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NLIS 1 April 22, 2004 (Executive Council) The following statement was issued today by Loyola Sullivan, Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board. It was also read in the House of Assembly: Provide for the Resumption and Continuation of Public Services Mr. Speaker, Honourable members, and the people of Newfoundland and Labrador, are well aware that the last 22 days in our province have been more than difficult given the largest public sector labour disruption ever in our history. Today, I rise to inform my colleagues in the legislature that the health care system can no longer sustain a strike of this magnitude for anything other than a limited period of time. Government met with representatives of the health sector, and today we have concluded it is necessary to respond to the urgent pressure which this sector is experiencing. It is clear now, in the 22nd day of this labour disruption, that our ability to provide emergent and urgent care is significantly reduced. The fatigue of our health sector managers, our inability to continue to offer adequate care, and the concern over not being able to attend to the needs of patients who are not classified as "emergency" are troublesome. Our health system is being taxed to the limit, and that is a situation government cannot tolerate. The Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association said yesterday our health system is fragile, our patients are suffering and are at risk. An indication of the seriousness of the problems the health system is confronting is evident in the capacity to provide cardiac catheterization. Normally we see 8-10 in-hospital patients per day awaiting cardiac catheterization. Three days ago we had 39 patients waiting; yesterday there were 50 people waiting. For cardiac bypass surgeries, we normally perform 16 per week. Now we are performing only four. On top of this, we have 70 people waiting for cancer surgery in the St. John's area and many others around the province. And there are an unknown number of mental health patients who are not accessing the critical services they need to remain safe and healthy in our community. A very real issue, also, is the people who are awaiting diagnostic procedures, a percentage of whom will also require surgeries or oncology treatments. Mr. Speaker, on top of the strains in the health sector, our education system and general public services are diminishing. People are feeling the anxiety of this extraordinary ordeal every day now. While we appreciate the work of our managers, non-bargaining unit employees and those union members who have provided essential services, we understand that there comes a time when functioning at even a minimal level is not good enough for our province. While it may not be a matter of life and death, our broad public services are the backbone of a well-functioning society - a state to which we must return. I wish to make special mention of our managers who have put every ounce of energy into maintaining essential public services. Without their help, we would not have been able to provide public services even on a reduced level. Union leaders have made their case to government on several occasions both before and after March 31. Government has listened, comprehended and assessed the requests. We too have made our positions known time and time again. As late as yesterday, Government met with NAPE and CUPE in an effort to bring the strike to a conclusion. We worked hard, Mr. Speaker, but our ability to come together was not evident. The request from unions would have overburdened our fiscal plan to such a degree that we would be feeling the effects for years to come. Government made every effort to reach a settlement. We removed all concessions for existing employees and we were prepared to be flexible on many points. No existing employees, temporary or permanent, will have any less benefits at the end of this process than they had prior to the strike. That includes benefits for sick leave, severance and pensions. Mr. Speaker, we bear a large part of the responsibility for protecting our province for the future. Having just brought down one of the most difficult provincial budgets in our history, we feel our real fiscal burden squarely on our shoulders. We sought an agreement which was fair and reasonable - but to no avail. There are no assurances, unfortunately, that the health system can go on coping in the way that it has. Government must now show leadership and discharge the responsibilities entrusted to it by the people of Newfoundland and Labrador. That is why today we will give Notice of Motion to introduce a bill entitled An Act to Provide for the Resumption and Continuation of Public Services. With the pressure of the necessity for swift action from the health and community services sector in particular, I ask Honourable Members to give speedy consideration to the legislation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. 2004 04 22 4:15 p.m. |
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