plans for national public
drug program & better health care

Winnipeg - for release Wednesday, June 7, 2017

The Congress of Union Retirees of Canada (CURC) began meetings here yesterday to plan a national convention next year, vowing to push for a national public drug program and better health care.

From next May 30 to June 1st, 2018 union retirees from every region of the country will assemble in Winnipeg to adopt national strategies for improving the well being of aging workers in Canada. Over the next few days the national CURC Executive will continue to discuss details for next year and to discuss strategies over a broad range of issues.

CURC remains undeterred by the most recent provincial and federal negotiations that failed to deal with a national drug program (or pharmacare, as it is otherwise known). Now the issue is being reviewed by a House of Commons standing committee.

CURC national President Len Hope says members and allies from across the country continue to lobby for a national universal public drug program and he now sees political momentum building on the issue, especially at the provincial level.

Manitoba already has a program and Ontario has recently announced plans for its own, while Alberta administers a publicly funded seniors drug plan”.  Hope says an increasing cross section of seniors, union and friendly organisations are also assuming the mantle, for a coherent national approach.

CURC has called on its members to start planning now for the next national Convention at the end of May next year.

See CURC background document, Time for a New Prescription: Universal Public Pharmacare is Safe and Affordable at http://unionretiree.ca/wp-content/uploads/pharmacare-paper-final-dec-2014.pdf