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OHC in the News

 

Ottawa woman ‘outraged’ at $110 charge at Appletree clinic for routine cervical cancer screening

(March 12, 2024) By: Elizabeth Payne, Ottawa Citizen Ontario’s Ministry of Health says it is launching an investigation into the practices of an Ottawa Appletree clinic after a woman was charged $110 to see a nurse practitioner for a routine cancer screening test. Eileen Murphy says she registered with the Appletree clinic near Carling and […]

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Five-month investigation paints a picture of a dangerous and disturbing “Wild West” of private clinics operating with little or no oversight.

(March 9, 2024) By: Burlington Gazette Five-month investigation, paints a picture of a dangerous and disturbing “Wild West” of private clinics operating with little or no oversight. A report released by the Ottawa and Ontario Health Coalitions contains shocking revelations about the ownership and management behind private health clinics in Ottawa. Based on a five-month […]

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Durham ED to close overnight indefinitely beginning March 10 due to staff shortage

(March 08, 2024) by: Greg Cowan, Owen Sound Sun Times The emergency department in Durham will soon close overnight due to a critical shortage of nurses, South Bruce Grey Health Centre announced. Starting on March 10, the emergency department at the Durham hospital will shut its doors every night at 5 p.m. and reopen at […]

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Health coalition says province starves public hospitals

(March 2, 2024) By: James Matthews, Minden Times Allowing some medical procedures to be done at private facilities starves public hospitals, says the Ontario Health Coalition. A new report, entitled Robbing from the public to build the private: The Ford government’s hospital privatization scheme, reveals that local hospitals in every region of Ontario have operating […]

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Private American companies supplying HHS with staff for cardiac surgery

(March 2, 2024) By: Joanna Frketich, The Hamilton Spectator (behind a paywall) –> The first part of the article is as follows: Hamilton’s largest hospital network signed contracts with two private American companies to temporarily supply staff to operate heart-lung machines that the union claims are costing tens of thousands of dollars a week. Hamilton […]

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Murky rules for nurse practitioners give rise to private clinics in Ontario

(March 1, 2024) By: Sarah MacMillan, CBC News When Kyle Truong needed medical attention for a respiratory infection last year, he said there weren’t many convenient options for accessing timely care. Truong, who lives in Toronto, hasn’t had a family doctor for about four years. But then he discovered a private clinic where he could […]

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Private surgeons group doubles weekend orthopedic surgeries in Ottawa

(February 28, 2024) By: Elizabeth Payne, Ottawa Citizen One year after a group of orthopedic surgeons began renting vacant operating rooms on Saturdays at The Ottawa Hospital’s Riverside campus, the group is doubling the number of surgeries it performs there. Cameron Love, president and CEO of The Ottawa Hospital, said the Academic Orthopedic Surgical Associates […]

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Ontario Health Coalition calls out Ford government

Feburary 21, 2024 By: Tina Yazdani, City News The Ford government is under fire over the state of the province’s healthcare system. As Tina Yazdani reports, OHC officials say the government is ‘pouring’ money into private-for-profit clinics and hospitals. Click here to watch the video clip

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Ontario Health Coalition presents latest report into privatization at Cornwall event

(February 21, 2024) by: Shawna O’Neill, Cornwall Standard-Freeholder Cornwall was once again a host as the Ontario Health Coalition released its most-recent report on privatizing services available at publicly funded hospitals on Wednesday. Ontario Health Coalition Cornwall/SDG chapter co-chairs Elaine MacDonald and Louise Lanctot spoke about how the coalition believes policies approved by the Premier […]

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Public Healthcare in Peril: The Price of Privatization and Economic Mismanagement in Ontario and Zimbabwe

(February 18, 2024) by: Olalekan Adigun, BNN Breaking Ontario faces a public healthcare crisis as the Ford government pushes for privatization, while Zimbabwe’s healthcare sector collapses due to neglect and mismanagement. Discover the policy implications and the need for reform in both regions. In the heart of Ontario, a storm brews over the future of […]

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Kingston Health Council Report Released

(February 14, 2024) by: Jeff Green, Frontenac News Report on Cataract Surgery in Kingston offers a long view of the pitfalls of healthcare privatisation. The Kingston Health Council (KHC), and its affiliate the Ontario Health Council, have been persistent critics of the Ford government’s efforts to support private delivery of publicly funded healthcare as part […]

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NDP raises concerns about ‘executive health’ clinic charging patients thousands

(February 16, 2024) by: Sneh Duggal, The Trillium Toronto residents said they lost their family doctor last year after she moved to the ‘executive health’ clinic As the province grapples with a family doctor shortage, New Democrats are raising concerns about clinics offering health care to Ontarians for hefty fees. Last fall, the South Keys […]

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Doug Ford’s new infrastructure bank will benefit investors, not the public

(February 8, 2024) By: Linda McQuaig, Toronto Star It seems like a good rule-of-thumb that the housing of frail and vulnerable people should not be left to those with a voracious appetite for profit. This could be regarded as a key takeaway from the pandemic, when it emerged that death rates were four times higher […]

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Health coalition holding discussion on fate of Fort Erie hospital

(January 8, 2024) By: Allan Benner, Standard There’s increasing interest in a public meeting on the state of health care in Fort Erie, after a previously scheduled meeting was cancelled due to a medical emergency that resulted in death. Organizer Sue Hotte from Niagara Health Coalition said the scope of Thursday’s meeting has grown since […]

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Ontario’s Hospital Labour Force Is At A Breaking Point

(January 8, 2024) By: Adam D.K. King, The Maple No one will be shocked to learn that health-care workers across Canada are overworked and stressed out. Yet the extent of the problem revealed by each new study or poll can’t help but astonish. This past Wednesday, the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions (OCHU), part of […]

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Hallway health care: Ontario Health metrics put numbers to strained system

(January 3, 2024) By: Jessica Smith Cross, The Trillium On an average day, 1,326 people were on stretchers in Ontario emergency department hallways or other “unconventional spaces” at the end of the last fiscal year. It’s one of the metrics Ontario Health (OH) uses to track the health of the health-care system, and it’s at its highest reported […]

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South Bruce Grey Health Centre hospitals were plagued with emergency department closures

(December 28, 2023) By: The SouthGrey This was the fifth most-read story of the year and was seen as the local indicator of a much bigger problem facing the province. In an Ontario Health Coalition report released on December 5, it was revealed that the number of Ontario hospital emergency closures has soared to a new record […]

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Rural communities ‘suffering from the lack of health-care services,’ Niagara Falls MPP tells Fort Erie council

(December 22, 2023) By: Sarah Ferguson, Fort Erie Post Having access to health care when it’s needed is not a privilege; it’s a human right. However, Niagara Falls NDP MPP Wayne Gates said accessing health care is a problem here in Niagara and across the province. At the Dec. 18 Fort Erie council meeting, Gates […]

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Death of man awaiting start of Fort Erie forum on health care highlights need for rural services, says health coalition chair

(December 12, 2023) By: Sarah Ferguson, Fort Erie Post What was supposed to be an opportunity for community members to share their thoughts on the state of health care turned into an emergency situation. Just before the Fort Erie meeting on public health care was expected to start, a man in attendance had a medical […]

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Ontario healthcare report finds over a thousand service shutdowns

(December 11, 2023) By: Freq 90.5/Oldies 96.7 The Ontario Health Coalition released a report this past Tuesday, December 5th, which they say paints a stark picture of the province’s healthcare system. The report tracked the closures of hospital services in 2023 and found a total of 1,200 temporary or permanent closures across Ontario occurred. OHC […]

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Kitchener nurse practitioner operating private clinic

(December 9, 2023) By: Tyler Kelaher and Karis Mapp, Kitchener As Ontario’s public health system continues to battle long wait times and a shortage of family doctors, a Kitchener nurse practitioner claims to have the first and only private health clinic in the area. Phlox Health in south Kitchener offers many of the same services […]

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National charity calls on northern communities to keep the hope alive

(December 8, 2023) By: Austin Campbell, Superior North News A charity that promotes equitable access to healthcare and provides free medical transportation is calling on communities along the north shore of Lake Superior for their support. Established in 1986, Hope Air is a nationwide charity that provides transportation to and from medical appointments for patients […]

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Gélinas continues to voice concerns over emergency room closures

(December 7, 2023) By: Sudbury Nickel Belt MPP France Gélinas, who is also the Ontario opposition health critic, said the numerous temporary closures of hospital emergency rooms in Ontario is putting lives at risk. Gélinas was voicing her concern in the Ontario Legislature on Tuesday when she quoted a number of department closures that have occurred to […]

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“An unprecedented failure of leadership,” Ontario Health Coalition tracked 2023 hospital closures

(December 7, 2023) By: Lake 88.1 News The Ontario Health Coalition released a report Tuesday which they say paints a stark picture of the province’s healthcare system. The report tracked the closures of hospital services in 2023 and found a total of 1,200 temporary or permanent closures across Ontario occurred. OHC Executive Director Natalie Mehra […]

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Ontario hospital ERs have closed 867 times so far this year, health coalition says

(December 6, 2023) By: Elizabeth Payne, Ottawa Citizen Emergency departments and other hospital services have closed a record number of times in Ontario so far in 2023, according to a new Ontario Health Coalition report being described as “staggering.” As of Nov. 24, there had been 867 temporary emergency department closures in the province this […]

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Ontario hospitals closed for thousands of hours this year: report

(December 5, 2023) By: Isaac Callan and Colin D’Mello, Global News A new report from a health advocacy group suggests there have been more than 1,000 hospital closures in Ontario so far this year. A new study released by the Ontario Health Coalition tracked closures between Jan. 1 and Nov. 24 and found that 1,199 closures had […]

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London region ERs have closed 77 times this year: Report

(December 5, 2023) By: Free Press Rural and small-town hospital emergency rooms in Southwestern Ontario have been closed at least 77 times so far this year, a new report by a provincial health advocacy group says. There have been 868 temporary emergency room closures, including one that was permanent, so far this year across Ontario, […]

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Ontario hospital services shuttered over 1,000 times this year: advocacy group

(December 5, 2023) By: Jessica Smith Cross, The Trillium There have been more than 1,000 closures of hospital services in Ontario this year, totalling more than 31,000 hours of lost care, according to an advocacy group. The Ontario Health Coalition, which advocates for public health care, tracked the closures of emergency departments, urgent care centres and other facilities through news […]

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Patients languish on wait lists while ORs sit empty, Ontario Health Coalition claims

(November 23, 2023) By: Joanna Frketich, The Hamilton Spectator The Ontario Health Coalition says the majority of Hamilton’s operating rooms (OR) are not used on evenings or weekends. The advocacy group claims Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS) has at least two ORs that have been permanently shut down and that other operating rooms sometimes close when there isn’t enough staff. “In […]

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Gates presents petition calling for restored Niagara Health urgent care hours

(November 22, 2023) By: Allan Benner, The Standard Niagara Falls MPP Wayne Gates has presented petitions signed by more than 4,000 people to the provincial government demanding restoration of 24/7 urgent care centre services in Fort Erie and Port Colborne hospitals, calling the current situation “completely unacceptable.” Gates said the time it can take to […]

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Home care bill will enrich private companies, create conflicts of interest, advocates warn

(November 20, 2023) By: Jessica Smith Cross, Sudbury.com EDITOR’S NOTE: A version of this article originally appeared on The Trillium, a new Village Media website devoted to covering provincial politics at Queen’s Park. The Ford government’s plan to reorganize the home-care system will enrich the province’s for-profit providers and leave Ontarians struggling with a “fractured and chaotic system,” advocates are warning. […]

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Ford govt illegally expanded private hospital, lied to public: Ontario Health Coalition

(November 20, 2023) By: CANINDIA The Ontario Health Coalition (OHC) and Democracy Watch are calling out the Doug Ford government for its alleged illegal expansion of a for-profit hospital known as Don Mills Surgical Unit during Christine Elliott’s tenure as Health Minister. OHC held a press conference along with legal expert on conflict of interest […]

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Ontario breaks all-time record for ER closures, health coalition says

(November 20, 2023) By: CBC News Advocacy group the Ontario Health Coalition says health-care access is worsening in the province with 1,199 instances where health-care services were closed so far in 2023, including 868 emergency room closures — an all-time high. Click here for video coverage

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Bluewater Health CEO says sorry for concerns over cyberattack

(November 17, 2023) By: Bryan Bicknell, CTV News Bluewater Health says it’s sorry for the concerns of patients caused by a cyberattack at the hospital last month. It was part of a major ransomware attack on hospital groups throughout southwestern Ontario. “I want to acknowledge how unsettling it must be to our patients to have […]

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Outcomes are inferior when we deliver on a for-profit basis’: Longer wait times at private clinics, according to report

(November 11, 2023) By: Bryan Bicknell, CTV News A new study says operating rooms in southwestern Ontario hospitals are being under-utilized because of short staffing. The report by left-leaning think tank Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives also warns that shifting some medical procedure to private clinics in Ontario will actually lead to longer wait times. […]

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Canadian Hospitals Face Underutilization due to Staffing Shortages, Study Finds

(November 10, 2023) By: Somasetty Suresh, Express Healthcare Management A recent study conducted by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives reveals that operating rooms in hospitals across southwestern Ontario are being under-utilized due to persistent staffing shortages. The report also cautions against the shifting of medical procedures to private clinics in the region, as it […]

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Government should use use surgical capacity in hospitals instead outsourcing it: report Author of the article:

(November 8, 2023) By: Hugo Rodrigues, Standard-Freeholder This article has been amended to clarify a statement from the Cornwall Community Hospital. The author of a new report on the Ontario government’s stated intentions to increase the for-profit delivery of certain services in health care visited Cornwall Tuesday, bringing with him a message of support for […]

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Province insists that expansion of private health care is working

(November 8, 2023) By Kyle Darbyson, The Sault Star The Ontario government is pushing back on a recent report released by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, which claims that the province’s health care system is “on the edge of the precipice” due to its recent elevation of for-profit facilities. In this report, Simon Fraser […]

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Ontario health care ‘on the edge of the precipice’

(November 7, 2023) By: Kyle Darbyson, Fort Frances Times Simon Fraser University policy researcher Andrew Longhurst is calling on Premier Doug Ford’s government to scrap its expansion of the for-profit health-care sector, which he believes comes at the expense of public hospitals. Longhurst detailed his grievances with the for-profit health-care system in a new report […]

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Thousands sign Niagara petition calling for restored urgent care hours

(November 7, 2023) By: Sarah Ferguson, Welland Tribune News With more than 4,000 signatures on it, Niagara Falls MPP Wayne Gates thinks a petition calling for restored service to Niagara’s two urgent care centres (UCC) will get the attention of the provincial government. He intends to make sure of it. “(The number of signatures) works […]

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Report raises red flags over Ontario’s health care privatization

(November 7, 2023) By: BayToday At a media conference led by CUPE’s OCHU and the Ontario Health Coalition in North Bay on Monday, the speakers urged the Ontario government to scrap private surgeries and invest in public hospitals. The discussion turned to the situation at the North Bay Regional Health Centre where there are 10 operating rooms and three are dedicated to specific types […]

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Longer operating room hours would save lives, researcher tells Sault audience

(Novemeber 6, 2023) By: Darren Taylor, SooToday.com A small but concerned group of people gathered at the Sault Ste. Marie Public Library’s main branch Monday morning for an information session on the role of for-profit health care in Ontario. The group listened to findings in a report titled At What Cost? Ontario hospital privatization and the threat […]

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GROUP WONDERS WHY NIAGARA’S OPERATING ROOMS AREN’T BEING USED TO TACKLE LONG SURGICAL WAIT LISTS

(November 3, 2023) By: Bonnie Heslop, iHeartRadio A news conference was held in Niagara Falls today on the state of health care in the Region and across Ontario. CUPE was joined by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and author of the new report, ‘At What Cost?’ which is critical of the Ford government’s plans […]

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New report looks at the threats of hospital privatization in Ontario

(November 3, 2023) By: Evan Brewer, CityNews Kitchener Andrew Longhurst is the author of a new report titled “At What Cost?” which looks into the Ontario government’s plan to put more funding towards for-profit facilities. Longhurst spoke in the region on Friday in detail about some of his findings detailed in the report. “For wait […]

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Private health care won’t reduce wait times — it may raise them, report says

(November 3, 2023) By: Eric Stober, Global News A new report released Thursday says that privatization of health care in Ontario won’t reduce wait times but may actually increase them. That’s because for-profit centres could as well face the staffing shortages that have plagued the public sector, and any talent that is attracted to the private model will in […]

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Expansion of private clinics likely to increase wait times in Ontario, report suggests

(November 2, 2023) By: Katherine DeClerq, CTV News Ontario’s plan to allow more for-profit clinics to conduct surgeries and diagnostic procedures is likely to increase wait times rather than reduce them, a new report suggests. The report, released Thursday by left-leaning think tank Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, suggests that for-profit surgical and medical imaging was […]

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New report highlights negative impacts of health care privatization in Ontario

(November 2, 2023) By: Samantha Lawson An independent group says its new report highlights negative impacts on the Ford government’s privatization of surgeries and diagnostic procedures, saying the government’s model is unlikely to increase capacity and reduce wait times. The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives says its report reveals the government has dramatically increased funding […]

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Information thin as southwestern Ontario hospital cyberattack stretches on

(October 25, 2023) By: CBC News Information on the cyberattack affecting five southwestern Ontario hospitals is thin as the outage of key systems including email and patient records stretches on. An OPP cyber crimes team is investigating the ongoing cyber attack, which was announced on Monday night. TransForm is the IT provider for hospitals including Windsor Regional, […]

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Hamilton family seeks answers after dementia patient found outside in hospital gown

(October 10, 2023) By: Hadi Azad, CHCH News A Hamilton woman is angry after she says her father, who has dementia, was discharged from St. Joseph’s Hospital last Thursday evening, and was later found outside his supportive residence in just a hospital gown. Leslie Lang-Clementi wants people to know what happened to her 72-year-old father […]

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CFRA LIVE – HOW THE HEALTHCARE GAME IS CHANGING POST-COVID

(October 3 2023) By: CFRA Live A new Ottawa-based walk-in clinic is promising efficient service and no wait times. However, an annual price tag could soon be attached to that. How does this practice fit into our public healthcare system? How has Canada’s healthcare game changed since the arrival of COVID-19? CFRA’s Andrew Pinsent chats […]

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Public wants province to rein in private clinics, Gélinas says

(October 2 2023) By: Len Gillis, Sudbury.com Although the Ontario Health Coalition brought thousands of people to the front lawn of Queen’s Park this week, NDP health critic France Gélinas said the message was missed by the Conservative government. Gélinas stood in the Ontario Legislature on Sept. 27 to say that Ontario residents want the government to […]

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New walk-in clinic generates plenty of healthcare chatter in South Keys

(September 29, 2023) By: Kristy Cameron, iHeartRadio Heading into the long weekend, the South Keys Health Centre is generating plenty of conversation around Canada’s Capital. Located on Bank Street and Hunt Club Road, the new walk-in clinic is promising efficient service and no wait times, a service they argue is filling a void in our […]

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New walk-in clinic in Ottawa’s south end charging membership fee

(September 28 2023) By: Tyler Fleming, CTV News It is something that thousands of people in the city of Ottawa need but don’t have, access to regular medical care. While a new clinic in the south end is offering just that, along with fast service and no wait times, it comes with a yearly membership fee. […]

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Ontario Health Coalition raise concerns about emergency department closure

(September 27 2023) By: Elisa Nguyen, Fort Frances Times Small, rural and local hospital services are under threat of permanent closures, says the Ontario Health Coalition who urges the Ford government to take action. “Emergency departments are repeatedly closing down, birthing closed, critical care gravely understaffed, and yet the Ford government is doing substantially nothing,” […]

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Grey Bruce joins thousands calling for better healthcare

(September 26 2023) By: Eric Thompson, CKNXNewsToday.ca Demonstrators gather in front of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario on September 25. (Photo courtesy of Ontario Health Coalition/Twitter) Thousands of protestors, including a local contingent, gathered at Queens Park on Monday to oppose privatization of the province’s healthcare system. The Grey Bruce Health Coalition brought a busload of […]

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Kingston healthcare employees join anti-privatization rally at Queen’s Park

(September 26 2023) By: Owen Fullerton, YGK News Protestors at Queen’s Park on Monday Members of the Kingston Health Coalition and several hospital unions were part of a large protest at Queen’s Park on Monday afternoon. Three full busses left Kingston on Monday morning to gather outside of Ontario Legislature as it made its’ return […]

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‘Why would anyone trust this government?’ Doug Ford slammed as he unwinds Greenbelt plans

(September 25, 2023) By: Kristin Rushowy, Robert Benzie and Rob Ferguson, The Peterborough Examiner Under fire over the $8.28-billion Greenbelt land swap scandal, Premier Doug Ford will introduce legislation within weeks to return the properties to the protected zone. Ford’s move will enshrine in law his policy flip-flop from last Thursday, when he announced housing development would be prohibited on […]

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Ontario to introduce new Greenbelt bill soon, new housing minister says

(September 25, 2023) By: Allison Jones, The Canadian Press Ontario’s legislature resumed sitting Monday after a summer recess, with a controversy about Greenbelt land removals looming large, despite Premier Doug Ford saying last week that he is reversing the decision. Ford said in question period that he admitted he made a mistake with the move […]

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‘I love this hospital. It saved my life’: Residents show support for Fort Erie urgent car

(September 25, 2023) By: Sarah Ferguson Niagara, The Standard June Robinson says she has spent so much time at the Douglas Memorial Hospital site that most of the staff know her by name. This past summer, when Niagara Health announced the urgent care centres (UCC) in Fort Erie and Port Colborne would no longer provide […]

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Ontario Premier Doug Ford Announces Cabinet Shuffle Following Third Minister’s Resignation & Greenbelt Reversal

(September 25, 2023) By: Weekly Voice Ontario Premier Doug Ford has undertaken a cabinet shuffle for the second time in recent weeks following the resignation of Ontario Labour Minister Monte McNaughton, who is leaving politics to enter the private sector. David Piccini will replace McNaughton as the new labour minister, while MPP Andrea Khanjin will […]

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Ontario Health Coalition protests against private healthcare

(September 25 2023) By: CJ Goater, CFOB 93.1 The Border Thunder Bay Health Coalition Protest – CJ GoaterProtestors gathered around the province for the opening day of the Ontario Legislature, to protest the privatization of health care. The protest was organized by the Ontario Health Coalition, with the help of local municipal health coalitions. Jules […]

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VIDEO: Local protest against provincial privatization of healthcare

(September 25 2023) By: Leigh Nunan, TBnewswatch.com Video coverage of the Ontario Health Coalition’s rally in Thunder Bay on September 25, 2023. Click here for video coverage

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OHC holds protests in Dryden

(September 25 2023) By: Clint Fleury, NWOnewswatch.com DRYDEN – With rural hospitals across northern Ontario at risk of emergency room closures on a regular basis, the Ontario Health Coalition is pushing back against what it calls the province’s move to privatize the healthcare system. Rural hospitals are already straining their operating budgets to afford agency workers, […]

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Protests call attention to health care privatization

(September 25 2023) By: Kevin Jeffrey, TBnewswatch.com THUNDER BAY – As provincial representatives return to the legislature at Queen’s Park, calls to strengthen Ontario’s health care system are getting louder. There were protests across the province organized by the Ontario Health Coalition (OHC), including at the government building known as “mini Queen’s Park” in Thunder Bay, where […]

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‘Enough is enough’: Protesters rally at hospital against for-profit clinics

(September 25 2023) By: Darren Taylor, SooToday Approximately 40 people — including unionized healthcare workers, supporters from other unions and concerned citizens — gathered for an Ontario Health Coalition rally outside Sault Area Hospital Monday afternoon to voice their displeasure with the Ford government’s use of for-profit healthcare clinics in the province. “The province has enough money […]

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Protesters against healthcare privatization gather at Queen’s Park

(September 25 2023) By: Samantha Lawson, CHCH News As members of the provincial parliament returned to Queen’s Park, several thousand people gathered on the lawns outside. They say there’s a healthcare crisis in this province, and they’re calling on Premier Doug Ford to fix it. And advocates say the first step is reversing the government’s […]

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Sault protesters worried about private health care

(September 25 2023) By: CTV News Northern Ontario Dozens gathered in Sault Ste. Marie on Monday to protest what they say are provincial plans to privatize health care. Click here for video coverage

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Healthcare workers from London, Ont. and surrounding region among those taking part in Queen’s Park rally

(September 25 2023) By: Gerry Dewan, CTV News London Similar to the Greenbelt controversy, healthcare rally organizers in London are pointing to the Ford government’s reversal on Greenbelt land deals that stood to greatly benefit developers. They’re hoping for a similar turnaround on the issue of healthcare privatization. Peter Bergmanis is co-chair of the London Health Coalition, […]

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Healthcare groups flood Queen’s Park in massive protest

(September 25 2023) By: CityNews Toronto An estimated 8,000 healthcare workers and advocates rallied at Queen’s Park on the opening day of the legislature. As Tina Yazdani reports, they want the Ford government to stop what they describe as the privatization of the healthcare system. Click here for original video

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Thousands attended Queen’s Park to protest health care privatization in Ontario

(September 25 2023) By: Beth Macdonell, CTV News Toronto Thousands of protesters gathered on the lawn of Queen’s Park Monday afternoon to show their opposition to the privatization of healthcare as the legislature resumes following a summer break. The protest was organized by the Ontario Health Coalition, an organization dedicated to protecting public health care. […]

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Ontario Health Coalition vows to keep ‘heat on’ in fight against privatization – WITH PHOTO GALLERY

(September 25 2023) By: Jeffrey Ougler, The Sault Star Keeping the “heat on” is necessary in battling what the Ontario Health Coalition brands as continued privatization of hospital services. “I think we’ve got to bear down on the media scrutiny and we have to bear down on the public pressure to make sure this is […]

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Extended and extensive ER closures cause tension in rural Ontario

(September 23 2023) By: Scott Miller, CTV News London Chesley, Ont.’s emergency room was supposed to reopen on Monday following a three week closure — it has now been extended until Oct. 2. Walkerton’s ER has been closed most of this weekend, while Durham’s ER will be closed four of the next seven nights. Such […]

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Extended and extensive ER closures cause tension in rural Ontario

(September 23 2023) By: Scott Miller, CTV News Chesley, Ont.’s emergency room was supposed to reopen on Monday following a three week closure — it has now been extended until Oct. 2. Walkerton’s ER has been closed most of this weekend, while Durham’s ER will be closed four of the next seven nights. Such is the […]

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Ontario Health Coalition warns that Chesley hospital most at risk of closure in the province

(September 22 2023) By: Pauline Kerr, Walkerton Herald Times CHESLEY – Natalie Mehra, executive director of the Ontario Health Coalition, paid a visit to the Chesley hospital site for a brief press conference the morning of Friday, Sept. 15. Mehra joined Brenda Scott, chair of Chesley Hospital Community Support and co-chair of Grey Bruce Health […]

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Frustration mounts for three rural hospitals

(September 22 2023) By: CTV News Three local hospitals demand provincial action to address emergency room staffing crisis. Click here for full video

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Ontario Health Coalition warns that Chesley hospital most at risk of closure in the province

(September 22 2023) By: Pauline Kerr, The Walkerton Herald Times CHESLEY – Natalie Mehra, executive director of the Ontario Health Coalition, paid a visit to the Chesley hospital site for a brief press conference the morning of Friday, Sept. 15. Mehra joined Brenda Scott, chair of Chesley Hospital Community Support and co-chair of Grey Bruce Health Coalition’s […]

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Health coalition urging Niagara residents to fight for their hospitals

(September 21 2023) By: Allan Benner, St. Catharines Standard Allan Benner / Torstar Niagara Health Coalition members held a rally at the Welland hospital Thursday, urging residents to join people from across the province for a protest at Queen’s Park, Monday. As hospital service reductions continue in the region and across Ontario, Niagara Health Coalition members […]

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LETTER: Privatization is no solution to our healthcare woes

(September 21 2023) By: SooToday SooToday received the following letter about the state of health care in Ontario. Reneging on its promise and despite widespread criticism, the Ford government has moved ahead to privatize core public hospital services. We should all be concerned. Bill 60 was passed into law by the Conservative majority government last May. […]

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Health care privatization protested Monday

(September 22 2023) By:Brian Kelly, The Sault Star A demonstration Monday protests moving surgeries and diagnostics to for-profit sites. Ontario Health Coalition is organizing the event opposed to privatization in health care that starts at noon on Lukenda Drive near Sault Area Hospital. Similar gatherings will be held in Dryden, Thunder Bay and Toronto. Click […]

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LETTER: Coalition continues fight against privatized health care

(September 20, 2023) By: BarrieToday OrilliaMatters welcomes letters to the editor at dave@villagemedia.ca or via the website. Please include your full name, daytime phone number and address (for verification of authorship, not publication). The following letter is in response to a referendum held earlier this year about the privatization of health care in Ontario. It’s not only the Greenbelt […]

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Ontario Healthcare Coalition says situation is dire

(September 20 2023) By: 88.7 myFM News staff In a press conference held by the Ontario Healthcare Coalition on Friday morning, September 15th, the dire state of healthcare in Ontario took center stage. The numbers tell a grim story. In 2022, there were 848 hospital emergency room closures, and this year, they are on track […]

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Ford draws protesters at ribbon-cutting for new Markdale hospital

(September 15 2023) By: Scott Dunn, The Owen Sound Sun Times Ontario Premier Doug Ford helped cut the ribbon to ceremonially open the nearly $70-million Markdale hospital Thursday, and drew a crowd of protesters. The community has waited more than 20 years for a new hospital and on Sept. 24, a Sunday morning, it will […]

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Increasing ER closures worry Grey-Bruce residents

(September 15 2023) By: Scott Miller, CTV News Summer vacations are all but over, but the hospital emergency room closures in Grey and Bruce County are on the rise. “Here we are, the leaves are changing and the ER closures are still increasing. Personally, here in Chesley, we have a real concern about the viability of […]

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Going south: Simcoe County Health Coalition members taking train to Toronto protest later this month

(September 14, 2023) By: Chris Simon, simcoe.com Commuters may be taking a seat beside a resident actively fighting for the public health-care system Sept. 25. Simcoe County Health Coalition members will be riding the rails between the Barrie South GO Transit station and downtown Toronto that morning, as they prepare for a large demonstration against health-care privatization at Queen’s Park later […]

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Privatization of health-care services topic of local forum

(September 12 2023) By: MidlandToday Staff Dr. Marty McNamara will speak about changes that ‘are already affecting local citizens’ at Thursday meeting taking place in Penetanguishene A meeting this week in Penetanguishene will draw attention to the privatization of health-care services. Don Copping and Fran Moreau, who represent north Simcoe with the Ontario Health Coalition, have organized […]

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COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT: Port Dover Chapter Of Ontario Health Coalition Hosting A Town Hall Meeting On Monday

(Sep 8, 2023) By: 98.9 myFM News/Oldies 99.7 staff   The Port Dover Chapter of the Ontario Health Coalition wants the community to gather to show their concerns regarding Bill 60. 98.9 myFM news spoke to Dr. Gail Taylor regarding the Bill and what it means for the healthcare sector moving forward – specifically the […]

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Labour Day ‘Solidarity March’ in Sault Ste. Marie

(September 4, 2023) By: Mike McDonald, CTVNorthernOntario.ca   Workers gathered in downtown Sault Ste. Marie for the 65th Annual Labour Day Parade. More than a hundred people took part in this year’s ‘Solidarity March,’ with this year’s theme being ‘Lifting Everyone Up.’ “When we look at the health and safety issues that are happening in […]

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‘We don’t need to privatize health care’: Penetanguishene residents voice concern about direction of public health-care system

(August 29, 2023) By: Andrew Mendler, Midland Mirror Don Copping and Fran Moreau are growing increasingly concerned about the direction the provincial health-care system is headed in. The Penetanguishene residents, who are north Simcoe’s representatives with the Ontario Health Coalition (OHC), are calling on the public to push back against what they view as an increasing […]

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New, upgraded long-term care beds announced for Essex County

(August 18 2023) By: CBC News Hundreds of new and upgraded long-term care beds will open for residents in the coming years, provincial health officials announced Friday at events in Belle River and Leamington. The announcements cover 125 new beds and 195 “upgraded” beds, according to a provincial statement. A new home in Belle River […]

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Eric Bunnell’s People: A show of peace in Pinafore Park

(August 10, 2023) By: Eric Bunnell A gentle nudge floats lanterns Sunday onto Lake Pinafore at a commemoration of the anniversary of the Second World War devastation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by atomic bombs. Eric Bunnell PHOTO BY ERIC BUNNELL /jpg, SF, apsmc “As we float these lanterns on the water, it is my wish that the […]

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Aug. 26 rally in Minden protesting hospital closures

(August 10 2023) By: Martin Halek, MyHaliburtonNow Thousands of people are expected at the Minden Fairgrounds on Aug. 26, to rally against rural hospital closures.  Patrick Porzuczek, founder Patrick Porzuczek, founder of the Save the Minden ER campaign, says people from all over Ontario are banding together at 1:00 p.m. that day to protest hospital reductions and […]

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Critics fume as OHIP denies coverage of local woman’s U.S. appendix surgery

(August 8, 2023) By: Jennifer Bieman, The London Free Press New Democrat MPP France Gelinas is photographed on Monday August 15, 2022. John Lappa/Sudbury Star A Southwestern Ontario woman who pursued appendix surgery in the U.S. after being unable to access timely medical care in the province has lost her bid to make Ontario’s health […]

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Stabbing victims arrive at southwestern Ont. emergency department overnight only to find it’s closed

(August 3, 2023) By: Brent Lale, CTV News London Videographer Three teenagers who were stabbed at a sweet 16 birthday party in Clinton, Ont. late last month were driven to the local hospital, only to find out the emergency department (ED) was closed. Following a triple stabbing at a house party on Raglan Street in Clinton on […]

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Climb aboard privatization protest bus

(July 20, 2023) By: Lisa Gervais, The Highlanders The Haliburton Highlands Long-Term Care Coalition is planning to join provincial allies for a massive rally at Queen’s Park in September, but wants people to know the deadline for getting a seat on their rally bus is July 20. Spokesperson Bonnie Roe said the Ontario Health Coalition […]

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Doug Ford is Quietly Planning to Privatize Maintenance Services at New Hospitals in Ontario

(July 19, 2023) By: Mitchell Thompson, PressProgree The Ontario government’s multi-billion dollar hospital construction plan quietly includes a proposal to privatize hospital maintenance services. According to a document from Infrastructure Ontario, the Ford government’s multi-billion hospital plan – including The Ottawa Hospital’s new Civic campus, its new Windsor/Essex regional hospital, the Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital and its addition to Toronto’s […]

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NEED FOR LOCAL PEDIATRIC CARE

(July 13, 2023) By: The Morning Drive, AM800 Dan and Megan are joined by Sherry Roebuck, from Ontario Health Coalition, to talk about the need for local pediatric care to avoid separating families and sending them out during a vulnerable time. Click here for original audio

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Toronto hospital network apologizes after patients charged for test covered by OHIP

(July 12, 2023) By: CBC News Akio Maroon, a patient at Toronto General Hospital, said she had to draw attention to a mistake the hospital made in charging patients for a test covered by OHIP. (Doug Husby/CBC) A Toronto hospital network is apologizing and issuing refunds after it charged patients for a test covered by OHIP, […]

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RALLIES PLANNED OUTSIDE PORT COLBORNE AND FORT ERIE URGENT CARE CENTRES PROTESTING REDUCED HOURS

(July 5, 2023) By: Bonnie Heslop, Newstalk610 Two protest rallies are planned in south Niagara today as Niagara Health closes its urgent care centres in Port Colborne and Fort Erie during the overnight hours. As of today, Urgent Care Centres in Fort Erie and Port Colborne will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., […]

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Rally protests service cuts at Port Colborne urgent care centre

(July 5, 2023) By: Sarah Ferguson, Port Colborn Leader Ontario’s health care is currently in crisis mode and the situation won’t be solved by reducing the hours of service at Port Colborne and Fort Erie’s Urgent Care Centres (UCC). That was the main message of a rally held at Niagara Health’s Port Colborne General site […]

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Most health referendum results against private care

(June 14, 2023) By: Review Newsroom The results are in from an unofficial referendum on private healthcare in Ontario. The Ontario Health Coalition, which conducted the referendum with regional health coalitions, delivered the results to the Ontario government. Among the results received so far, 98 per cent of them opposed privatization of public hospital services. […]

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Ontario releases new details on private clinic OHIP surgeries

(June 13, 2023) By: Katherine DeClerq, CTV News Toronto Multi-Platform Writer The Ontario government has released new details on how OHIP-covered surgeries will be performed at private clinics. The proposed regulations, which were posted publicly on June 9, builds on Premier Doug Ford’s plan to allow private clinics to conduct more surgeries covered under the Ontario Health Insurance […]

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The Ottawa Hospital lifts most mask requirements, but some say it’s too soon

(June 12 2023) By: Natalia Goodwin, CBC News Ottawa If you visit any of The Ottawa Hospital’s locations today, you may notice a big change: fewer people wearing masks. The hospital has announced that as of June 12, masking will be optional in public spaces such as hallways, cafeterias, and meeting rooms, as well as in clinical […]

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London hospital boss grilled at forum over ending LHSC-St. Joe’s pact

(June 12 2023) By: Norman De Bono, The London Free Press London Health Sciences Centre leaders are tearing apart a cohesive health-care system that works, adding bureaucracy and cost as service integration is unraveled, a local advocate warned at a weekend public forum held by the hospital. LHSC is scrapping a long-standing collaboration agreement with […]

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Politicians change health care at their peril

(June 10 2023) By: David Shearman, Owen Sound Sun Times (Print Edition) The hospital in Minden, Ont., closed its doors on June 1. There is now a telephone beside the door which will connect you with the hospital in Haliburton, about 25 minutes away. To put that into Grey Bruce terms, imagine that instead of […]

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Gélinas calls for more action to keep emergency rooms open

(June 9 2023) By: Sudbury.com Staff NDP health care critic said is not taking health concerns seriously and that residents are worried about emergency room closings and the move toward private health care Ontario official opposition health critic France Gélinas is pushing the Ontario government to take more action to keep emergency rooms open and to […]

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‘I can’t believe that I am seeing this happen …’: Community reacts to urgent care service reduction

(June 7, 2023) By: Sarah Ferguson, Richard  Hutton, Port Colborne Leader When Bob Saracino first learned the urgent care centres (UCC) in Fort Erie and Port Colborne will no longer operate overnight he was overcome with emotion. As of July 5, both UCCs will provide service between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. To deal with […]

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Niagara health care ‘in a real crisis’: coalition chair

(June 6, 2023) By: Richard Hutton, Fort Erie Post Health-care advocates are calling for the province to step in and keep south Niagara’s urgent care centres operating 24 hours a day. Niagara Health announced last week that as of July 5, operating hours at urgent care centres in Fort Erie and Port Colborne would be cut […]

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North Bay council urges the province to rescind Bill 60

(June 7 2023) By: Jennifer Hamilton-McCharles, North Bay Nugget Henri Giroux, chairman of the North Bay Health Coalition, garnered enough support from council to pass a motion to lobby the province to rescind Bill 60. But it didn’t come with unanimous support. Mayor Peter Chirico, Coun. Gary Gardiner and Mark King voted against the motion that would see […]

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For-profit clinics should not be funded with public money: Huntsville reader

(June 5 2023) By: Huntsville Forester In late May, the Ontario Health Coalition held a citizen-led referendum asking Ontarians if they support the steps the government is taking toward privatizing our health care. Ninety-nine per cent of the nearly 400,000 people who participated voted “no” to privatizing health care, and voting results from participants in Muskoka matched […]

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Fight for south Niagara urgent care centres to continue at Queen’s Park

(June 5 2023) By: The St. Catharines Standard Health coalition and advocates to hold media conference Tuesday Click here for original article

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Votes gathered to stop privatized health care

(June 5 2023) By: Somer Slobodian, Niagra Now The Niagara Health Coalition was one of many coalitions that participated in a citizen-run referendum against new rules for health care across the province. The referendum was held nearly two weeks ago by the Ontario Health Coalition in response to the provincial government’s passing of Bill 60 which allows […]

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Minden Emergency Department Permanently Closes

(June 3 2023) By: Tieja MacLaughlin Despite an inspiring community push to save it, Minden’s Emergency Department has permanently closed as of June 1. Haliburton Highlands Health Services (HHHS) made the decision to close the Minden Emergency Department citing a nursing and medical staffing shortage. “The on-going shortage of nursing and medical staff means we need to […]

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Referendum: 98% against private, for-profit health care

(June 1, 2023) By: Joanne Shuttleworth, Wellington Advertiser GUELPH – The Guelph and District Health Coalition is pleased with the results of the referendum on health care the group – in conjunction with the larger Ontario Health Coalition – held last weekend. The coalition is hopeful the government will hear the message that people value […]

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98% of Ontario referendum participants do not support Bill 60 & the privatization of healthcare

(June 1, 2023) By: Samanah Ali, The Pointer Janine Herrmann-McLeod was consistently having trouble getting to sleep. She would often crawl into bed at a normal hour, but consistently find herself staring at the clock as it struck 5 a.m. When she did finally drift off, she wouldn’t wake up until 3 p.m., her alarm […]

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Niagara votes against privatized healthcare services

(June 1, 2023) By: Mike Balsom, Niagara-on-the-Lake Local The results are in from voting booths set up across Niagara by volunteers with the Niagara Health Coalition. The results are in from voting booths set up across Niagara by volunteers with the Niagara Health Coalition. Almost 120 volunteers ran more than 50 voting stations across Niagara […]

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Waterloo region against private for-profit health care

(June 1, 2023) By: Cambridge Today Waterloo Region Health Coalition says 99 per cent of local voters want to protect public healthcare and prevent private-for-profit hospital services and clinics The results are in for Cambridge voters who took part in the province-wide, citizen-led referendum on healthcare last Friday and Saturday. The Waterloo Region Health Coalition says […]

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Local voters reject paying private clinics to reduce surgical backlogs

(June 1, 2023) By: Scott Dunn, Owen Sound Times Grey-Bruce voted almost unanimously against the Ontario government’s decision to expand publicly funded medical procedures, diagnostic imaging and surgeries done in private clinics. The Ontario Health Coalition vote May 27-28 had 9,889 votes against and 132 in favour of changes the government enacted May 18 in […]

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Advocates say ‘people’s referendum’ results massively against privatization of Ontario health system

The Ontario Health Coalition released its survey results on Wednesday. (May 31, 2023) By: Ottawa Citizen Ninety-eight per cent of people who participated in a cross-province “people’s referendum” voted against privatization of Ontario’s public health services, the Ontario Health Coalition says. With more vote results still coming in, the coalition said in a news release […]

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Over 380K Ontarians vote against private health care in referendum conducted by advocates | CityNews Toronto

(May 31, 2023) By: Tina Yazdani, CityNews Toronto Health care advocates took to at Queen’s Park Wednesday to oppose what they call “the gutting and dismantling of public hospitals.” Almost 400,000 people voted across Ontario, including 100,000 in Toronto in what’s being described as a citizen-led referendum organized by the advocacy group Ontario Health Coalition. The ballots […]

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Oxford Residents Vote Against Privatization of Hospitals

(May 31, 2023) By: Marcie Culbert, 104.7 Heart FM A citizen-led vote took place last week. Over 4,400 ballots were collected in Oxford County and 98.6 percent of them were against the privatization of hospitals. OXFORD COUNTY – The votes are in and it looks like Oxford County residents are against the privatization of hospitals. […]

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Ontario Health Coalition says majority of Ontarians against privatized healthcare

(May 31, 2023) By: Global News More than 400,000 ballots from a community-run referendum on privatized healthcare found 99 per cent of those who voted are against publicly funded hospital services being privatized. Marianne Dimain reports. Link to video coverage

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Ontario Health Coalition Continues To Speak Out Against Bill 60

(May 30, 2023) By: 98.9 myFM News/Oldies 99.7 staff The Ontario Health Coalition has formed a province-wide referendum campaign to speak out against Bill 60, which they call “the most undemocratic attack on our public healthcare in memory.” In part, Bill 60 expands the scope of services private clinics can offer and it passed on […]

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Referendum Shows Local Support for Public Health Care – 99.1 FM CKXS | Your Music Variety

(May 31, 2023) By: 99.1 News Local health care advocates are joining their counterparts across Ontario today, delivering results of a citizen-led referendum to Queen’s Park. The Ontario Health Coalition held a two-day province-wide vote asking if residents are in favour of allowing public hospital services to be privatized to for-profit hospitals and clinics. With […]

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‘The people have spoken’: Windsor-Essex voters opposed to privatized health care, according to OHC survey

(May 30, 2023) By: Chris Campbell, CTV News Windsor Almost 99 per cent of voters in Windsor and Essex County are opposed to privatization of public hospitals, according to the Ontario Health Coalition (OHC) referendum results revealed Tuesday morning. Since April, the citizen-led group had been asking Ontarians to vote in person or online answering […]

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Nearly 99% of local referendum voters say ‘no’ to private healthcare

(May 30, 2023) By: Alex Flood, Soo Today ‘It’s not even a debate about what’s in the best interest of the public,’ says local spokesperson for Ontario Health Coalition, which organized citizen-run ‘referendum’ The local and provincial results from the Ontario Health Coalition’s citizen-run referendum on healthcare privatization were announced on Tuesday during a gathering […]

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Ontario Health Coalition referendum results are in

(May 30, 2023) By: Rob Cooper, CTV News Barrie A small but passionate group gathered at Sunnidale Park in Barrie Tuesday morning to call out the province’s plan to privatize public health services. Over the past several weeks, the Simcoe County Health Coalition took part in a province-wide referendum asking people if they want public […]

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98% of London voters oppose Ontario’s privatization health care plan

(May 30, 2023) By: Amy Simon, Global News London When asked “Do you want our public hospital services to be privatized to for-profit hospitals and clinics?” Roughly 98 per cent of voters in London, Ont., said no. That’s according to the results from the province-wide citizen-run referendum that was launched last month against the government’s […]

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99% of Algoma voters oppose health-care privatization: Ontario Health Coalition – WITH PHOTO GALLERY

(May 30 2023) By: Jeffrey Ougler Those who cast ballots – physically and electronically – have “overwhelmingly rejected” what the Ontario Health Coalition contends is the path toward increased health-care privatization in this province. A May referendum, which saw more than a thousand voting stations set up provincewide last weekend, workplaces polled earlier in the month and […]

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Votes are counted: Ontario Health Coalition reveals results from informal health care survey

(May 30, 2023) By: Brent Lale, CTV News London The Ontario Health Coalition (OHC) said more than 382,000 people voted in their informal survey. For the past six weeks they’ve been asking Ontarians to vote in person or online on whether they want public hospital services to be privatized to for-profit hospitals and clinics. “We’d […]

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Overwhelming support for public healthcare in referendum results : My North Bay Now

(May 31, 2023) By: Richard Coffin, North Bay Now About 3,500 people cast ballots in the North Bay and District Health Coalition’s citizen-led referendum on public versus private healthcare. Henri Giroux, local coalition chair, says all but 43 people voted no, they do not want public hospital services to be privatized to a for-profit hospital […]

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99% of Peterborough-area voters against health-care privatization: health coalition referendum

(May 30, 2023) By: Greg Davis, Global News Peterborough Nearly 99 per cent of voters in the Peterborough, Ont., area are against the privatization of public hospitals, according to a citizen-led referendum held late last week. On Tuesday morning, the Peterborough Health Coalition — part of the Ontario Health Coalition — reported that of the […]

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OHC reports regional ‘people’s referendum’ results

(May 30, 2023) By: TBnewsWatch The more than 8,500 Northwestern Ontario residents who participated in a ‘people’s referendum’ on the privatization of hospital services nearly unanimously oppose the Ford government move, organizers report. THUNDER BAY – Organizers with a provincial ‘people’s referendum’ campaign against the Ford government’s health care privatization plans have reported results showing […]

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Kingston-area residents vote ‘no’ to health-care privatization

(May 30, 2023) By: Meghan Balogh, Kingston Whig-Standard More than 10,000 residents in the Kingston region voted against privatizing health care during a provincewide referendum vote organized by the Ontario Health Coalition. During the voting process on May 26 and 27, Ontarians were asked at more than 1,000 polling stations across the province: “Do you […]

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Almost 100% of Ontario Health Coalition ballots in Cornwall/SDG cast against privatization

(May 30, 2023) By: Hugo Rodrigues, Cornwall Standard Freeholder Of the area residents who voted in the Ontario Health Coalition’s referendum on the expansion of the privatization of public hospitals on May 26-27, 99.6 per cent supported the coalition’s call to reinvest in public hospitals. Results of the provincewide referendum were announced in communities across […]

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Nearly 99% of local referendum voters say ‘no’ to private healthcare

(May 30, 2023) By: Alex Flood, Soo Today ‘It’s not even a debate about what’s in the best interest of the public,’ says local spokesperson for Ontario Health Coalition, which organized citizen-run ‘referendum’ The local and provincial results from the Ontario Health Coalition’s citizen-run referendum on healthcare privatization were announced on Tuesday during a gathering […]

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ONTARIO HEALTH GROUP SET TO RELEASE RESULTS OF REFERENDUM THIS WEEK

(May 29, 2023) By: Christine Ross, Zoomer Radio Premier Doug Ford is firing back after being asked by the opposition NDP about a referendum vote by the Ontario Health Coalition on the government’s hospital privatization plans. ” I don’t call it a referendum, it was  political poll, driven one side, but in saying that, we […]

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Local referendum results opposing health care privatization being announced Tuesday

(May 29, 2023) By: Ellwood Shreve, Chatham Daily News The results of a provincewide referendum regarding a provincial government plan to expand the private delivery of public health care will be announced Tuesday. Voting stations were set up across the region on Friday and Saturday by a legion of volunteers working for the Chatham-Kent and […]

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Ontario Health Coalition forms province-wide referendum campaign against Bill 60

(May 29, 2023) By: 94.1 myFM News staff The Ontario Health Coalition is forming a province-wide referendum campaign to speak out against Bill 60, which they call “the most undemocratic attack on our public healthcare in memory.” In part, Bill 60 expands the scope of services private clinics can offer and it passed on May […]

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Referendum against privatization of health care in Ontario begins | CityNews Kitchener

(May 28, 2023) By: Brad Kraemer, CityNews Kitchener A referendum vote that is being run by the Ontario Health Coalition on the Ford Government’s hospital privatization plans is happening in Kitchener on Sunday. Votes will be brought in from across Ontario and brought to the legislature at Queen’s Park to be delivered to the government. […]

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Thousands cast their ballots in community-referendum on hospital privatization in Ontario

(May 28, 2023) By: Christian D’Avino, CTV News Barrie A “community-led” referendum is asking thousands of Ontarians to weigh in on whether the privatization of the province’s healthcare system is good for the future. Thousands of ballot boxes were placed in communities across Ontario on Friday and Saturday by the Ontario Health Coalition, asking residents […]

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Ontario Health Coalition referendum wraps up, votes being counted

(May 28, 2023) By: Brent Lale, CTV News London The votes are being counted… “It’s going to be a resounding no to profitization of public hospital services,” said Peter Bergmanis, co-chair of London Health Coalition. The Ontario Health Coalition started a referendum in April, asking people to choose whether they want public hospital services privatized […]

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Have you voted yet in the Ontario Health Coalition’s provincewide referendum?

(May 26, 2023) By: Adelle Loiselle, Blackburn News Time is running out to vote in a provincewide referendum against Bill 60, the Ford government’s Your Health Act. The bill allows private clinics to conduct some publicly-funded surgeries, procedures, and diagnostic tests. The Ford government argues it will shorten wait times, but the Ontario Health Coalition […]

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Vote in person in Muskoka, Almaguin in Ontario Health Coalition referendum against hospital privatization

(May 26, 2023) By: MuskokaRegion.com Nearly a thousand voting stations will be staffed by thousands of volunteers across Ontario this Friday, May 26 and Saturday, May 27, in a citizen-run effort to force the Ford government to “respect democratic process and input on their hospital privatization plans,” says the Ontario Health Coalition. The Ontario Health Coalition […]

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Ontario Health Coalition holds ‘community-run referendum’ against privatization of health care

(May 26, 2023) By: John Lawless, Global News Kingston People across Ontario are casting ballots in a “community-run referendum” that is weighing a heavy question on the privatization of health care. In March, the Ford government passed a bill that would allow more private clinics to offer some publicly funded surgeries to help reduce the […]

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NDP calls on provincial health minister to reverse local decision to close Minden emergency department on June 1

(May 26, 2023) By: Sebastian Johnston-Lindsay, kawarthaNOW With less than a week before the Minden emergency department is set to close for good, NDP health critic and Nickel Belt MPP France Gélinas and Ontario Health Coalition executive director Natalie Mehra held a media conference on Thursday morning (May 25) to again urge accountability from Ontario […]

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NDP calls on provincial health minister to reverse local decision to close Minden emergency department on June 1

(May 26, 2023) By: Sebastian Johnston-Lindsay, kawarthaNOW With less than a week before the Minden emergency department is set to close for good, NDP health critic and Nickel Belt MPP France Gélinas and Ontario Health Coalition executive director Natalie Mehra held a media conference on Thursday morning (May 25) to again urge accountability from Ontario […]

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Ontario Health Coalition gears up for referendum against private clinics

(May 24, 2023) By: Darren Taylor, Newmarket Today Citizen vote to be held May 26 and 27 on Ford government’s Bill 60, which privatizes public hospital services, OHC spokesperson says The Ontario Health Coalition is urging residents across the province to cast a ballot in favour of maintaining a single-tier publicly funded health-care system. The OHC will […]

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Health coalitions across Ontario prepare for citizens referendum

(May 23, 2023) By: Doreen Nicoll, Rabble Bill 60 essentially proposes to expand for-profit health care in Ontario by allowing a still undefined range of procedures and services to be carried out in new facilities called ‘integrated community health services centres.’ This will lead to poorer patient access, safety and outcomes at a greater overall […]

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Ontario Health Coalition to hold citizen referendum on Your Health Act in Napanee Friday and Saturday

(May 22, 2023) By: Adam Prudhomme, The Napanee Beaver Ontario Health Coalitions across the province will be holding a public referendum May 26 and 27 to gather public opinion on the Ontario government’s Your Health Act. In Napanee a pair of polling stations will be set up at Metro and downtown at Dundas Street W […]

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Renfrew County Health Coalition sounds alarm over Bill 60 and private healthcare

(May 19, 2023) By: Pembroke Observer and News Some Renfrew County residents are calling code red on the healthcare system proposed by the province’s Bill 60, which they believe allows for private companies to arrange healthcare services with less qualified health caregivers, less transparency and less accountability. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your […]

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Chesley Residents Visit Queen’s Park To Advocate For Hospital

(May 18, 2023) By: Claire McCormack, Bayshore Broadcasting A group of Chesley residents and local representatives are visiting queen’s park today. The aim of their visit the Ontario Legislature to try to get a firm commitment from the Ford government to save their hospital emergency department and restore its services. In recent years, the Chesley […]

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Ballots for health-care referendum coming to Cornwall and area

(May 15, 2023) By: Todd Hambleton, Cornwall Standard-Freeholder Local organizers of what’s being called the people’s referendum on the privatization of public hospitals in Ontario say about 5,000 ballots are being distributed to workplaces in the lead-up to the May 26-27 event. “This is important for two reasons (including access to ballots),” said Louise Lanctot, […]

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Ontario Health Coalition Overseeing Private Healthcare Referendum

(May 11, 2023) By: 100.1 News The Ontario Health Coalition is overseeing a referendum being held on May 26th and 27th to not have privatized healthcare. The Guelph and District Health Coalition will be among the regions holding a referendum at various locations across Guelph and Wellington County. The worry for hospitals and the health […]

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Over $42K in wrongful fees charged to Ontario patients by clinics since 2018

(May 9th, 2023) By: Isaac Callan & Colin D’Mello, Global News As one of the biggest changes to how health care is delivered in Ontario for a generation passes its third reading — and advocates raise concerns about widespread privatization — new data shows complaints about improper charges for health care have been relatively rare […]

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Ford government passes private surgical clinics bill

(May 9th, 2023) By: Jessica Smith Cross, The Trillium Ontario has passed legislation to enable the expansion of surgeries performed in private clinics. Bill 60, the Your Health Act, passed over the objections of opposition MPPs, who vowed Monday to continue to fight the changes it will bring to the health-care system by allowing companies […]

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Upcoming community vote disputes healthcare action by government

(May 9th, 2023) By: Guelph Today Several voting locations are opening later this month in Guelph and Wellington County, as the Guelph District Health Coalition (GDHC) joins others in opposition to privatizing health care services in Ontario. They are calling it a “citizen-led community opinion vote,” held by the Ontario Health Coalition, which describes itself as a […]

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Ontario Health Coalition plans a referendum to halt the implementation of a two tier health system

(May 9, 2023) By: Burlington Gazette When the Ontario Health Coalition (OHC) warned last spring leading into the election that the Ford government was planning to privatize surgeries and diagnostic services , Ford repeatedly denied that was his plan. Those claims are shown to be totally false with Bill 60 , the Ford government’s hospital […]

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Upcoming community vote disputes healthcare action by government

(May 9th, 2023) By: Guelph Today Several voting locations are opening later this month in Guelph and Wellington County, as the Guelph District Health Coalition (GDHC) joins others in opposition to privatizing health care services in Ontario. They are calling it a “citizen-led community opinion vote,” held by the Ontario Health Coalition, which describes itself as a […]

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Ford government passes private surgical clinics bill

(May 9th, 2023) By: Jessica Smith Cross, The Trillium A nurse is silhouetted behind a glass panel at the Bluewater Health Hospital in Sarnia, Ont., on Jan. 25, 2022. Chris Young/The Canadian Press Ontario has passed legislation to enable the expansion of surgeries performed in private clinics. Bill 60, the Your Health Act, passed over […]

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Over $42K in wrongful fees charged to Ontario patients by clinics since 2018

(May 9th, 2023) By: Isaac Callan & Colin D’Mello, Global News As one of the biggest changes to how health care is delivered in Ontario for a generation passes its third reading — and advocates raise concerns about widespread privatization — new data shows complaints about improper charges for health care have been relatively rare […]

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Simcoe County Health Coalition holding health-care referendum

(May 8th, 2023) By: Midland Today The Simcoe County Health Coalition (SCHC) is gravely concerned with the current government’s plans to convert our local public hospitals’ core services into for-profit hospitals and clinics. Similarly, the SCHC is disturbed by the government’s expedition of the passing of Bill 60, which will open the door to further […]

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Ontario passes health-care bill allowing private clinics to conduct more surgeries

(May 8th, 2023) By: Katherine DeClerq, CTV News Toronto The Ontario government has passed a bill allowing private clinics to conduct more OHIP-covered surgeries as advocates warn of potential legal action. The legislation was first tabled in February by Health Minister Sylvia Jones, who argued it was necessary to reduce the province’s large surgical backlog. “People should not […]

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UPDATED: Provincial health-reform bill passes, but advocates, workers and opposition politicians vow to keep fighting

(May 8th, 2023) By: Elizabeth Payne, The Ottawa Citizen Ontario’s contentious Bill 60, which allows private clinics to provide more surgeries and health procedures in the province, was passed into law Monday — even as organizations representing health-care workers, advocates and opposition politicians vowed to continue fighting it. Premier Doug Ford said in the Legislature […]

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UPDATED: Provincial health-reform bill passes, but advocates, workers and opposition politicians vow to keep fighting

(May 8th, 2023) By: Elizabeth Payne, The Ottawa Citizen Ontario’s contentious Bill 60, which allows private clinics to provide more surgeries and health procedures in the province, was passed into law Monday — even as organizations representing health-care workers, advocates and opposition politicians vowed to continue fighting it. Premier Doug Ford said in the Legislature […]

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Ontario passes health-care bill allowing private clinics to conduct more surgeries

(May 8th, 2023) By: Katherine DeClerq, CTV News Toronto The Ontario government has passed a bill allowing private clinics to conduct more OHIP-covered surgeries as advocates warn of potential legal action. Bill 60, also known as the Your Health Act, was passed by the Doug Ford government Monday at Queen’s Park and will go into effect once […]

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ONTARIO PASSES HEALTH-REFORM BILL BUT ADVOCATES VOW TO KEEP FIGHTING

(May 8th, 2023) By: Christine Ross, Zoomer Radio Bill 60 has officially passed in the Ontario legislature that will allow more private clinics to offer some publicly funded surgeries and procedures in an effort to cut long wait lists for care. But advocates and the opposition like NDP leader Marit Stile have major concerns about the […]

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Ontario passes health-reform bill that expands private delivery of care

(May 8th, 2023) By: The Canadian Press Ontario has passed a health-reform bill that will allow more private clinics to offer certain publicly funded surgeries and procedures in an effort to cut long wait lists for care. Cataract surgeries and diagnostic imaging and testing will be expanded while the government will create an entirely new […]

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Bill 60 passes at Queen’s Park

(May 8th, 2023) By: Randy Thoms, Dryden Now The bill that gives private health care clinics an expanded role has passed at Queen’s Park. The Ford government says Bill 60 will address the surgical backlog, but opponents say it’s a step toward two-tiered health care. The Ontario Health Coalition’s Natalie Mehra says they have already […]

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Simcoe County Health Coalition holding health-care referendum

(May 8th, 2023) By: Midland Today The Simcoe County Health Coalition (SCHC) is gravely concerned with the current government’s plans to convert our local public hospitals’ core services into for-profit hospitals and clinics. Similarly, the SCHC is disturbed by the government’s expedition of the passing of Bill 60, which will open the door to further […]

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Sad Day for Public Health Care, MPP Steves Says

(May 8th, 2023) By: Allan Benner, Niagara Falls Review Bill 60 allows more non-urgent medical procedures in private clinics. West Lincoln MPP Sam Oosterhoff says legislation will help relieve pressure on Ontario hospitals while enhancing access to care for patients. St. Catharines MPP Jennie Stevens, however, called the provincial government’s approval of the legislation a […]

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‘Sea of Yellow’ expected at Queen’s Park to fight Minden ER closure

(May 8th, 2023) By: Greg Davis, Global News Patrick Porzuczek hopes the public gallery at the Ontario legislature is awash in yellow as he and residents return to Queen’s Park this Wednesday in another effort to save the emergency department at the hospital in Minden. As of early Monday afternoon, the Minden resident said “over […]

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Simcoe County Health Coalition holding health-care referendum

(May 6, 2023) By: Collingwood Today The Simcoe County Health Coalition (SCHC) is gravely concerned with the current government’s plans to convert our local public hospitals’ core services into for-profit hospitals and clinics. Similarly, the SCHC is disturbed by the government’s expedition of the passing of Bill 60, which will open the door to further […]

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Public to Vote on Healthcare ‘Privatization’

(May 4th, 2023) By: Tina Yazdani, CityNews Toronto As the Ford government moves to deliver more medical procedures at for-profit clinics, a healthcare advocacy group is asking the question: Do you want our public hospital services to be privatized? Tina Yazdani reports. Link to video coverage

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A province wide citizen led referendum hopes to garner one million votes

(May 4th, 2023) By: Blake Ellis, The Independent The Sarnia Lambton Health Care Coalition is holding a citizen-led referendum on May 26 and 27 in a province-wide effort to send a message to the government of Ontario Premier Doug Ford to stop privatizing health services. Chair Shirley Roebuck, Co-Chair June Weiss, and Executive Member Lorraine […]

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Public healthcare advocates booted from MPP’s office entrance

(May 4th, 2023) By: Sean Irvine, CTV News London Members of the Ontario Health Coalition (OHC) were asked to leave an area near the entrance of Elgin-Middlesex-London MPP Rob Flack’s office on Thursday. They were a few minutes away from starting a news conference to gauge public opinions on for-profit healthcare. London Health Coalition Co-Chair […]

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A province wide citizen led referendum hopes to garner one million votes

(May 4th, 2023) By: Blake Ellis, The Independent The Sarnia Lambton Health Care Coalition is holding a citizen-led referendum on May 26 and 27 in a province-wide effort to send a message to the government of Ontario Premier Doug Ford to stop privatizing health services. Chair Shirley Roebuck, Co-Chair June Weiss, and Executive Member Lorraine […]

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DEFENDING AND EXPANDING PUBLIC HEALTH CARE

(May 4, 2023) By: The Council of Canadians   In another broken promise from the Ford government, the administration moved ahead with their plan to privatize diagnostic and surgical procedures. Council of Canadians’ chapters have been working closely with local members of the Ontario Health Coalition to oppose the latest attempt to dismantle our public […]

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The Ottawa Hospital says it has boosted capacity to shorten breast cancer surgery wait times:

(May 4, 2023) By: Elizabeth Payne, The Ottawa Citizen The focus on cancer surgery comes after this newspaper reported that some women are waiting up to six months for breast cancer surgery at the hospital’s General campus. The Ottawa Hospital says it is dramatically reducing long wait times for breast cancer surgery by increasing surgical […]

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Vote to Stop the Privatization of Public Health Care

(May 4, 2023) By: Krystine Therriault, Seaway News On April 18, 2023, a press conference was held by the SDG/Cornwall Health Coalition outside the Cornwall Community Hospital. A local chapter of the Ontario Health Coalition, the SDG/Cornwall coalition is participating in a province-wide community referendum on May 26 and 27 to stop the Ford Government […]

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Minden residents ramp up their efforts to stop the closure of their Emergency Department; the Ontario Health Coalition announces locations of their voting stations ahead of its referendum.

(May 4, 2023) By: Noor Ibrahim, Global News Peterborough   Click here for Part 2 of the original video

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Minden residents ramp up their efforts to stop the closure of their Emergency Department; the Ontario Health Coalition announces locations of their voting stations ahead of its referendum.

(May 4, 2023) By: Noor Ibrahim, Global News Peterborough   Click here for Part I of the original video 

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Public to Vote on Healthcare ‘Privatization’

(May 4th, 2023) By: Tina Yazdani, CityNews Toronto As the Ford government moves to deliver more medical procedures at for-profit clinics, a healthcare advocacy group is asking the question: Do you want our public hospital services to be privatized? Tina Yazdani reports. Click here for original video  

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Province-wide vote on healthcare privatization to move forward despite Bill 60 being set to pass next week

(May 4th, 2023) By: Casey Taylor, City News Kitcherner Health coalitions across Ontario continue to gear-up for a province-wide vote on healthcare privatization later this month despite the bill their fighting being expected to pass in a vote at Queen’s Park next week. The Ontario Health Coalition has released a list of the first 500 […]

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Volunteers needed for Ontario Health Coalition referendum vote

(May 4th, 2023) By: Ellwood Shreve, The Stratford Becon Herald The Ontario Health Coalition is holding a citizen-led referendum on the provincial government’s plan to privatize some health services and local volunteers are needed for a vote taking place later this month across Chatham-Kent and Sarnia-Lambton. Lorraine Cameron, left, June Weiss and Shirley Roebuck, with […]

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A deep, moral obligation’; Doctors showed ‘strength and stamina’ during COVID, OMA head says

(May 2, 2023) By: Jeffrey Ougler, Sault Star It’s probably unprecedented that the public has seen so many doctors up close and personal. Since the pandemic reared its head more than three years ago, the mainstream media have banked heavily on expert commentary from those on health-care front lines. And, in turn, those in the […]

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Grey-Bruce group against health-care privatization having online town hall

(May 1, 2023) By: Rob Gowan, Owen Sound Sun Times   A Grey-Bruce group that is part of a provincewide movement to hold a referendum against the privatization of some public healthcare services is holding an online town hall meeting. The Grey Bruce County Health Coalition is holding the town hall meeting on Zoom Thursday […]

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Grey-Bruce group against health-care privatization having online town hall

(May 1, 2023) By: Rob Gowan, Owen Sound Sun Times A Grey-Bruce group that is part of a provincewide movement to hold a referendum against the privatization of some public healthcare services is holding an online town hall meeting. The Grey Bruce County Health Coalition is holding the town hall meeting on Zoom Thursday from […]

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Celebrate International Workers Day 2023 by taking action!

(May 1, 2023) By: OPSEU May 1 is International Workers Day, also known as May Day – a day for workers around the world to celebrate worker solidarity and recommit to the fight for workers’ rights everywhere. There are lots of ways OPSEU/SEFPO members can celebrate and take action on May Day, and throughout the […]

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‘Not okay with the status quo’: Ontario health ministry offers input following creation of Renfrew county health coalition

(April 29, 2023) By: Arnprior Chronicle-Guide Ontario’s Ministry of Health has responded to the Arnprior Chronicle-Guide’s April 27 story ‘New coalition advocating for public hospitals in Renfrew county’ about the creation of the Renfrew County Health Coalition, a chapter of the Ontario Health Coalition. While Metroland had reached out to local MPP John Yakabuski’s office […]

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Ontario Health Care Coalition Referendum

(April 28, 2023) By: Judith Marsh, The Millstone Do you care about accessible healthcare? This is your opportunity to make your opinion heard! On January 16th, the Ontario government announced plans to take thousands of surgeries and diagnostic tests out of local public hospitals and move them to for-profit hospitals and clinics. In response, the […]

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New coalition advocating for public hospitals in Renfrew county

(April 27, 2023) By: Derek Dunn, Arnprior Chronicle-Guide The Ford government’s significant privatization of Ontario hospital services at some locations has prompted the creation of a new organization in Renfrew county, and it wants citizen input on a “referendum.” The PC plan to use specialized private clinics to reduce wait times for hip and knee […]

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New coalition advocating for public hospitals in Renfrew county:

(April 27, 2023) By: Derek Dunn, Arnprior Chronicle-Guide Ford government continues to privatize services; MPP remains silent The Ford government’s significant privatization of Ontario hospital services at some locations has prompted the creation of a new organization in Renfrew county, and it wants citizen input on a “referendum.” The PC plan to use specialized private […]

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Time to restore our health-care system

(April 25, 2023) By: Letter to the Editor, Exeter Lakeshore Times Advance The Sarnia Lambton Health Coalition is part of the Ontario Health Coalition; both groups advocate for public health care and ,in particular, public hospitals. Lambton County has a large community hospital, Bluewater Health, and a small rural hospital, Charlotte Eleanor Englehart Hospital in […]

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Health coalition holding ‘referendum’ on for-profit clinics expansion plan

(April 20th, 2023) By: Tyler Kyla, Chatham Daily News A provincial health care watchdog group is asking people to vote on whether they’re in favour of a provincial plan to expand the private delivery of public health care. The goal is to get one million participants, said Shirley Roebuck with the Ontario Health Coalition’s Sarnia-Lambton […]

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Health coalition holding ‘referendum’ on for-profit clinics expansion plan

(April 20th, 2023) By: Tyler Kyla, Chatham Daily News A provincial health care watchdog group is asking people to vote on whether they’re in favour of a provincial plan to expand the private delivery of public health care. The goal is to get one million participants, said Shirley Roebuck with the Ontario Health Coalition’s Sarnia-Lambton […]

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Ontario Health Coalition holds rally against privatizing healthcare services

(April 18th, 2023) By:  CTV News Windsor A citizen-led protest against privatizing healthcare services was set up outside Windsor Regional Hospital Tuesday morning. Health coalitions across Ontario are launching a major fight back to stop the privatization of public hospitals. The Ontario Health Coalition is trying to stop the move of some health services to […]

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Health-care coalition stages protest against privatization in Windsor

(April 18th, 2023) By: Dale Molnar, CBC News Health-care workers, union representatives, nurses and PSWs joined organizers with the local representatives of the Ontario Health Coalition in a noontime protest Monday against privatization within health care. “Our message is that we want to raise the alarm that Doug Ford is attempting to privatize our health-care […]

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Health-care advocacy group to hold vote in response to Ford’s move to allow private clinic procedures

(April 18th, 2023) By: CBC News As the province looks to deliver more health-care services through private providers, the Ontario Health Coalition (OHC) is launching a community-led vote on what it sees as the privatization of health-care. The unofficial referendum will be held across Ontario with over 1,000 polling stations on May 26 and 27, […]

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‘Only better care for those that can afford it’: Health Coalition holds rally to protest healthcare privatization

(April 18th, 2023) By: Brent Lale, CTV News London The Ontario Health Coalition (OHC) fears the province is headed for an American-style, two-tier healthcare system. “We can’t staff hospitals as it is right now,” said Peter Bergmanis, co-chair of the London chapter of the OHC. “If you’ve got another tier of care, where the lifestyle […]

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Ontario Health Coalition to stage citizen-led referendum on Bill 60

(April 18th, 2023) By: Alex Last, CHCH Coalitions across Ontario are seeking Ontarian’s opinions about the Ford government’s proposed changes to Ontario’s health system. The Ontario Health Coalition announced that it will stage a citizen-led referendum on Bill 60, hoping a heap of ballots will force the province to reverse its course on healthcare. “Do […]

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