Le Lézard
Subjects: POLITICS, CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Ford government plans unprecedented for-profit privatization of health care: Health Coalitions raise alarm, plan to protect local services


Attn: Assignment Editor

TORONTO, Feb. 14, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

What:
The Ford government has announced plans to bring in private for-profit hospitals in Ontario. They are handing more than 18,000 long-term care beds to for-profit companies in 30-year contracts and despite many repeated announcements, they have not reinstated comprehensive inspections nor improved care levels. They are privatizing the last remaining public parts of home care. They have allowed private for-profit testing clinics to charge patients hundreds of dollars for COVID tests. All this in the context of unprecedented staffing shortages.

Health Coalitions across Ontario are holding press conferences to warn about what this means for local public health care services, including our hospitals, long-term care, home care, COVID response and more, and to announce major community events in response.

Details:
Thursday February 17
Niagara Health Coalition at 10 am
Join Zoom Meeting at:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85303172515             Meeting ID: 853 0317 2515

For more information, contact Julia Lucas at (647) 462-3359 or [email protected]

Toronto Health Coalition at 12 pm
Join Zoom Meeting at:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88592988040             Meeting ID: 885 9298 8040

For more information, contact Natalie Mehra at (416) 230-6402 or [email protected]

Friday February 18
Sudbury Health Coalition at 10 am
Join Zoom Meeting at:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85407618265             Meeting ID: 854 0761 8265

For more information, contact Dot Klein at (705) 566-9072 or [email protected]

Tuesday February 22 
Waterloo Regional Health Coalition at 10 am
Join Zoom Meeting at:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83376106154?pwd=R0FKaUtTM1VYQkVOczQvVUoxbVlvUT09
Meeting ID: 833 7610 6154          Passcode: 217952

For more information, contact Jim Stewart at (519) 588-5841 or [email protected]

Wednesday February 23
Cornwall Health Coalition at 10 am
Join Zoom Meeting at:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86559714484             Meeting ID: 865 5971 4484

For more information, contact Elaine MacDonald at (613) 330-3117 or [email protected]

Thunder Bay Health Coalition at 10 am
Join Zoom Meeting at:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83212440575?pwd=WEpyS0tibDRLamNDQWRQVkduaklDQT09
Meeting ID: 832 1244 0575         Passcode: 648651

For more information, contact Jules Tupker at (807) 577-5946 or [email protected]

Windsor Health Coalition at 10 am
Join Zoom Meeting at:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87239103619?pwd=S3JRMDNTV2VjbFhuREdiS0pxcXMzdz09
Meeting ID: 872 3910 3619          Passcode: 450449

For more information, contact Tracey Ramsey at 519-995-0239 or [email protected]

Ottawa Health Coalition at 11:30 am
Join Zoom Meeting at: 
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85014863337?pwd=RnIwWmE0M1llRjl2Zm45VlBmOFIzZz09
Meeting ID: 850 1486 3337        Passcode: 757769

For more information, contact Ed Cashman at (343) 999-6886 or [email protected]

Thursday February 24
Kawartha Lakes at 10 am
Join Zoom Meeting at:
https://utoronto.zoom.us/j/86190352836        Meeting ID: 861 9035 2836

For more information, contact Zac Miller at (289) 356-7537 or [email protected]

North Bay Health Coalition at 10 am
Join Zoom Meeting at:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82765086046             Meeting ID: 827 6508 6046

For more information, contact Henri Giroux at (705) 471-7746 or [email protected]

London Health Coalition at 12 pm
Join Zoom Meeting at:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89792862335             Meeting ID: 897 9286 2335

For more information, contact Peter Bergmanis at (519) 860-4403 or [email protected]

Oxford County Coalition for Social Justice at 12 pm
Join Zoom Meeting at:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85442467297?pwd=UTg1bjlwVDBNMW9OZXNvSFdOWC9UUT09
Meeting ID: 854 4246 7297          Passcode: 893011

For more information, contact Bryan J. Smith at (226) 228-8309 or [email protected]

Friday February 25
Kingston Health Coalition at 10 am
Join Zoom Meeting at:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89424132935             Meeting ID: 894 2413 2935

For more information, contact Matthew Gventer at (613) 542-5834 or [email protected]

Monday February 28
Chatham-Kent, Sarnia, Wallaceburg-Walpole Island at 10 am
Join Zoom Meeting at:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89324642009?pwd=ZVdxcmRqa0hCNnpKRHFCTWVZMUFiZz09
Meeting ID: 893 2464 2009          Passcode: 796980

For more information, contact Shirley Roebuck at (226) 402-2724 or [email protected]

Durham Health Coalition at 10 am
Join Zoom Meeting at:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83567085051             Meeting ID: 835 6708 5051

For more information, contact Lance Livingstone at (905) 431-0823 or [email protected]

For more information:
Natalie Mehra, executive director, Ontario Health Coalition 416-230-6402




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