OTTAWA: Workers
at the Royal
Ottawa Mental
Health Centre
will be handing
out “P3 Dollars”
to make the
point that there
is no ‘free
money’ when
private
corporations
build public
infrastructure,
such as
hospitals.
Members of
Ontario Public
Service
Employees Union
Local 479,
representing
mental health
workers, will be
giving out the
‘funny money’ to
make their
point.
What: Street
Theatre
When: Friday,
November 23,
2007, 8:00 am
Where: Tunney's
Pasture Transit
Station at
Holland Avenue
and Scott Street
Afterwards, a
news conference
will take place,
providing an
update on
continuing
problems at the
hospital,
including the
arrival of a
fee-based
clinic operating
alongside public
services.
What: News
conference on
problems at the
private facility
When: Friday,
November 23,
11:30 a.m.
Where: 280
Metcalfe St.,
5th floor (Labour
Council office)
ROMHC is the
first privately
designed, built
and financed
hospital in
Ontario. It
opened in 2006,
and has
experienced a
high number of
problems,
including hidden
costs and risk
factors for
staff and
patients.
Workers have
long maintained
that the
privatization of
this facility
has had harmful
impacts on
patient care and
the public
interest.
At the ROMHC,
the private
sector is now
encroaching
further on the
facility,
delivering
two-tier care in
the same
facility.
MindCare Centres,
a private clinic
with a new form
of depression
treatment not
covered by the
Ontario health
plan, or
approved in the
United States,
has taken up
residence inside
the facility.
