CUPE rallies against public-private partnership for Corner Brook nursing home

The Canadian Union of Public Employees ralliedMonday against theplan to use a public-private partnership to build a new long term care facility in Corner Brook.

"Once you open a crack in the door, the door is open then and then there's room for all kinds ofprivatizationto come in," said CUPE president Wayne Lucas.

The Newfoundland and Labrador government announced in January that a private company will build the Corner Brook long-term care home, but it will be staffed by public sector workers.

• Long-term care home construction in Corner Brook by fall 2017: premier
• New long-term care will share facilities with future Corner Brook hospital

CUPE, which represents some health care workers in the province, demanded more information about how that would work.

"My concern is to get a facility built for seniors," said the MHA for HumberBay of Islands, Eddie Joyce, who was at the rally Mondayto answer union criticism.

"There are 43 seniors in acute care beds," he said, a problem that has long plagued the Western Memorial Hospital.

Construction is expected on the new long-term care facility in the fall of 2017.