Pallister tight-lipped on privatizing home care services, says he is about 'results'

Manitoba's premier isn't ready to say whether his governmentplans toprivatizethe province's home care services, but says all options are on the table.

"I'll continue to say that we are looking for results and improving results. We shouldn't be close-minded about it. All across the country other provinces have faced up to these challenges some private improvements, lots of changes within the public sector delivery model," BrianPallistersaid Thursday following the last question period before the legislature breaks for the summer.

"We are pursuing these things. We are looking for options."

Pallisterand the Progressive Conservatives wereasked about their plans for home careThursday after theManitoba Government and General Employees' Union (MGEU) revealedthe Winnipeg Regional Health Authority intendsto contract out services provided by home care nurses for its newly announced "enhanced home care service."

The union's presidentcharges it is thefirst step towardprivatizingall of Manitoba'shome care services and will result in public sector job losses.

"[Home care workers] are very, very concerned. They're angry, they're upset," MichelleGawronskytold CBC News.

Pallisterrepeatedly told media his government's first concern is getting "better results."

"We are looking for major change to happen within our system and we are being attacked for trying to improve a system that is the worst in Canada," he said.

New service'a shift toprivatizedhome care delivery'

In April, the Winnipeg Regional Health Authorityannounced plans tolauncha new the enhanced servicethis year aftercancellingthe Hospital Home Team, a unit of about 10 nurses in charge of caring foraround550 chronically illWinnipeggersin their homes.

The province previously gave $1.7 million to the health authority to pay for the program, but funding ended on March 31.Gawronskysaid she was informed of the decision to hire outside of theMGEUfor the new serviceat a meeting on May 8 withWRHApresident MiltonSussman.

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Union members were shocked to learn jobs will be contracted out, anMGEUspokesperson said.

"When you're talking about enhancing a home care system, we already have one. We have the best program in Canada,"Gawronskysaid, adding the union represents more than 2,000 workers in Winnipeg alone.

"Thisnew program is exactly what our members do today, every day."

The incoming enhanced program signals a shift towardprivatizedhome care delivery,Gawronskysaid.

The union held a meeting Wednesdayto inform membersthatjobs couldbe contracted out in the future.

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Under Manitoba's current modelall regional health authorities are required to provide home care services to persons who meet the criteria of the program's mandate. This includes providing services to persons so they can remain at home, delaying the need to go to a long-term care facility. It also helps placeindividuals in long-term care facilities when home care services cannot be maintained safely and provide servicesuntil they are placed in a facility.

These services are provided free of charge to those who meet the assessment criteria for admission to the Home Care Program. Under the current contract with theMGEU, 80 per cent of the workers have to come from the union.

In a letter sent to Health Minister KelvinGoertzenon May 31,Gawronskyvoiced concernsthat contracting out for the new programcould breach this provision in the collective agreement.

• Manitoba faces financial crunch as home care demands expected to soar

The province released a report in January saying it had to come up with anadditional $572 millionover the next two decades to cover basic home care costs to take care of theagingbaby boomer generation.

It outlined the growing costs associated with the public system, which costs the government over $300 million annually. With significant growthin the province's seniors populationexpected, the report byconsultant RegToewssaid that figure could increase to $874 million by 2037.

The GaryFilmonTories famously tried to move toward private, for-profit home care in 1996and saw significant pushback. That attempt was ultimately dropped after a brief pilot project was launched.

TheWRHApreviouslyindicated it would need more workers totackle the increase in demand, a spokesperson with the health authority said.

Spokespersons withManitoba Health and the Winnipeg Regional Health Authoritysaid they arelimited in what they can say about government programsduring abyelectionperiod under the Manitoba Election Financing Act. Abyelectionis scheduled for June 13 in the Point Douglas ward.

• Manitobabyelectionfor Point Douglas set for June 13

Full coverage of health cuts in Manitoba