HEALTHFORUM 2015
"Our province is facing some important decisions about health promotion and healthcare leadership in the upcoming provincial election," said Dr. Stephen Bornstein, Director of the NL Centre for Applied Health Research. "At this forum, we’re hoping to shed some light on where each party stands on the key issues of concern to our citizens. We’ll ask them to outline their platforms for improving the state and future of health and healthcare in our province, to debate with one another, and to answer questions from the audience.”
Moderated by CBC St. John’s Morning Show Host Anthony Germain, the forum will provide party healthcare leaders a chance to address several key issues, including: population health and wellness, healthcare spending, access to services, and specific healthcare concerns such as mental health, seniors’ care, rural healthcare, and care for people with chronic disease. The format has been designed to provide the leaders with an opportunity to engage with each other. The moderator will be able to pose follow-up questions to ensure that the audience has the best information and insight possible.
With that goal in mind, the floor will also be open to those in attendance to pose questions directly to the candidates. All major provincial party healthcare leaders are confirmed to participate: Steve Kent, Minister of Health & Community Services on behalf of the Progressive Conservative Party of NL; Andrew Parsons, Health Critic, on behalf of the Liberal Party of NL and Lorraine Michael, Health Critic, on behalf of the New Democratic Party of NL
The debate is hosted by the NL Centre for Applied Health Research, the Harris Centre of Regional Policy & Development, and Memorial University’s Department of Political Science with funding from the University’s Office of Public Engagement.