April 18 OPSEU members are invited to rally in
support of hospital services in their community. Across Ontario
communities face major cuts to their hospitals, leading to
longer wait times, bed cuts, program closures, and overcrowding.
In many rural communities patients will have to travel further
to access basic services.
Continued underfunding means about 80 per cent
of hospitals are sinking into debt while the equivalent of 5,000
full-time jobs are expected to be eliminated this year alone.
The Ontario Health Coalition is coordinating
demonstrations in front of government MPP offices on Saturday,
April 18th.
Fight-back campaigns have already had results.
In Petrolia a large community demonstration saved their ER from
closing. In Hamilton the community successfully fought off a
plan to reduce the ER at Hamilton Health Sciences to a pediatric-only
facility. In Trenton the hospital was forced to back down on a
plan to downgrade their ER to an urgent care facility. Sustained
pressure will make a difference.
The following is a preliminary list of
demonstrations coordinated by the Ontario Health Coalition. If
your community is not on the list, but your local would like to
participate, please contact the Ontario Health Coalition
directly at: (416) 441-2502 or email
ohc@sympatico.ca.
SOUTHEASTERN ONTARIO RALLIES
CORNWALL
11 am at MPP Jim Brownell’s office: 20
Montreal Rd., Cornwall
For more information contact: Diane at (613)
936-0980
QUINTE
12 noon at MPP Leona Dombrowsky’s office, 81
Millennium Parkway, Unit 3, Belleville
(For Picton & Belleville area residents) For
more information contact Barb at (613) 476-4097
KINGSTON
11 am at MPP John Gerretsen’s office, 303
Bagot Street at the LaSalle Mews
For more information contact Ross at (613)
374-5258
CENTRAL-WEST, HAMILTON AND NIAGARA RALLIES
GUELPH
2 pm at MPP Liz Sandal’s office, 173
Woolwich St., Guelph.
(For Kitchener & Guelph area residents) For
more information contact Maggie at (519) 767-0084
For more information on Kitchener contact
Orville at (519) 893-3974
HAMILTON
11 am at MPP Sophia Aggelonitis’ office: 952
Concession St., Hamilton Mountain
For more information contact Nancy at (905)
385-1933
NIAGARA
12 noon at MPP Jim Bradley’s office, 2
Secord Drive, St.Catharines
(For Fort Erie, Welland, Port Colborne & St.
Catharines area residents)
For further information contact Sue at (905)
932-1646
NORTHERN ONTARIO RALLIES
SUDBURY
12 noon at MPP Rick Bartolucci’s office, 100
Elm St., Sudbury
For more information contact Anne Marie at
(705) 698-7655
SOUTHWESTERN ONTAIRO RALLIES
STRATHROY
12 noon at MPP Marla Van Bommel’s office,
71C Front St. West, Strathroy
(For Sarnia, Petrolia, Lambton County and
Strathroy area residents)
For further information contact: Kathryn at
(519) 245-9221 {from April 17: Joyce at (519) 245-3633} (Strathroy);
Helen at (519) 882-0357 (Petrolia); Arlene at (519) 542-1895
(Sarnia)
WALLACEBURG
12 noon at MPP Marla Van Bommel’s office:
208 Margaret Ave., Wallaceburg
For more information contact Shirley at
(519) 677-4474
CHATHAM
2:30 pm at MPP Pat Hoy’s office, 111
Heritage Rd., Chatham
(For Chatham & Leamington area residents)
For more information contact Todd at (519) 326-0752
