(May 11, 2016)<\/p>\n
Author: Travis Mealing, Midland Mirror<\/p>\n
MIDLAND \u2013 A group determined to fight proposed service cuts at Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) has at least one more trick up its sleeve.<\/p>\n
Citizens of North Simcoe Concerned for Fair LHIN Funding has organized a local vote in an \u201cunofficial referendum\u201d spearheaded by the Ontario Health Coalition (OHC).<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll have ballot boxes in strategic places in Tay, Tiny, Midland and Penetang,\u201d said Fran Moreau, one of the local group\u2019s three co-chairs. \u201cWe\u2019re hoping the government will see fit to increase (GBGH\u2019s) funding. That\u2019s the bottom line.\u201d<\/p>\n
The ballot boxes will be around for the rest of May in stores and businesses. The wording on the ballot is: \u201cOntario\u2019s government must stop the cuts to our community hospitals and restore services, funding and staff to meet our communities\u2019 needs for care.\u201d Below there are boxes where respondents can check Yes or No.<\/p>\n
Moreau agreed with the observation that the campaign is designed to get nearly 100 per cent of respondents to check the \u201cyes\u201d box. She also acknowledged it will not carry any legal weight or be binding on the Liberal government.<\/p>\n
Nonetheless, she said she is hopeful of making a difference, noting the OHC successfully put pressure on the government to backtrack on similar proposals in Leamington several years ago.<\/p>\n
Midland Mayor Gord McKay is travelling to Toronto today (Thursday) with his counterparts from Penetanguishene and Tiny Township for a sit-down with Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care officials.<\/p>\n
At Monday\u2019s launch of the ballot-box initiative, he spoke of the need for \u201cappropriate\u201d health care in the community.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not sure this (referendum) is going to be the solution,\u201d he added, \u201cbut I can tell you it\u2019s part of the solution. We\u2019ve got to make sure our political masters are aware of the concern and anxiety right across this province.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tay Township Mayor Scott Warnock offered encouragement to the group, noting \u201cnothing speaks louder\u201d to politicians than the ballot box.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a fight well worth fighting, because at the end the victory will be very sweet,\u201d he said, adding service cuts and staffing reductions are no way to balance the hospital\u2019s books. \u201cHealth care is much more than the bottom line.\u201d<\/p>\n
The ballots will be collected and counted May 27 and presented to Premier Kathleen Wynne by the OHC the following Monday.<\/p>\n