Media Advisory February
27, 2006
Health care workers
vow to continue LHINs fight: McGuinty Liberals set to force
vote on controversial Bill
TORONTO, - Despite the appeal
of thousands of health and community social service workers
from across the province to delay passage of Bill 36 -
controversial health-care restructuring legislation - the
McGuinty Liberals are poised to force the Bill to a vote this
week.
The Ontario Nurses' Association
(ONA), the Service Employees International Union Local1.on
(SEIULocal1.on), the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE)
and the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) have
opposed Bill 36 - legislation that will allow the Liberals'
Local Health Integration Network plan.
The four unions say the Bill
compromises public health-care delivery and permits the
transfer of health services from public, not-for-profit
providers, like public hospitals, to private, for-profit
entities by the Cabinet, the health minister and his agents,
the LHINs.
Although many diverse groups
called for substantive amendments to Bill 36, the McGuinty
Liberals made few changes that would stop creeping
privatization in the delivery of health services.
At a Queen's Park media
conference tomorrow, the leadership of the unions will
highlight:
- How the LHINs legislation
will increase health service privatization;
- How the LHINs will lead to two-tier health services and
increased user fees for Ontarians;
- Results of a public opinion poll on the LHINs;
- A multi-media ad campaign (TV and radio clips to be
screened) opposing LHINs privatization.
ONA, OPSEU, SEIU, CUPE media
conference:
Tuesday, February 28,
2006 12:00 noon Queen's Park - Media Studio
-30-
For further information:
contact:
Sheree Bond, ONA, (416)
964-8833, Ext. 2430;
Helen Fetterly, OCHU/CUPE, (613) 551-0688;
John Van Beek, SEIU, (416) 282-0649;
David Cox, OPSEU, (416) 788-9197/
http://www.protecthealthcare.ca/
