ONTARIO NURSES FUMING OVER SPENDING CUTS

TORONTO - Ontario nurses are lashing out at recently announced
spending cuts by the federal Conservative government.

In an open letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, the Registered
Nurses' Association of Ontario says the cuts will impact various
programs and hurt minorities.

They claim high rates of smoking in aboriginal communities will go
unchecked with the elimination of funding for the First Nations and
Inuit tobacco strategy.

They also take aim at money cut from the medical marijuana, Health
Canada policy research and court challenges programs.

The nurses say cuts to the court program will hurt minority groups
such as aboriginals, gays and lesbians, and people with disabilities
who may want to challenge federal laws that discriminate against them.