(April 18th, 2023)<\/p>\n
By: Alex Last, CHCH<\/p>\n
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Coalitions across Ontario are seeking Ontarian\u2019s opinions about the Ford government\u2019s proposed changes to Ontario\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
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\u201cDo you want our public hospital services to be privatized to for-profit hospitals and clinics?,\u201d Niagara Health Coalition\u2019s Sue Hotte was outside St. Catharines Hospital Tuesday morning announcing that voting will begin online on May 2. Then, towards the end of the month, two days of in-person submissions outside coffee shops, grocery stores, and other public spaces. Hotte also says that advanced voting will be available as well.<\/p>\n
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The Niagara Health Coalition says in-person voting will include roughly 40 different voting stations across the region.The province\u2019s Bill 60 aims to expand procedures to private clinics, due to increased wait times at hospitals. Public service advocates say the Tories have underspent on the budget. Hamilton\u2019s Coalition met at the Steelworkers Union Hall on Tuesday to also campaign for the upcoming vote as well as others in front of Queens Park.<\/p>\n
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The Ontario Health Coalition tells CHCH News it hopes the votes will lead to change saying, \u201cPeople bring in the piles and piles and piles of ballots to the Ontario legislature and ask Mr. Ford to respond.\u201d The Ontario Health Minister\u2019s office echoed once again, \u201cPremier Ford and Minister Jones have been clear, Ontarians will always access our healthcare system with their OHIP card, not their credit card.\u201d<\/p>\n
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The Coalitions say they\u2019ll announce the tallied votes on May 30.<\/p>\n
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