(May 31, 2026) By: Darren Taylor, SooToday.com<\/p>\n
Protestors call for more classroom help, express support for public health care<\/em><\/p>\n Approximately 100 workers represented by several unions, joined by concerned citizens, gathered outside Sault MPP Chris Scott\u2019s office on Great Northern Road today to voice their displeasure with Premier Doug Ford\u2019s government.<\/p>\n Though Scott is now an independent MPP, he was originally elected as a Progressive Conservative.<\/p>\n The Fight Ford protest was one of over 60 that took place today in communities across Ontario.<\/p>\n Participants voiced their opposition to the Ford government\u2019s policies regarding the environment, health care, education, and the consolidation of conservation authorities.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is violence toward educators,\u201d said Jason Young, OSSTF District 2 bargaining unit president.<\/p>\n \u201cThe policies that govern our entire education system are under Doug Ford’s management. I would suggest that the first thing that needs to happen is support workers for students need to be restored,\u201d Young told SooToday<\/em>.<\/p>\n There have been layoffs of support workers in the province.<\/p>\n \u201cThose staff were out to help the most vulnerable students and the students most at risk. The erosion of those supports manifests as a breakdown in the system. We want those supports for students back for students,\u201d Young said.<\/p>\n Ontario Health Coalition members were also in attendance at today\u2019s rally.<\/p>\n \u201cThe government continues to underfund our hospitals. We have a deficit at Sault Area Hospital and hospitals across the province. The government on the other hand says \u2018we’re spending record amounts\u2019 on hospitals,\u201d said Albert Dupuis, the Blind River-based OHC Algoma region representative.<\/p>\n Dupuis said it appears, on the surface, that\u00a0the government is spending more on hospitals but there\u2019s a wrinkle in that.<\/p>\n \u201cThose numbers never take into account the fact that we have population growth, we have aging, we have inflation. So, what’s actually happening is we have real dollar cuts in our hospitals,\u201d Dupuis said.<\/p>\n The OHC continues to express its opposition to private clinics in Ontario.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have operating rooms, diagnostic imaging centres in hospitals that are remaining idle and the government says that they need to introduce privatization in order to improve access to care,\u201d Dupuis said.<\/p>\n There is no need to privatize, he said.<\/p>\n \u201cAll they would need to do is to fund the public facilities properly and staff them in order to provide the same services, which are being provided in these private clinics,\u201d Dupuis said.<\/p>\n Protestors called on MPP Scott to assist.<\/p>\n “He’s the current MPP for Sault Ste. Marie and and we would expect him to be doing his job and bringing our concerns to the attention of the government,” Dupuis said.<\/p>\n