The leader of New Brunswick’s Green Party is touring the province to talk about health care.
David Coon is holding a series of town hall meetings, starting in Saint John on Tuesday night.
Coon said health care is the number one issue he hears from residents around the province.
“I think people have a real sense that our health-care system is in peril and are worried and need a sense that there is work being done to right the ship,” Coon said in an interview.
The Green Party leader will also tour health-care facilities throughout the province and meet with workers.
Coon said there are several areas he wants to see the government focus on when it comes to primary and acute care.
For example, he said we need to be able to bring more nurse practitioners into family practices.
“But to do so requires a funding model, a financing model, like what exists for physicians who bill Medicare,” said Coon.
“The only way they can really join family practices is if the family physician pays them out of the income to the practice, and that’s just not sustainable.”
With respect to acute care, Coon said hospital administrators need more authority to address local problems.
The Saint John town hall takes place at the Nick Nicolle Community Centre on Durham Street starting at 7 p.m.
Coon will also be visiting Fredericton, Moncton, Sackville, and Kent County over the coming weeks.
