Monday, September 16, 2013
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HALIFAX NEWS WORTH SHARING.
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‘We have to make a difference’ Friends of man killed last year hold anti-violence march PAGE 3
FROM 90210 TO THE B3H JASON PRIESTLEY PREMIERES FIRST FEATURE AT AFF, STARRING RICHARD DREYFUSS PAGE 6
Grits vow to cut wait time Health care. Liberals promote plan for faster knee- and hipreplacement surgeries
LAWN OF THE DEAD
Walter Jones, right, watches people dressed as zombies stream out of the Public Gardens on Sunday afternoon as part of the annual Halifax Zombie Walk. The event sees dozens of people participate. Go to metronews.ca/halifax to view a photo gallery of the event. JEFF HARPER/METRO
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Nova Scotia’s Liberal party outlined its plan Sunday to improve health care in the province, promising to reduce wait times for surgeries and increase the number of doctors in under-serviced areas. Leader Stephen McNeil said he would develop a provincewide surgical plan if elected Oct. 8. He vowed to reduce the number of district health authorities from 10 to two and to meet the national standard of a six-month wait for hip and knee-replacement surgeries. “By eliminating the administration portion of those health authorities, we’re saving $13 million, $8.1 million of which we’re putting back into dealing with wait lists,” said McNeil, as the provincial election campaign moved into its second week. The current wait times are among the worst in the
country, with nine out of 10 patients waiting 20 months for a knee replacement and 17 months for a hip replacement, the Liberal party’s platform says. NDP politician and Health Minister David Wilson denounced the party’s plan to eliminate the health authorities, saying it would pull resources out of rural regions. “I know that the communities in Nova Scotia don’t want that and they don’t need that,” said Wilson. McNeil said he would provide up to $120,000 in tuition relief annually for four years for 25 new doctors to practise in under-serviced communities. McNeil added he would also create an expert team to recruit and retain doctors. Progressive Conservative Leader Jamie Baillie agreed that the province needs more physicians, but said “throwing money at the problem ... papers over the real issue.” THE CANADIAN PRESS
More election coverage, page 4