For Immediate Release
21 October, 2021
Interim NDP Leader and MHA for St. John’s Centre, James Dinn, responded to comments made by Minister Abbott yesterday which downplayed the findings of the Health Accord, and attempted to blame health professionals for the Liberal Government’s failure to keep discussions going with NLMA.
“Minister Abbott has a lot to learn about labour relations,” said Dinn. “We cannot ignore that for decades successive governments have willingly allowed the healthcare crisis to continue, and we now have just under 19% of the population without a family doctor – how can anyone argue this isn’t a crisis? This government just doesn’t get it.”
The NL NDP Caucus is sure that no one, including Minister Abbott, want a repeat of the breast cancer screening scandal that occurred when what was thought to be one false negative test became 383 patients that were affected between 1997 and 2005.Dinn is concerned that the Liberal Government is wasting time downplaying the healthcare crisis instead of bringing stakeholders to the table to seek a resolution. He reminds all those at the cabinet table that their policies have real human impacts, and to act as such.
“Politics aside, we are talking about peoples’ lives. Their stories, what they’re facing, needs to guide the province,” said Dinn. “This government will do well to stop fighting healthcare workers, downplaying the Health Accord Findings, and acknowledge that healthcare is in crisis so we can focus on addressing reality instead of educating government.”
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For further information, contact Eddy St. Coeur, Director of Communications, NDP Caucus at 729-2137 (o), or eddystcoeur@gov.nl.ca