30
Sep
2011
Kevin Aylward, Leader of the Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador, will be campaigning in his District of St. George’s – Stephenville East on Saturday and Sunday.
Monthly Archives: September 2011
30
Sep
2011
Liberal Leader Kevin Aylward today outlined his vision for the reform of the relationship between the province and the municipalities.
“Government has ignored the issues underlying the problems faced by municipalities in this province. All municipalities in the province, from the capital city of St. John’s to the smallest isolated hamlet, have a point of view which must be considered carefully and with respect. I plan to lead a government which will respect and consider the issues of every community regardless of size or location,” Aylward said.
The Liberal Policy Platform contains initiatives to recognize the value and support our municipalities in a number of key areas.
Fiscal Framework Reform:
- Establish a task force in partnership with Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador to review alternate revenue sources that may be used for municipal revenue
- Increase municipal operating grants to municipalities by 10% in each of the next four years, using the cost-sharing ratio as a guide to ensure that smaller municipalities receive the larger percentage of increase
- Ensure that the provincial government pays our fair share to municipalities for the services consumed. Having provincial government faculties in a community should not become a burden to that community
Land Use Reform
- Complete an inventory of Crown Lands in the province and work closely with Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador and concerned municipalities to develop a mechanism that enables the transfer of crown land within municipal boundaries to the municipality at a minimal cost
Water and Waste Management Reform
- Complete the Provincial Waste Management Strategy for all regions of the province, and will ensure that any strategy will be effective and affordable for all residents
- Introduce a Safe Drinking Water Strategy that addresses the high number of boil water advisories and will include, through Municipal Capital Works, the required resources to eliminate the problem.
Aylward stated, “The municipal level of government is the level closest to the people providing the everyday services important to basic qualities of life and health: water, garbage collection, local roads and snow clearing. We need to provide municipalities with the financial and other tools they need to get the job done.”
29
Sep
2011
Kevin Aylward, Leader of the Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador, will be visiting the Districts of Bellevue, Trinity North, Bonavista South, and Terra Nova on Friday, September 30, 2011.
29
Sep
2011
Liberal Leader Kevin Aylward today reiterated his vision to address the opportunities and challenges related to aging and seniors.
Aylward stated, “Newfoundland and Labrador has a changing population that will challenge our ability to provide health care for decades to come. By 2025, more than 1 in 4 people in our province will be seniors. A New Liberal Government will offer more choices to our aging and seniors and allow them to live with dignity and independence for as long as possible, in supportive communities close to their families and friends.”
The Liberal Policy Platform contains initiatives to recognize the value of our seniors in a number of key areas.
1. Valuing Our Seniors
- Minister of Aging and Seniors
- Aging and Seniors Strategy, including a Long Term Care Strategy
- Office of the Seniors Advocate
2. Acute Care
- Geriatric Focus which will give priority to our seniors
3. Community Care
- Care in the Community that will allow seniors to live longer and more independently in their own homes
- Long Term Care Facilities investments
- Home Care Strategy to enhance services in our communities
- Family Caregivers Recognition, Training and Support
- Paying Family Caregivers
- Personal Care Homes
- Home Oxygen Program
- Provincial Palliative Care Program
4. Prevention and Management
- Chronic Disease Management and Prevention
- Appropriate Use of Medications
“We have taken it to the next level and will be addressing these things to enhance access, increase efficiencies and make our publicly funded health care system more accountable and accessible to the patients and the people of the province,” said Aylward.
29
Sep
2011
Liberal Leader Kevin Aylward today reiterated his support for public health care stating, “The debate over privatization is often driven by delayed access to specialists and procedures. However, enhancing access through privatization is not the key to health care improvement.”
“Let me be clear, we must and will ensure that our public health care system remains a public one and will be universally accessible to all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, irrespective of wealth.”
Aylward noted that our health care system has remarkable capacity to respond positively within the public system to increase access, decrease costs and maintain (or even enhance) quality of service and outcomes. A continued and concerted drive in that direction will enhance access and services within the health care system.
This has been addressed in the policy platform. A new Liberal Government will undertake a number of initiatives to help improve access and ensure that our health care system is a public one. Initiatives include:
- Primary Health Care
- Nurse Practitioners and Enhanced Scope of Practice
- Patient Navigators & Education
- Geriatric Focus to Our Health Care System
- Chronic Disease Management
- Healthy Eating, Active Living for our Children and Youth
- Mental Health
- Accountability
“We have taken it to the next level and will be addressing these things to enhance access, increase efficiencies and make our publicly funded health care system more accountable and accessible to the patients and the people of the province,” said Aylward.
