(March 8, 2026) By: Allan Benner, St. Catharines Standard<\/p>\n
Town hall aims to gather resident stories as worries mount over long waits, ER crowding and privatized clinics.<\/em><\/p>\n Niagara Health Coalition is turning its attention to Niagara Falls this week, after a standing-room only crowd gathered for a town-hall meeting in Welland recently.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Coalition chair Sue Hotte said an event on Monday is the second of a series of town-hall meetings. The coalition plans to hold others throughout the region to focus on concerns about hospital and medical services in Niagara\u2019s communities.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n It\u2019s taking place at Gale Centre, 5152 Thorold Stone Rd., from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Speakers include Ontario Health Coalition\u00a0executive director Natalie Mehra and Niagara Falls New Democrat MPP Wayne Gates.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Discussions at the town hall in Welland on Feb. 13 focused on plans for services in south Niagara communities, such as the recently announced closure of the extended care unit, the long-term-care home at the Welland hospital.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Hotte expects much of the conversation in Niagara Falls will focus on privatization of health-care services.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n