More than 100 people turned out to discuss seniors homecare last night at the Empress Theatre.
The candidates for the Liberals, NDP and Green party in Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe all spoke with locals as well as an expert panel.
NDP Candidate Luc LeBlanc says a national homecare strategy is necessary, and the short answer is Ottawa needs to play a more active role.
He says, “Tom Mulcair has made the solemn promise to meet with premiers twice a year to talk about healthcare, and negotiate. They need to negotiate the transfer formula. Provinces need more money to provide a standard across the country.”
LeBlanc says an NDP government would renegotiate the funding formula to make sure provinces get the money they need.
Liberal candidate Ginette Petitpas-Taylor says, “The Liberal party will act on seniors homecare, because the public demands it, and it is a part of our values. We believe seniors should be treated with compassion and dignity.”
Petitpas-Taylor added the Liberal party will roll out their healthcare plan in the next couple weeks.
Green Party candidate Luc Melanson says one of the biggest problems with healthcare in Canada is a broken funding formula.
He says, “Transfer payments are based on GDP, and as we know, this particularly hurts us in the Maritimes, not only in New Brunswick, but in our fellow Maritime provinces because of our aging population.”
Melanson adds increasing funding and access to healthy lifestyle programs for seniors will greatly reduce the cost of healthcare in the province.
Conservative candidate Robert Goguen did not attend.