TRURO, NOVA SCOTIA--(Marketwire - Jan. 16, 2012) - CUPE Nova Scotia President Danny Cavanagh has a message for Premier Dexter as he gets set to meet with other first ministers in Victoria - tell Stephen Harper and Jim Flaherty not to touch our health care equalization payments.

Says Cavanagh, "The federal government's own Parliamentary Budget Officer issued a report late last week which suggests the proposed new health transfer plan could cost the provinces a whopping $31 billion."

Federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty revealed the new plan last month. Budget Officer Kevin Page was quoted as saying, "The provinces' problem, as a result of the change, just got twice as big with one stroke of the pen."

"Premier Dexter needs to heed Mr. Page's warning and insist that the federal government not destroy the current health transfer plan. The new scheme will have a devastating impact on our province," says Cavanagh.