Healthcare workers, members of local unions and concerned citizens protested outside Richmond MP Alice Wong's office Monday afternoon opposing cuts to transfer payments that fund healthcare services.
Canada's health accord, the agreement which provides transfer payments from the federal government to the provinces and territories, expired March 31.
With no new agreement to take its place, many are worried about the impact on healthcare costs and services.
"Today (Monday) is the end of the 10-year health accord between the provinces and the federal government, and as a result of that accord ending, we are going to see a cut in funding to B.C. totaling $255 million this year and next year, and $5 billion over the next 10 years," says Neil Monckton, with the Hospital Employees' Union (HEU).
Monckton says cuts by the federal government are going to have a major impact on healthcare services, which are already stretched to the max.
"We see it in terms of workload and the kinds of working conditions we have, such as crowded hospitals."
With a quarter of a billion dollars in cuts in the next two years, potential job losses are also a concern, and that has employees worried as well.
"I get the impression that if you have money, you'll survive, and if you don't, good luck to you. That is completely wrong and I'm sure that Tommy Douglas is rolling around in his grave right now," says Gino, a Richmond Hospital employee who didn't want to give his last name.
With vast numbers of baby-boomers entering retirement, he believes the timing couldn't be worse.
"Especially for the seniors. They work all their lives, they made this country what it is, and it's not fair to penalize people this way. Not only are you going to kill people faster, they are going to have to sell everything they have just to stay afloat."
"We would like the Stephen Harper Conservatives to reinstate the Canadian health accord. It's incredibly important to protect our public healthcare and medicare," says Stephanie Smith of the BCGEU.
Alice Wong did not appear to be at her office at the time and has not responded to a request for comment from the News.
