Opposition Leader Yvonne Jones is calling on the
Premier to change his focus from the “Anything But Conservative”
campaign back to provincial issues such as the crisis in our health care
system and the policy changes needed to ensure healthy air quality in the
province’s schools.
Earlier today, the Canada Health Consumer Index was
released placing Newfoundland and Labrador last among the ten provinces in
health care delivery. Meanwhile, two schools were forced to close due to
air quality problems, a situation that continues to occur every school
year without any government action to ensure province-wide air quality
inspections to verify the schools are safe learning environments.
“The Premier has made his point with the ABC
campaign, but the time has come to return focus to the important everyday
issues facing Newfoundlanders and Labradorians,” said Ms. Jones.
“Everyone in the province, except the Minister of Health, recognizes
that there is a health care crisis. The Canada Health Consumer Index
confirmed that fact today. The people of the province know the Harper
Government is not to be trusted, but we cannot be sidetracked from other
important issues for the next several weeks. The provincial government’s
attention and focus must be returned to the job here at home.
“It is obvious that the Ministers of Health and
Education have enough issues to address in their own departments and they
should re-focus their attention. If they put more time in addressing
health and education issues, maybe we wouldn’t be facing a health crisis
and closed schools less than two weeks after they re-opened.”
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Media Contact:
Darrell Mercer
Director of Communications
Office of the Official Opposition
Tel: (709) 729-6151 or (709) 687-0477