Improve health and health care in New Brunswick

We call on the Government of New Brunswick to commit to negotiating a renewed 2014 Health Accord in concert with the other Provinces and Territories and the Government of Canada, including:

a) A 6% increase in health transfers from the Government of Canada to the provinces/territories for the duration of the accord; and

b) A commitment to NOT subtract any of these new health transfers from other, existing social transfers; and

c) A renewed commitment to the five principles of the Canada Health Act; and

d) Adoption of the following additional seven principles for Canada's health system: "patient-centred"; "quality"; "health promotion and illness prevention"; "equitable"; "sustainable"; "accountable"; "community-oriented"; and

e) A provision within the accord identifying “access to appropriate primary health care” as a priority area for federal and provincial/territorial action.

We also call on the Government of New Brunswick to commit to developing a plan to expand access to Community Health Centre (CHC) services through a combination of new resources for existing CHCs in New Brunswick -- so that they may extend services and programs to community members most urgently in need -- and funding for new Community Health Centres in communities where needs cannot be met by an existing CHC.