Debra McPherson, President, BC Nurses' Union, Vancouver Sun, April 29, 2011 For nurses it's refreshing that support for public healthcare has emerged as a key issue in this federal election campaign. Canadians have continuously declared that healthcare is their number one concern. But most of our political leaders - including the Prime Minister - launched their campaigns seemingly intent on putting medicare on the backburner. Just before the election was called, the government tried to bury discussion of the expiring federal/provincial health funding accord by referring it to the Senate, where the Conservatives have appointed a majority of members ... Nurses