April 18 rallies planned to save Ontario hospitals

'80% of hospitals are sinking into debt while the equivalent of 5,000 full-time jobs are expected to be eliminated this year alone.'

Ottawa (9 April 2009) - Rallies are being held throughout Ontario on April 18 to fight cuts and closures at provincial hospitals. Download Poster

"Across Ontario communities face major cuts to their hospitals, leading to longer wait times, bed cuts, program closures, and overcrowding," says the Ontario Health Coalition.

"Continued underfunding means about 80% of hospitals are sinking into debt while the equivalent of 5,000 full-time jobs are expected to be eliminated this year alone."

The Ontario Health Coalition is coordinating demonstrations in front of government MPP offices on Saturday, April 18. Rallies are planned in many communities, including Cornwall, Belleville, Kingston, Guelph, Hamilton, St. Catharines, Sudbury, Strathroy, Wallaceburg and Chatham.

"Fight-back campaigns have already had results," the coalition says.

"In Petrolia a large community demonstration saved their ER from closing. In Hamilton the community successfully fought off a plan to reduce the ER at Hamilton Health Sciences to a pediatric-only facility. In Trenton the hospital was forced to back down on a plan to downgrade their ER to an urgent care facility. Sustained pressure will make a difference."

The following is a preliminary list of demonstrations coordinated by the Ontario Health Coalition. Please contact the Ontario Health Coalition directly at 416-441-2502 or email ohc@sympatico.ca.

NUPGE

The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE

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Hospital cuts threaten our health