Protest in Barrie against cuts to health-care funding and transparency at Queen’s Park (5 photos)

Posted: April 26, 2026

(April 25, 2026) By: Kevin Lamb, BarrieToday.com

The Ontario Health Coalition also planned protests on Saturday in Ottawa, Windsor, St. Catherines [sic], Port Colborne, Kitchener-Waterloo, City of Kawartha Lakes and nearby Elmvale

Around 40 protesters mobilized by the Ontario Health Coalition, a public interest group fighting against healthcare cuts, voiced their concerns about Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s policies on Saturday at the corner of Mapleview Drive East and Bayview Drive in Barrie.

It is one of several planned protests on Saturday throughout Ontario and organizers say the demonstrations this weekend are the first in a series.

The group’s main beef is to demand the Ford government to not privatize hospitals.

The Ontario Health Coalition says they advocate “to protect and improve public health care, fight against cuts, closures, privatization and for democratic decision-making, public control and improved care for all under the principles of the Canada Health Act.”

“I think it’s horrid that we aren’t funding appropriately … and a lack of funding is just holding us all back,” Wendy Bradley, a member of the Ontario Health Coalition and one of the coordinators of the Barrie protest told BarrieToday at the event.

She is also raising concerns with the cutting of OSAP (Ontario Student Assistance Program), general affordability and the recent controversial purchase of a private jet for the premier’s use, which was then sold by the government after public backlash.

“Talk about wasting our taxpayers money. I want transparency,” Bradley said.

With busy Saturday traffic on Mapleview Drive, there was a steady stream of honking by drivers passing the protesters.

How does that support make Bradley feel?

“Good,” she said. “There are other people in our ridings that aren’t happy with what’s going on. I think it’s important for all Ontarians, and this isn’t just necessarily (about) the Conservatives – I’m not opposed to any party – but when you are taking us down a path that is not beneficial to us, the taxpayers, your constituents, that’s a problem.”

Bradley is also not happy with local Barrie members of provincial parliament.

“I’m a little ashamed that our MPPs chose to vote in favour of the FOI (freedom of information) changes,” she said. “Both of them had an opportunity to say no and to stand up for their constituents, and they didn’t, so, people need to think about what these people are doing for us, because I’m not seeing anything.”

The other protests planned by the coalition happening on Saturday were in Ottawa, Windsor, St. Catherines, Port Colborne, Kitchener-Waterloo, City of Kawartha Lakes and nearby Elmvale at the Elmvale Maple Syrup Festival.

Click here for the original article