"The new money earmarked by the federal government is a positive step in improving and securing our health care services in the province," said Mr. Joyce. "Now that there are millions of extra dollars to be invested in our province’s health care system, I would encourage Premier Williams to invest some of this money into home care in the province. Grants should be increased to agencies such as the VON so that home care services can be improved and the current strike taking place in western Newfoundland can come to an end. Home care will be a very important issue in the coming years and I encourage government to inject the needed dollars now before it is too late.

"Last April, Trinity North MHA Ross Wiseman stated that it would not be acceptable to expect home care workers to continue without receiving wage increases. Now that there is new money available, and now that he is parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Health, he can follow-up his words with actions and help resolve the VON strike in western Newfoundland. Is he willing to lobby his minister to use some of this funding to improve home care in the province? Are Premier Williams and MHA Tom Marshall willing to invest new funding that would finally see this strike come to an end?

"The elderly and disabled people who rely on home care services are experiencing first hand the need for more health care funding. The VON strike is demonstrating the impact that a withdrawal of these services can have on the health care system. The longer this strike goes on, and the longer home care does not receive the attention it deserves, we will continue to witness more strain on our general health care system. Providing a small grant increase could actually save government money in the long-term. Now is the time for government to become involved and ensure that some of these health care dollars are used to end the VON strike and ensure there is a stable home care system in the province."