(May 18, 2016)<\/p>\n
By: Mehreen Shahid, Orillia Packet & Times<\/p>\n
A group that is taking its \u201cgrassroots referendum\u201d movement across the province to protest health-care cuts is inviting local residents to give their two cents\u2019 worth.<\/p>\n
The Ontario Health Coalition (OHC), a volunteer-based organization, will set up stations in 20 communities, including Orillia, this month. The goal is to collect enough votes to persuade politicians to pay attention and take action on cuts to health-care services.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re trying to put pressure on the government to give more funding to hospitals,\u201d said Lynne Hancock, co-chair of OHC in Orillia. \u201cOntario is not doing so well in funding its hospitals; it is ninth out of the 10 provinces.\u201d<\/p>\n
The results of the referendum will be taken to Queen\u2019s Park by the end of this month, before legislature breaks for summer, said Patt Carter, an OHC Orillia volunteer.<\/p>\n
Richard Johnston, also a volunteer and a retired doctor, said the continued funding cuts are the thin edge of the wedge, moving toward a two-tiered system: those who have the money to get better service and the have-nots.<\/p>\n
\u201cGood health care is a hallmark of this country,\u201d said Johnston. \u201cA lot of us see essential services being divested to private firms and taken away from hospitals.\u201d<\/p>\n
Last month, Orillia Soldiers\u2019 Memorial Hospital (OSMH) announced the closure of its 16-bed complex continuing care program and the elimination of 35 full-time-equivalent jobs, owing to a budgetary deficit of $5.9 million.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd it\u2019s not just for Orillia,\u201d said Carter. \u201cIt\u2019s across the board.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s also not just seniors who will be impacted, she said, adding younger people will also suffer thanks to increased wait times in emergency units and delays in diagnoses.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s why the community and decision makers need to take notice, said Johnston.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you sit back and be disconnected and be dispassionate, in 15 years, there will be nothing,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think if the community knows about it, they\u2019ll come out and say stop the health-care cuts.\u201d<\/p>\n
Local referendum stations<\/p>\n
\u2022 May 21 \u2014 Orillia Fairgrounds Farmers\u2019 Market, 8 a.m. to noon<\/p>\n
\u2022 May 24, 25 and 26 \u2014 Orillia Foodland, 6 to 8 p.m.<\/p>\n
\u2022 May 28 \u2014 St. Luke\u2019s Church, Prices Corner, 8 a.m. to noon<\/p>\n
\u2022 May 28 \u2014 St. Athanasius\u2019 Anglican Church, Orillia, 10 a.m. to noon<\/p>\n
The OHC also hopes to have a polling station set up on Mississaga Street during the Into the Green and Blues Street Festival May 27 and 28.<\/p>\n
For more information, call Hancock at 705-259-2750 or Natalie Mehra at 416-441-2502.<\/p>\n