On October 14, 2008 Canadians will head to the polls to elect a new federal government.  The Members of Parliament we elect can have a huge impact on the health care and community social services that HSA members provide.  HSA urges members to examine the positions of the parties on these issues, and to vote for candidates who will support public health care and community social services.

General voting day:

Tuesday, October 14

Voting times:

BC Health Coalition calls on British Columbians to reject BCAA queue jumping insurance and demand government action to enforce health care legislation.

The BC Health Coalition is deeply disturbed by BCAAs recent announcement to begin offering insurance that will allow its members to jump the health care queue and obtain services at for-profit clinics.

HSA members who are running for office or working on campaigns in the provincial by-elections in Vancouver-Burrard and Vancouver-Fairview can apply to HSA for the following financial support from HSAs Political Action Fund:

1. Members who are candidates can apply for up to 20 days of wage replacement and/or up to $200 to cover approved personal expenses incurred to run for office.

'How many more people must die before the Harper government realizes that public health and safety must always transcend the boundaries of ideology?'

James Clancy, National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE)

By Larry Brown
National Secretary-Treasurer
National Union of Public and General Employees

Canadian governments have made our public health care and other social programs very vulnerable to attack by private for profit companies outside of Canada. They have done that by signing trade deals like the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Weve known that for years î º and for years weve been warning them and nervously waiting for the other shoe to drop, for someone to actually challenge our public programs.

Join the BC Health Coalition for...

The Big Issue: Debating the Future of Canadian Health Care.
A Vancouver Centre Federal All-Candidates Forum

Tuesday September 23, 2008. 1:00pm - 3:00pm.
411 Seniors Centre, 3rd Floor:
411 Dunsmuir @ Homer in Vancouver.

BC Health Coalition calls on British Columbians to vote for federal candidates who support public solutions to health care challenges.

The BC Health Coalition is calling on voters to elect federal candidates who will commit to standing up in support of Medicare and oppose the growth of for-profit health care.

Call for delegates
To celebrate the International Day of Peace on September 21, the Committee on Equality and Social Action is calling on members to apply for support to attend the Remembrance Day Teach-In being developed by the World Peace Forum Society.

The 2008 annual Run for the Cure, the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation's most important fundraiser, is Sunday October 5.

HSA has supported the run for the past 11 years, and as a gold-level sponsor encourages HSA members and others to join the HSA team to Run for the Cure October 5.