![](\"https:\/\/communities-wcmimages-cache.prod.postmedia.digital\/images?url=https:\/\/nexus.prod.postmedia.digital\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/0404-sm-townhall.jpg&w=840&h=590\")
<\/p>\nFears more privatization, which province denies; town hall meeting Friday in Sault<\/p>\n
April 3, 2019 | Last Updated: April 3, 2019 4:17 PM EDT<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The public is being kept in the dark about changes coming to Ontario health care \u2014 and many will be \u201csurprised and shocked\u201d when they learn the truth, contends a Sault Ste. Marie public health advocacy group.<\/p>\n
Sault Ste. Marie Health Coalition says of chief concern is Bill 74, which folds multiple health agencies, including the North East Local Health Integration Network or NE LHIN, into one super-agency.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s going to, I believe, throw health care into chaos and disarray all across this province,\u201d group member Marie DellaVedova told The Sault Star. \u201cWe won\u2019t recognize some of the agencies or services anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n
Most alarming, she added, is that new legislation paves the way for more privatization. Ontario coalitions contend this will enable super-agency appointees to transfer public and non-profit health-care services to for-profit companies. The province has said the legislation will not include two-tier care, private hospitals, making patients pay for more services out of pocket, or privatizing services, such as long-term-care inspections and air ambulance service.<\/p>\n
The coalition contends the regional LHIN has already been effectively dismantled, and all decision-making is now in the hands of provincial appointees based in Toronto, most of whom have little background in health care and were chosen instead for their \u201cfinancial credentials.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, many of the health-care services that we value, as Canadians, are public, not-for-profit, and this legislation can turn that upside down,\u201d DellaVedova said. \u201cPeople already have trouble navigating the health-care system. This is going to be, I believe, total chaos.\u201d<\/p>\n
She hopes a Friday evening town hall meeting, presented by the Sault group and Ontario Health Coalition, will give the public a firmer grasp of what\u2019s called for in the bill.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think people realize the enormity of this legislation,\u201d DellaVedova said. \u201cSo, I think it\u2019s really important to get that legislation out there.\u201d<\/p>\n
A two-day series of public hearings regarding the legislation was carried out earlier this week in Toronto \u2014 hardly enough consultation given what is being proposes, opponents argue.<\/p>\n
DellaVedova said that traditionally, when such considerable changes are being proposed, governments ask for input, with panels travelling around province and gathering feedback considered in final decisions.<\/p>\n
\u201cNone of that is happening,\u201d she said. \u201cEverything is happening so fast, the public isn\u2019t even aware of what\u2019s going on. It\u2019s frightening, actually.\u201d<\/p>\n
Natalie Mehra, Ontario Health Coalition executive director, will speak at Friday\u2019s town hall, slated for 7 p.m. at Royal Canadian Legion Branch 25, 96 Great Northern Rd.<\/p>\n
DellaVedova said she hopes residents opposed to such changes to hearth care can, at the very least, compose a \u201cplan of action\u201d so that if the government\u2019s plan can\u2019t be totally stopped, at least efforts to seek amendments can be made.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople will realize they can\u2019t be complacent,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n