OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Oct. 2, 2015) - The Ottawa Health Coalition is hosting a Federal Election Forum on Health Care this coming Sunday, October 4^th, 1:30 PM, Ottawa Public Library, Main Branch Auditorium.

Recent polling by Abacus and Ipsos indicate that Canadians regard health care policy as a top concern determining their vote in this 2015 Federal Election. And that's as it should be.

The Federal Governments' commitment to ensuring equal, universally accessible, and comprehensive health care to all Canadians, on the basis of need and not wealth, is crucial to the future of public health care in Canada. So it's time we talk seriously about this here in Ottawa.

The Ottawa Health Coalition believes that helping to provide a space in our city for an open democratic discussion of our public health care system is a key part of its mandate. To accomplish this we will be offering more than just an all party or all candidates debate. We have invited panelists who will discuss the current state of health care in our region and in Canada. They will discuss the feasibility and sustainability of a publicly funded and administered, universally accessible health care system as well as the viability of a national drug program and the need for commitments to standards in Long term Care and Seniors Care. Our speakers will address the need to renew the Canada Health Accord to ensure commitments to adequate funding transfers to the provinces; and, the need for the Government of Canada to defend, as per its mandate, the Canada Health Act.

Our speakers will include:

Natalie Mehra, Executive Director, Ontario Health Coalition. Natalie will also moderate the discussion.

Adrienne Silnicki, National Coordinator, Canadian Health Coalition

Michael McBane, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives

Julie White, Council of Union Retirees

We have invited the political parties to send a candidate or representative and offered them time to state their party's positions and to take questions from our guests and the audience. To date we have yet to receive confirmation from the Liberal and Conservative Parties.

Federal Election Forum on Health Care

Sunday, October 4^th, 1:30PM

Ottawa Public Library, Main Branch Auditorium, 120 Metcalfe Street ( at Laurier )

The Ottawa Health Coalition aims to protect and improve our public health care system. We work to honour and strengthen the principles of the Canada Health Act. We are committed to core values of equality, democracy, social inclusion and social justice; and by the five principles of the Act: universality; comprehensiveness; portability; accessibility and public administration. We are a non-profit, non-partisan public interest activist coalition.