Hospitals

HOSPITALS EASY ACCESS LIST: Major Hospital Reports, Analyses, Backgrounders, Fact Sheets, Briefing Notes & Media Releases

On this page you can find a roundup of Ontario Health Coalition Hospitals: Reports & Analyses Backgrounders, Facts Sheets & Briefing Notes Media Releases Reports/Analyses Backgrounders/Fact Sheets/Briefing Notes Media Releases

ANALYSIS & FACT CHECKER: Quick Facts & Analysis + Fact Checker: Ford government’s health care funding

(November 10, 2024) Quick Facts & Analysis What is the Ford government doing re. health funding & what it means On October 30, the Ford government released its Fall Economic Statement. With high-rotation ads everywhere (paid by taxpayers) touting the record of the Ford government, and rumours of a spring election in the air, […]

Ontario Health Coalition amplifying Rainy River District’s distress calls

(September 26, 2024) By: Ken Kellar, NWO NewsWatch FORT FRANCES — A network of community organizations across Ontario are using their platform to amplify the critical healthcare situations being faced by municipalities in the Rainy River District and call for action from the provincial government. In a video press conference last Friday the Ontario Health […]

EVENT: Trojan Horse Ontario Tour to Fight Privatization of Hospital Surgeries

(October 2, 2024) To protest the Ford government’s privatization of our public hospital services, the CUPE Ontario Council of Hospital Unions (OCHU-CUPE) and Ontario Health Coalition are kicking off a Trojan Horse tour this Friday at Queen’s Park, Toronto. The Ford government is privatizing surgeries by taking public funding and staff away from public hospitals […]

Ontario court to hear challenge to government’s long-term care bill next week

(September 20, 2024) by: Sneh Duggal, The Trillium (behind a paywall) –> The first part of the article is as follows: Two advocacy groups have filed a Charter challenge against a government bill that lets hospitals charge some patients $400 per day for declining to move into a long-term care home chosen for them… Click […]

Ontario Health Coalition amplifying Rainy River District’s distress calls

(September 18, 2024) By: Ken Kellar, Fort Frances Times A network of community organizations across Ontario are using their platform to amplify the critical health care situations being faced by municipalities in the Rainy River District and call for action from the provincial government. In a video press conference held via Zoom on Friday, September […]

VIDEO: Healthcare watchdog highlights crisis in Rainy River

(September 17, 2024) By: Leigh Nunan, TBnewswatch.com Click here for the link to the video

Code red: How more Ontario hospitals are struggling with balancing the books

(September 14, 2024) By: Sawyer Bogdan, Global News Critics say the situation at the London Health Sciences Centre speaks to a larger issue, with health experts warning that most Ontario hospitals are projecting a deficit. Last week, the London Health Sciences Centre announced $14 million in staffing cuts. The hospital network eliminated 59 positions and reassigned 71 […]

Rainy River health organizations hit hard by staff shortages

(September 13, 2024) By: Michelle Allan, CBC News Town has no permanent doctors, few paramedics Concerned organizations in Rainy River, Ont. say the town’s medical system is on life support as they struggle to recruit and retain staff. The northwestern Ontario town is facing dire shortages of both doctors and paramedics, said Mayor Deborah Ewald at […]

Health care crisis unfolding in Northwestern Ontario

(September 13, 2024) By: Olivia Browning, NOWnewswatch.com Malcolm Daley, President of CUPE Local 4807 said, “we’re no longer treading water, we’re starting to drown.” Hospital, EMS, and primary care services are at risk in Northwestern Ontario due to a funding dispute between the physicians and the Ford government. An online press conference held on Friday […]

RELEASE: Health care in crisis in northwestern Ontario: communities demand urgent solutions from Ford government

(September 13, 2024) Toronto/Rainy River/Thunder Bay/Emo: An unprecedented crisis in hospital, EMS, and primary care services in northwestern Ontario is unfolding. Physicians are leaving Rainy River’s hospital and clinic and the ambulance base in Emo is threatened with impending closure. The Mayor of Rainy River, the President of the District’s paramedics’ and hospital workers’ union […]

EVENT & RELEASE: Public Hearings on Protecting & Improving Local Hospitals: Community members invited to give input

(June 3, 2024) TORONTO — In response to more than 1,200 closures of emergency departments and other local hospital services over the last year, the Ontario Health Coalition (OHC) is holding public hearings across Ontario to develop recommendations for the future of our local hospitals, including small, rural and northern community hospitals. Mid size or […]

RELEASE: Community and union leaders announce legal action, demand Ford declare a moratorium to save the Durham hospital

(May 23, 2024) Toronto, Grey Bruce – The Durham hospital, located in Grey County, dates back to 1910. Its community supported its survival through two World Wars, the Great Depression, amalgamation, and many local hospital boards and provincial governments. Now, after more than a century, it is facing a potentially fatal blow with the imminent […]

RELEASE & REPORT: Robbing the public to build the private: The Ford government’s hospital privatization scheme

(February 21, 2024) A new report, Robbing from the public to build the private: The Ford government’s hospital privatization scheme reveals that local hospitals in every region of Ontario have operating rooms sitting idle the majority of the time. The public has funded local hospitals for more than 70 years to build operating room capacity that […]

RELEASE & REPORT: Health Coalition Exposes Significantly Higher Costs & Irregularities in Kingston Hospital Cataract Surgery Privatization: New Report

(February 15, 2024) The press release and report was released on February 15. An update with a response to statements made by the Kingston Health Sciences Centre CEO can be found below the initial release. The privatization of cataract surgeries in Kingston, Ontario, costs 56% more than if the same procedures had been done in […]

RELEASE & REPORT: Number of Ontario hospital emergency closures soars to new record: Health Coalition demands Ford government finally take action

(December 5, 2023) Toronto – A new report, Unprecedented and Worsening: Ontario’s Local Hospital Closures 2023 released by the Ontario Health Coalition at Queen’s Park this morning, paints a stark picture of a health care system that has tipped into collapse. Across Ontario, vital hospital services, such as emergency departments, maternity and obstetrics, outpatient laboratories […]

RELEASE: Ford Government Expanded For-Profit Hospital in Violation of the Law and While Lying to the Public: Health Coalition and Democracy Watch Call for Concrete Measures to Protect the Public Interest in Wake of Revelations about Former Health Minister Lobbying for For-Profit Hospital

(November 20, 2023) Toronto—The revelation that former Health Minister Christine Elliott has registered as a lobbyist for a for-profit hospital known as Don Mills Surgical Unit, now owned by Clearpoint Health Network, has raised serious questions about ethics and conflict of interest. The Ontario Health Coalition has looked into the funding increases given to that […]

REPORT & RELEASE: Report advises Ontario government to scrap private surgeries and invest in public hospitals

(November 2, 2023) Toronto – Drawing on new data from Freedom of Information requests, financial and statistical analysis, and research, a new report raises red flags about the Ford government’s privatization of our public hospitals’ core services including diagnostics and surgeries. The report, At What Cost? Ontario hospital privatization and the threat to public health […]

BRIEFING NOTE: Health care funding briefing note: putting the fall economic statement in context

(November 2, 2023) Today, the Ford government will release its fall economic statement. This briefing note is intended to give context with which to assess the claims of the government. As we write, Ontario is in the worst health care crisis in memory. The most urgent services in local public hospitals are facing repeated and […]

EVENT: Major Protest to Stop the Ford Government’s Privatization of Our Public Hospitals’ Core Services

(Updated: September 21, 2023) MAJOR PROTEST OPENING DAY OF THE ONTARIO LEGISLATURE Monday, September 25, 2023 at 12 Noon TORONTO at Queen’s Park outside the Main Legislative Building at 12 Noon THUNDER BAY at Mini Queen’s Park at South James St. at 12 Noon DRYDEN outside MPP Greg Rickford’s office, 439 Government St. at 11:30 a.m. CST (Dryden time) […]

BRIEFING NOTE: Sampling of Recent Ontario Hospital Service Closures

(September 15, 2023) The following briefing note gives a sampling of local hospital emergency, ICU, birthing and other vital service closures across Ontario in 2023. There are many more. Dr. David Savage has been tracking Ontario emergency department closures. He found 848 emergency department closures in 2022. In 2023, up until the end of August […]

UPDATE: Bill 60, the Ford government’s hospital privatization bill passed final vote yesterday: Health Coalition statement & update on the fightback

(May 9, 2023) When the Ontario Health Coalition (OHC) warned last spring leading into the election that the Ford government was planning to privatize surgeries and diagnostic services , Ford repeatedly denied that was his plan. Those claims are shown to be totally false with Bill 60 , the Ford government’s hospital privatization legislation passed into law yesterday. With […]

EVENT: Ontario referendum to stop Ford government’s privatization of our hospitals announced

(April 18, 2023) Ontario Health Coalition Province-Wide Community Referendum to Stop Ford Government’s Privatization of Our Public Hospitals Health Coalitions across Ontario launched a major fightback to stop the privatization of our public hospitals today. The Coalition is mounting a community-run referendum. Health Coalitions are organizing voting stations outside grocery stores, local corner stores, coffee shops, […]

RELEASE: Major step forward for elderly patients whose Charter rights are violated by Ford government’s law coercing elderly patients into long-term care homes against their will: Patient advocates file court challenge

(April 13, 2023) Toronto – The Ontario Health Coalition and the Advocacy Centre for the Elderly have made a major step forward in their Charter Challenge to Bill 7, passed by the Ford government last summer. On Wednesday, April 12, 2023, the patient advocates filed a Notice of Application with the Ontario Superior Court of […]

LEGAL CHALLENGE: Charter Challenge to Bill 7 “More Beds, Better Care Act”

(April 13, 2023) The Ontario Health Coalition and the Advocacy Centre for the Elderly have launched a Charter Challenge to the Ford government’s new law, Bill 7 the “More Beds, Better Care Act”. Despite its title, the law neither provides more beds in hospitals or long-term care homes, nor does it improve care. Instead, the […]

ANALYSIS: Ontario Health Coalition Analysis of Bill 60, Your Health Act

(March 10, 2023) This legislation is ostensibly to facilitate the Ford government’s plan to expand private clinics. It replaces the Independent Health Facilities Act. Since the government already had the power to do what it announced publicly (privatize day surgeries and diagnostics from our public hospitals) under existing legislation, this part of our analysis of […]

RELEASE: Calling Ford’s plans to privatize Ontario’s public hospital surgeries a “fatal threat” and a “terrible blow” to our public hospitals, health advocates vow major fightback

(January 16, 2023) Toronto – The Ford government’s plans to privatize our public hospitals’ vital services are a fatal threat to the core tenet of Canadian Public Medicare that extra user fees are forbidden and patients will not be faced with user charges in their time of need. Already existing private for-profit clinics routinely extra-bill […]

EVENTS: Protests & Town Halls to Save our Public Hospitals

(November 21, 2022) Protests Our public hospitals are in an unprecedented crisis. The Ford government has done substantially nothing to help them. Instead they have funnelled millions into for-profit corporations to privatize our public hospital services. Almost 100 Emergency Departments have had closures across Ontario. If the Ford government continues to ignore & downplay the […]

RELEASE & LEGAL OPINION: Ontario Health Coalition & Advocacy Centre for the Elderly will go to court to challenge Ford government’s new law forcing elderly into long-term care homes against their choice: “an egregious violation of their Charter rights”

(November 21, 2022) Toronto –The Ontario Health Coalition and the Advocacy Centre for the Elderly launched a Constitutional Challenge this morning in response to the Ford government’s new law that forces elderly hospital patients into long-term care homes against their choice. The two groups will be co-applicants to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in […]

ROUNDUP: Ontario Health Coalition’s Work on the New Bill Overriding Patients’ Right to Consent

(October 26, 2022) Please find below links to various materials the Ontario Health Coalition has produced when it comes to the new Bill 7, the legislation passed by the Ford’s government which gives new powers to force the elderly and persons with disabilities into unwanted long-term care homes without their consent. Media Releases: November 21, […]

RELEASE & BRIEFING NOTE: The Ford government lied to the public re. their privatization of public hospital services: Health Coalition demands Ford stop their privatization of our hospitals, kicks off major campaign to save our local public hospitals

(October 26, 2022) Toronto –The Ontario Health Coalition released a brief today charging that the Ford government lied to the public about its privatization of Ontario’s public hospital services. The Coalition reported that the Ford government significantly increased funding to private clinics while at the same time denying that they were expanding the private clinics. […]

REPORT & RELEASE: Ontario Hospital Crisis Province-Wide and By Community

(October 24, 2022) Toronto — Across Ontario, the hospital crisis continues to burn through the resilience of the province’s truly heroic health care staff. As the burden of infectious disease has increased, with the removal of virtually all public health measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19; the flu, other respiratory illnesses, and a severe […]

RELEASE: New report on the spread of COVID, LTC outbreaks, hospitalizations & deaths raises red flags despite the Ford government’s suppression of COVID Data

(October 21, 2022) Toronto – The Ford government has ceased regular reporting on the spread of COVID-19. Public Health no longer publishes daily and weekly epidemiologic reports and it has become steadily more difficult to get accurate numbers. Not only are the government and Public Health not reporting much of the data previously available, they […]

FACT CHECKER & RELEASE: Furious at the “grotesque” ageism and violation of human rights, advocates respond to Ford government’s planned regulations to push elderly patients out of hospital

(September 15, 2022) Toronto – The Ford government has released its regulations under the euphemistically titled More Beds, Better Care Act (formerly Bill 7) today. The regulations are the details under the legislation to provide new powers to push elderly patients and people with chronic care needs out of hospitals, overriding their right to consent. […]

LETTER & RELEASE: “Rife with discrimination against the elderly,” Bill 7 prompts advocates to escalate call for Human Rights Commission investigation into systemic ageism in Ontario health policy

(August 31, 2022) Toronto, ON – At a press conference held today, the Ontario Health Coalition (OHC), the Advocacy Centre for the Elderly (ACE), and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) announced they are escalating their call for the Ontario Human Rights Commission to launch a formal inquiry into systemic discrimination in the provision […]

FACT CHECKER & RELEASE: Ford Government’s Claims Re. Forcing Elderly Patients into Long-Term Care in Contravention of their Right to Consent

(August 25, 2022) Toronto – Here are the facts about the Ford government’s new legislation, Bill 7 – More Beds, Better Care Act, 2022, which was introduced in the Legislature last week and is currently under debate. The government has made an array of claims, some of which have been printed in major media stories, […]

RELEASE: Doug Ford’s new legislation being pushed through the Legislature gives new powers to force the elderly & persons with disabilities into substandard long-term care homes: “morally repugnant”

(August 19, 2022) Advocates and experts spoke with one voice today decrying the new law that the Ford government introduced yesterday and intends to pass within just two weeks. The new law, disingenuously titled “More Beds, Better Care Act” gives new powers to force the elderly and persons with disabilities who are waiting in hospitals […]

FACT CHECKER & RELEASE: Health Coalition response to Ford government’s plans to move seniors out of hospitals & privatize hospital diagnostics and surgeries to for-profit clinics and hospitals

(August 18, 2022) The Ford government released what it called a five-point health care plan this morning in a press conference. In summary: On COVID-19 there was nothing new. On the unprecedented staffing crisis in Ontario’s hospitals, long-term care and home care, there was another in a long string of reannouncements of plans to bring […]

ELECTION QUESTIONS: Health Care Questions for Candidates for Ontario Provincial Election

(May 13, 2022) We have provided you with questions below for candidates who come to your door or for use in all candidates’ meetings. These questions include background and extra information for your own knowledge. Often there are time limits for questions in all candidates’ meetings. Please feel free to use these questions as a […]

VIDEO: Doug Ford: Our Hospitals Are Not For Sale

(April 27, 2022) Analysis Don’t let the Doug Ford government do to our hospitals what they did to long-term care, where for-profit companies took tens of millions of dollars while residents have been left to die of dehydration, starvation, and neglect. Tell Doug Ford – and all Ontario political parties – Our Public Hospitals are […]

EVENTS & ACTIONS: Become a Public Medicare Defender Today

(March 13, 2023) We are calling on all Ontarians to help fight against the privatization. Become a Public Medicare Defender today to force Doug Ford to fix the crisis in our public hospital system and stop privatization. To sign up to become a Public Medicare Defender, fill in the form found below the slideshow on […]

FACT SHEET: The Privatization of Ontario’s Public Hospital Services

(March 8, 2022) The Ford government’s privatization plans The Ford government has continued plans to privatize health care by contracting private facilities to perform surgeries and other procedures such as diagnostic imaging. Taking it further, on Tuesday, February 1, the Ford government announced its plans to allow private clinics (called “Independent Health Facilities”) to operate private hospitals. […]

JUST THE FACTS: Facts About Health Care, Cuts & Privatization

(March 1, 2022) Here are fact sheets on health care cuts & privatization, with sources for all data: Why Not Privatize Our Public Health Care Services Fightback to Save Public Health Care & Stop Privatization Long-Term Care Privatization Home Care Privatization Privatization of COVID-19 Testing in Ontario Fast Facts on Health Care Funding in Ontario

RELEASE: Health Care System Besieged by COVID-19: Health Coalition demands Ford answer for lack of action

(January 20, 2022) Toronto – There are more than 4,000 patients with COVID-19 in Ontario’s hospitals, an all time high for this pandemic. Staffing levels across hospitals, long-term care and home care are catastrophic. Yet there is still no response from the Ford government except to talk about lifting public health measures. There are 594 […]

RELEASE: Emergency Measures Needed to Address the Health Care Staffing Crisis

(January 14, 2022) Ontario’s hospitals, long-term care (LTC) and home care services face critical and growing staffing crises. Our province’s health care system is not on the brink of crisis, it is in crisis. It is not an overstatement to describe a number of facilities and services as being in staffing collapse. The Ontario government […]

RELEASE & BRIEFING NOTE: Ontario Health Coalition Demands Answers from Ford Government on Long-Term Care & Hospital Crisis

(January 13, 2022) Toronto — The Ontario Health Coalition issued a statement today demanding that the Ford government explain what it is going to do about the spiralling crisis in Ontario’s long-term care homes and hospitals, and answer for their lack of preparedness. “The failures at this point in the pandemic are inexcusable,” said Natalie […]

RELEASE: OHC Raises Alarm About Ford Government’s New Emergency Order Transferring Hospital ALC Patients Without Consent into LTC and Retirement Homes

(April 28, 2021) Toronto – The Ontario Health Coalition, which has for decades advocated for an end to hospital cuts and an expansion of capacity in our public hospitals and long-term care homes, reacted with shock and opposition to today’s new emergency order made by the Ford government that will enable forced transfers of patients […]

RELEASE: Ontario Budget: Health Coalition is Watching for Sufficient Health Funding, Strings Attached in For-Profit LTC & A Stop to the Ford Government’s Privatization of Health Care

(March 24, 2021) Toronto – The Health Coalition said today that the funding numbers for health care in the budget are going to look huge of course, due to the pandemic, but the Coalition will be watching to make sure that funding is indeed enough. Equally important to the amount of funding, are strings attached […]

LETTER & EVENTS: Call for Human Rights Inquiry Into Systemic Discrimination Against the Elderly in Ontario Hospitals and Long-Term Care

(March 16, 2021) Click here for a link to the letter to the Ontario Human Rights Commissioner. The Ontario Health Coalition, the Advocacy Centre for the Elderly & CUPE/OCHU are calling on the Ontario Human Rights Commissioner to conduct a formal Inquiry into the human rights discrimination against the elderly in access to and levels […]

RELEASE & REPORT: Almost 4,000 Dead in Long-Term Care as We Approach End of Wave 2: Wave 2 Deaths Exceed Wave I

(March 12, 2021) Toronto – As the devastation of the second wave of COVID-19 abates, we are left with certainty that Ontario failed to adequately prepare its health care setting despite months of warning. The Ontario Health Coalition has been tracking COVID-19 outbreaks in health care settings since mid-March, and released a new report today […]

REPORT: Tracking the Spread of COVID-19: Large Outbreaks in Health Care Settings Summary & Report: Over Two Thousand Dead in Long-Term Care as We Approach End of Wave 2 – Data updated to March 3

(March 12, 2021) Click here for full version of the health care outbreaks report with a list of all outbreaks. A summary of the report can be found below. Analysis: Status of Current Large Health Care Outbreaks Since our last update February 9 and as measured […]

REPORT: Tracking the Spread of COVID-19: Large Outbreaks in Health Care Settings Summary & Report: Second Wave in Long-Term Care Infections & Deaths have Surpassed First Wave – Data updated to February 9

(February 17, 2021) Click here for full version of the health care outbreaks report with a list of all outbreaks. A summary of the report can be found below. Analysis: Status of Current Large Health Care Outbreaks Since our last update January 19, the large outbreaks (as defined by >10 […]

RELEASE: COVID-19 Health Care Outbreaks are Still Fatally High: Long-Term Care Deaths Surpass Wave I & COVID-19 Infections 50% More than Wave I

(February 17, 2021) Toronto – The results of the Ford government’s inaction prior to the winter holidays are in, and the second wave of COVID-19 now has 50% more long-term care cases than the first wave. The Ontario Health Coalition has been tracking COVID-19 outbreaks in health care settings since mid-March, and released a new […]

REPORT: Shocking Number of Long-Term Care Homes with Majority of Residents Infected – Data updated to January 19

(January 22, 2021) Click here for full version of the health care outbreaks report with a list of all outbreaks. A summary of the report can be found below. Having become alarmed at how many long-term care homes have COVID-19 outbreaks that are out of control in which a significant proportion of the residents have […]

REPORT: Wave 2 Continues to Devastate Long-Term Care, Far Surpassing the 1st Wave – Data updated to January 19

(January 22, 2021) Click here for full version of the health care outbreaks report with a list of all outbreaks. A summary of the report can be found below. The second wave of COVID-19 in Ontario’s long-term care homes has now far […]

RELEASE: COVID-19 Outbreaks in Health Care Settings Threaten to Topple Devastating Records Set in the First Wave

(January 11, 2021) The second wave of COVID-19 in long-term care has sharply escalated, today surpassing the peak of the first wave, and is spreading further across the province than the first wave. The Ontario Health Coalition released its latest tracking report covering the large outbreaks in health care settings, including long-term care, hospitals and […]

REPORT: Tracking the Spread of COVID-19: Sharp escalation in large COVID-19 outbreaks in health care settings – Data updated to January 8

(January 11, 2021) Click here for full version of the health care outbreaks report with a list of all outbreaks. A summary of the report can be found below. The second wave of COVID-19 in Ontario’s long-term care homes has now almost reached the peak numbers that were experienced […]

RELEASE: Emergency: COVID-19 Crisis Situation In Ontario Requires Stronger Measures AND Stronger Supports for People Impacted, Today is Deadliest Day of Pandemic So Far

(January 7, 2021) Toronto – Today is the deadliest day of the pandemic so far, 89 people died in the last 24-hour period. By every measure the situation is critical, warns the Ontario Health Coalition, and there can be no question remaining that stronger measures are needed to control the devastation the virus is wreaking. […]

RELEASE: By No Measure are they Under Control: Large Outbreaks of COVID-19 in Long-Term Care, Hospitals, Retirement Homes Escalating Sharply- New Tracking Report

(December 3, 2020) Toronto — The number of large COVID-19 outbreaks in health care settings is escalating sharply reports the Ontario Health Coalition. Despite the rhetoric by political leaders minimizing the spread of COVID-19 in recent weeks, the Coalition’s new tracking report shows alarming numbers infected in the spread of the virus through large outbreaks […]

REPORT: Tracking the Spread of COVID-19: Sharp escalation in large COVID-19 outbreaks in health care settings – Data updated to December 1

(December 3, 2020) Click here for full version of the health care outbreaks report with a list of all outbreaks. A summary of the report can be found below. As measured by the number of large outbreaks in which the spread of COVID-19 has not been limited to less than 10 people, the numbers are […]

REPORT: Tracking the Spread of COVID-19: COVID Numbers in Health Care Outbreaks Escalating Dramatically – Data Updated to November 17

(November 19, 2020) Click here for full version of the health care outbreaks report found below. Total long-term care outbreaks: 100 Large outbreaks (including more that 10 residents/patients/staff): 10 RH, 34 LTC, 5 hospitals with 10 outbreaks. As of November 18 there are 100 active outbreaks in Ontario’s long-term care homes, up from 76 […]

REPORT & RELEASE: Ontario Is Experiencing Exponential Growth of COVID-19 Cases In Long-Term Care – OHC’s Roundup of Most Recent Case Numbers

(November 10, 2020) Click here for full version of the health care outbreaks report found below. ———- Toronto – COVID-19 is spreading and the Ontario Health Coalition is warning that there is exponential growth in positive cases in long-term care homes in particular. There are also large outbreaks in a number of hospitals and retirement […]

RELEASE: 181 COVID-19 outbreaks in health care settings leaving 89 residents dead & more than 1,800 staff & patients infected in 6-wks, numbers way up across the board, warns Ontario Health Coalition

(November 4, 2020) Toronto- The spread of COVID-19 in long-term care, retirement homes and hospitals is growing at an alarming rate. By every measure– case numbers, number and size of outbreaks and death numbers which follow the former a few weeks later — COVID-19 is spreading much more rapidly. Tracking from the period of September […]

REPORT: Tracking of COVID-19 Outbreaks in Health Care Settings – Data Updated to October 28

(November 3, 2020) Click here for full version of the health care outbreaks report with a list of all outbreaks. A summary of the report can be found below. ————– Introduction Each number included in this tracking data represents a human being who is loved and who has experienced the terrible toll of COVID-19: staff […]

RELEASE & ANALYSIS: Health Coalition Calls for Government to Flow Urgently Needed Money to Hospitals and Long-Term Care; Staffing Announcements Far Less Than Other Provinces

(October 2, 2020) Toronto – Over the last week, the Ford government has rolled out a series of media announcements about health care funding and staffing. Today the Ontario Health Coalition issued the following statement to break down what has been announced, what it means, and whether it is enough. “Hospitals are reporting across Ontario […]

RELEASE & BACKGROUNDER: Health Coalition Demands that Ford Government Stop Privatizing Health Care Under Cover of COVID-19: “There is no excuse not to use reopen & ramp up existing capacity in public system”, Coalition will do everything in its power to stop the undermining of public health care

(September 24, 2020) Toronto – The Health Coalition expressed deep concern about the Ford government’s privatization of health care services, the lack of a coherent plan for a second-wave of COVID-19, and cuts and layoffs at public hospitals while the government shifts funding to private companies for COVID-19 related services. On Monday, Premier Ford said, […]

RELEASE & REPORT: Rate of Increase in COVID-19 among Staff, Residents, and Patients in Ontario’s Health Care Settings More Than Doubled: Coalition Fears Second Wave in Long-Term Care

(September 23, 2020) Toronto- The Ontario Health Coalition released its most recent report detailing the COVID-19 outbreaks it has tracked from reliable sources in health care settings since the beginning of the pandemic. The OHC has tracked 90 currently active outbreaks, 33 of which started from the end of August. Ottawa has 11 outbreaks in […]

RELEASE & REPORT: Ford Government Must Be Transparent About COVID-19 Outbreaks, Improve Public Access to Information: Health Coalition Releases Updated Reports on Outbreaks in Health & Non-Health Sectors

(September 9, 2020) Toronto – The Ontario Health Coalition, which has been tracking COVID-19 outbreaks since the beginning of the pandemic, released two new reports today tracking the trends in outbreaks to the end of August in health care settings and in non-health care industries. The Coalition has highlighted in each report the information that […]

RELEASE & REPORT: Updated Tracking Reports Shows New 30 Outbreaks & Increase in Deaths in Health & Congregate Care Settings; New Outbreaks in Agriculture, Retail, Shelters and other Non-Health Care Industries

(July 23, 2020) Toronto – Since mid-March as COVID-19 began to spread in Ontario’s health care system, the Ontario Health Coalition has been tracking the numbers of residents/patients and staff that have contracted the virus in health and congregate care settings. As Phase 2 reopening began, the Coalition began tracking outbreaks in other industries. Two […]

REPORT: Tracking of COVID-19 Outbreaks in Health Care Settings – Data Updated to July 13

(July 23, 2020) Click here for full version of the health care outbreaks report with a list of all outbreaks. A summary of the report can be found below. —- Introduction Each number included in this tracking data represents a human being who is loved and who has experienced the terrible toll of COVID-19: staff […]

RELEASE & OPEN LETTER: Ford Government Given Failing Marks in Response to Recommendations on Long-Term Care COVID-19 Response in Joint Open Letter from more than 200 Organizations Representing Almost 2 Million Ontarians

(June 30, 2020) Toronto – The Ontario Health Coalition issued an open letter to Premier Doug Ford on May 28, 2020 calling for key improvements to safety and care in Ontario’s beleaguered long-term care homes where more than 1,860 residents and staff have died as a result of COVID-19. Recently a number of media reports, […]

REPORT: Tracking of COVID-19 Outbreaks in Health Care Settings – Data Updated to June 17

(June 23, 2020) Click here for full version of the health care outbreaks report with a list of all outbreaks. A summary of the report can be found below. ——- Introduction Each number included in this tracking data represents a human being who is loved and who has experienced the terrible toll of COVID-19: staff […]

RELEASE & REPORT: Most Recent Tracking Report Shows that Ministry of Long-Term Care & Public Health Ontario Have Discontinued Public Reporting of Vital COVID-19 Data, Outbreaks in Health Settings Down but Death Rate Continues to Rise

(June 23, 2020) Toronto – The Ontario Health Coalition released its most recent two-week report tracking the spread of COVID-19 among patients, residents and staff in health care settings today. The Coalition has been tracking every case it has been able to find from reliable sources (all sources footnoted) since March 12 and has regularly […]

RELEASE & REPORT: Death Toll Among Patients, Residents and Staff in Health Care Settings up 18.4% in 2 weeks: OHC Tracking Numbers Still Growing But More Slowly

(June 5, 2020) Toronto – Since the week of March 12, the Ontario Health Coalition has been tracking all people who have been infected with COVID-19 in outbreaks in health care settings including hospitals, long-term care, retirement homes, public health units, clinics and congregate care settings, as well as among other health professionals such as […]

REPORT: Tracking of COVID-19 Outbreaks in Health Care Settings – Data Updated to June 2

(June 5, 2020) Click here for full version of the health care outbreaks report with a list of all outbreaks. A summary of the report can be found below. ——- Introduction Each number included in this tracking data represents a human being who is loved and who has experienced the terrible toll of COVID-19: staff […]

REPORT: New Report on COVID-19 Outbreaks in Health Settings – Data Updated to May 19

(June 2, 2020) Click here for full version of the health care outbreaks report with a list of all outbreaks. A summary of the report can be found below. Introduction Each number included in this tracking data represents a human being who is loved and who has experienced the terrible toll of COVID-19: staff who […]

REPORT: COVID-19 outbreaks in health settings almost doubled, death toll up by 333.7% – Data updated to May 5

(May 12, 2020) Click here for full version of the health care outbreaks report found below. Each number included in this tracking data represents a human being who is loved and who has experienced the terrible toll of COVID-19: staff who have gone to work despite the risk and the fear; residents and patients who […]

RELEASE & REPORT: Staff & Patients Infected by COVID-19 Outbreaks in Health Care Settings Almost Doubled, Death Toll increased by 333.7 % in 2-weeks: Outbreaks are Not Under Control

(May 12, 2020) Toronto – By every measure COVID-19 outbreaks in health and congregate care settings, including hospitals, long term care, retirement homes, public health units and clinics are increasing dramatically, reported the Ontario Health Coalition today as it released its most recent data tracking 7,894 staff, patients and residents infected. The report, COVID-19 UPDATE: […]

UPDATE: Hospital and Long-Term Care Health Care Workers & Long-Term Care Residents Infected with COVID-19 – Data updated to April 21

(April 23, 2020) Click here for full version of the health care outbreaks report found below. Compiling this list has been a heartbreaking task and we must pause to recognize the real human toll of COVID-19 — patients, residents, staff and families who are affected– you are in our hearts and we send you our […]

RELEASE: COVID-19 Outbreaks Have Grown Exponentially In Health Care Settings: Health Coalition tracking report finds 3,783 people infected and 435 patients/residents/staff deceased

(April 23, 2020) Today, the Ontario Health Coalition released a 70-page report tracking 1,127 confirmed staff, 1,936 residents/ patients and 720 additional confirmed cases (for whom public health authorities did not specify whether they are health care staff or patients) for a total of 3,783 people who have been infected with COVID-19 in health care […]

UPDATE: Hospital and Long-Term Care Health Care Workers & Long-Term Care Residents Infected with COVID-19 – Data updated to April 7

(April 7, 2020) Click here for full version of the health care outbreaks report found below. Compiling this list has been a heartbreaking task and we must start by recognizing the people affected by the outbreaks– patients, residents, staff of all classifications — you are in our hearts and we send you our very best […]

UPDATE: Hospital and Long-Term Care Health Care Workers & Long-Term Care Residents Infected with COVID-19 – Data updated to April 2

(April 2, 2020) Click here for full version of the health care outbreaks report found below. The following lists the public reports that we have found regarding hospital staff and patient infections and long-term care staff and resident outbreaks. All our best wishes and hopes go to them and their families and to all Ontarians […]

UPDATE: Hospital and Long-Term Care Health Care Workers & Long-Term Care Residents Infected with COVID-19 – Data updated to March 30

(March 31, 2020) Click here for full version of the health care outbreaks report found below. The following lists the public reports that we have found regarding hospital staff and long-term care staff and residents that have tested positive, as of March 30. All our best wishes and hopes go to them and their families […]

ANALYSIS: Key Message & Quick Analysis of Ford Government Economic Statement Just Released

(March 25, 2020) Ontario’s government released its economic statement today. Overall, they are providing $3.3 billion for health care, another $3.7 billion in supports for people and businesses, and $10 billion for other deferrals and tax “relief”. Health Coalition key message: The overall funding announcement for health care of $3.3 billion amounts to a funding […]

RELEASE & BACKGROUNDER: Pre-budget brief: Ontario so far behind that emergency funding just brings us to where we should have been pre-COVID-19

(March 25, 2020) In advance of the Ford government’s economic statement being released this afternoon, the Ontario Health Coalition released an analysis of the numbers to date to give some context to the announcements that are being made regarding COVID-19 health care funding as follows: “We believe that governments are beginning to flow resources and […]

RELEASE: COVID-19 Roundup: Health Workers/LTC Residents Infected, Government Supports & Relief Measures

(March 24, 2020) A printable version of the COVID-19 roundup can be found here. ———- We have gathered the following information (sources are included) for your information. This round up includes: List of COVID-19 Assessment Centres in Ontario Number of cases/status in Ontario List of hospital and long-term care health care workers & long-term care […]

RELEASE: Residents Plan to Step Up Pressure to Ask MPP Fedeli to Save the North Bay Hospital’s Residential Addictions Treatment Program

(March 11, 2020) North Bay – About 40 people attended a public meeting last night to plan next steps to save the North Bay hospital’s residential addictions treatment program and committed to ratcheting up the pressure to ask MPP the Honourable Vic Fedeli to step in and stop the closure. The next step will be […]

ANALYSIS: Analysis of the North Bay Mayor’s Roundtable Report

(February 10, 2020) North Bay — This is a very quick initial review and analysis of the Mayor’s Roundtable Report. This is the report that ostensibly led to the decision to cut 31 crisis and residential treatment beds from the North Bay Regional Health Centre (NBRHC). It is still not clear who made this “decision”, […]

REPORT: Review of the Plan to Close More than Half of the Existing Residential Addiction Treatment Beds and Hospital Crisis/Safe Beds from North Bay Regional Health Centre

(February 6, 2020) In September, North Bay mayor Al McDonald Mayor convened a meeting of organizations to discuss addictions, homelessness, mental health and poverty issues in North Bay. Out of that round table meeting and under the authorization of the North East Local Health Integration Network (NE LHIN), the government-appointed body responsible for regional health […]

RELEASE & BACKGROUNDER: Province Ignored Repeated Warnings and Evidence Leading to Yesterday’s Declaration of “State of Emergency” in Brampton Hospital, Similar Issues Apply Across Ontario

(January 24, 2020) Following the city’s declaration of a health care emergency in Brampton, on the heels of CBC’s release of new hospital overcrowding data, the Ontario Health Coalition revealed repeated warnings and reports from the District Health Council, thousands of Brampton residents, the Ontario Health Coalition and other groups showing that the community’s hospital […]

RELEASE: New CBC Hospital Overcrowding Data Should Compel Much More Substantive & Urgent Response from Ford Government: Health Coalition

(January 22, 2020) Toronto – Responding to the CBC’s release of new Ontario hospital overcrowding data that shows the majority of the province’s hospitals have been operating at gravely unsafe levels of overcrowding for more than a month out of the most recent six months measured, the Ontario Health Coalition reported that the data should […]

SUBMISSION: Ontario Health Coalition’s Pre-Budget Submission to the Ontario Legislative Assembly

(January 17, 2020) Natalie Mehra, Executive Director of the Ontario Health Coalition, presented to the Ontario Legislature’s Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs today. Here is the Ontario Health Coalition’s pre-budget submission. It contains updated data on public health care funding in Ontario (2nd lowest rate in Canada); public hospital funding in Ontario (lowest in […]

UPDATE: Mounting Health Care Cuts

List of the Ford government health care cuts to date: Cut OHIP+ so families with sick children will have to seek private coverage first and pay deductibles and co-payments (June 2018). Cut planned mental health funding by more than $330 million per year (July 2018). Cancelled all new planned overdose prevention sites. (Autumn 2018). Cut […]

RELEASE: Health Coalition & Broad Array of Groups Launch Campaign to Build Mass “Stadium-filling” Event to Save Local Health Care Services

(October 10, 2019) Chatham/S/W Ontario – Groups from Chatham Kent and across Southwestern Ontario are coming together to build an event that cannot be ignored. Their goal is to save the local Public Health Units and ambulance services from closure and protect their local governance. The groups are also advocating to stop funding cuts to […]

UPDATE: Mounting Health Care Cuts

An updated version of this list can be found here. List of the Ford government health care cuts to date: ● Cut OHIP+ so families with sick children will have to seek private coverage first and pay deductibles and co-payments. (June 2018) ● Cut planned mental health funding by more than $330 million. (July 2018) […]

BRIEFING NOTE: Ontario Health Coalition Briefing Note on Ontario Cabinet Shuffle: Deep Concerns about Ideological Positions of New Minister of Long-Term Care & Associate Minister of Mental Health & Addictions

(June 21, 2019) Toronto – In his press conference announcing the cabinet shuffle, Premier Doug Ford claimed that more than 80 percent of his platform had been implemented. The Health Coalition notes that nothing could be further than the truth when it comes to health care. The Coalition also raised concerns about the pro-privatization, anti-public health […]

RELEASE: Ford Governments Health Cuts Negatively Impact Patient Care: Coalition Calls Out Ford Government for “Dissembling” and Lack of Public Accountability

(June 19, 2019) Toronto – In what the Health Coalition has termed a bad news day for Ontario’s health care, the Ford government revealed that it has eliminated more than 800 full-time equivalent positions in the LHINs (Local Health Integration Network) and in the six health care agencies (including Cancer Care Ontario, Health Quality Ontario, […]

BRIEFING NOTE: List of local hospital and health services cuts/mergers/privatization

(May 30, 2019) Cut over 120 full time equivalent staff including nurses, health professionals and patient support staff from Sudbury’s Health Sciences North. After protests by the public and the Health Coalition some of the cuts were rolled back but significant cuts continued nonetheless. (November 2018) Privatized lab service, transcription, and patient transportation; outsourced microbiology […]

RELEASE: More than 10,000 Protest to tell Ford Government to stop health privatization, cuts

(May 1, 2019) Toronto – They came from across Ontario in the middle of a work day by the thousands with a message for the Doug Ford government. From a stage in front of the Ontario Legislature Natalie Mehra, executive director of the Ontario Health Coalition called on the crowd of more than 10,000 to […]

UPDATE: 13++ Reasons to Come to the Giant Health Care Rally!

Doug Ford made cuts to OHIP+ and families with sick children now need to seek private insurance and pay deductibles and co-payments on medications for their sick children. Doug Ford cut planned mental health funding by more than $330 million! Doug Ford canceled ALL new planned overdose prevention sites. Doug Ford cut over $700,000 in […]

RELEASE: Unprecedented Health Action Day Calls on Doug Ford to Halt Health Privatization Plans

Toronto – For the first time, more than 150,000 health professionals, nurses, support workers, doctors and tens of thousands of patient advocates are joining together in a Health Action Day, unified in their deep concern that the Ford government intends unprecedented health care privatization. In hospitals and other health facilities tens of thousands will wear […]

RELEASE: Ford’s ambulance and public health cuts and restructuring come with high costs, reduced services: Coalition warns

(April 18, 2019) Toronto – It has been done before and it resulted in enormous costs, not savings, and it compromised services. This was the message of the Ontario Health Coalition in reaction to the growing array of health care services that the Doug Ford government plans to restructure and cut. The Coalition released their […]

URGENT UPDATE: Undeniable signals Doug Ford intends major health care privatization

(April 18, 2019) Toronto – The signals that Doug Ford intends major health care privatization, restructuring and cuts have become undeniable: if you care about health care for all it is time to come out. Cuts: The Ontario Budget contains bad news for health care. Cuts are coming. Overall health funding increases are less than […]

RELEASE: Budget Health Care Briefing: What is being Cut, Myth Buster, What is Coming

(April 11, 2019) Toronto – In anticipation of this afternoon’s budget the Ontario Health Coalition provided a budget health care briefing for Ontarians. The Coalition will issue an update after the budget is released. “There have been a lot of re-announcements and PR spin to cover for what is the leading edge of the most […]

RELEASE, ANALYSIS & BRIEFING NOTE: Health Care Omnibus Bill Sets Up Ontario for Health System Mega-Mergers & Privatization: Worse than the Leaked Draft, Health Coalition Warns

(Updated: April 1, 2019) Click here for our submission to the Standing Committee on Social Policy regarding Bill 74 (April 2019) Click here for update on health omnibus bill hearings (March 2019) Click here for printable version of health omnibus bill briefing note (March 2019) Click here for printable version of health omnibus bill media […]

VIDEO: Doug Ford and Health Minister Christine Elliott obfuscate questions on health privatization

Analysis Watch as Doug Ford and Health Minister Christine Elliott sidestep the opposition leader, Andrea Horwath’s, question in the legislature on whether private for-profit health corporations will play a role in Bill 74, the new health care legislation. The Ford government repeatedly refuses to disavow for-profit privatization of our public health care system. It is […]

URGENT UPDATE: FORD GOV’T SWEEPING HEALTH CARE RESTRUCTURING BILL

Ford government gives 2-days notice for public hearings to be in Toronto only The new health care law that the Ford government is pushing through has been “time allocated” for public hearings. That means that the Ford Conservatives have limited the time for public hearings. We have been asking for broad public hearings on this […]

VIDEO: Better health care through innovation “The Agenda, March 4, 2019”

Natalie Mehra, executive director of the Ontario Health Coalition, joined a health care panel on The Agenda with Steve Paikin. A video of the panel can be found below. Analysis Click here for original video

RELEASE: Warning that Leaked Health Care Omnibus Bill Would Create Health Care Chaos: Longstanding Leaders of Organizations Representing Patients, Care Workers, Doctors

Academic leaders, democracy advocates, patient advocates, front-line care workers and doctors are all speaking with one voice when it comes to the leaked health care omnibus bill that has secretly been planned by the Ford government for months: if passed, it would cause health care chaos that will last for years. Speaking at a Queen’s […]

RELEASE: Ontario Election 2018 Health Care Resources

Click on each heading for Ontario election resources: **New Leaflet inside (note: if printing use legal size paper) Leaflet outside (note: if printing used legal size paper) Election Platform- top issues and “asks” for our political parties Media Release Provincial Election Platform release Health Care Questions for Candidates All Candidates’ Meetings Media coverage of Health […]

RELEASE: $22 billion in cuts to funding for public services planned by Mr. Ford, worse than Harris, we are “extremely worried”

posted June 3, 2018

By Natalie Mehra, Executive Director Many Ontarians are captured by the idea of getting the same or more services for less money. But few know what the numbers might actually mean. Since Doug Ford did not release a clear platform, Ontarians know more about how much a beer may cost if the Conservative leader is […]

RELEASE: Coalition Takes to the Street in Effort to Save Hospital Services in the City of Windsor

Coalition Takes to the Street in Effort to Save Hospital Services in the City of Windsor (June 1, 2018) Toronto – At the Windsor Regional Hospital, Ouellette Campus, advocates of saving hospital services in the city of Windsor displayed lawn signs that are popping up all over Windsor. The lawn signs are really popular and […]

RELEASE: Provincial Election Discussion Should be About Rebuilding Public Hospitals & Long-Term Care Not “Efficiencies” or “Lean” or Code Words for Cuts: Health Coalition Calls for Concrete Commitments to Redress the Crisis in Access to Care

(May 16, 2018) Toronto – After touring Ontario in recent weeks, Health Coalition spokeswoman Natalie Mehra returned to Toronto this morning at a press conference outside the Emergency Department at Mount Sinai Hospital to talk about the crisis in access to health care. Noting that the Coalition’s mandate is to protect public health care in […]

RELEASE: Deeply concerned about Doug Ford’s planned revenue cuts, comparison of parties’ commitments on key health care issues

(April 13, 2018) Toronto – Following the release of Doug Fords “platform” the Ontario Health Coalition has tried to analyze how Mr. Ford’s plan will impact health care funding. Over the next four years, with four days until the provincial election we still have no firm commitment on the level of hospital funding, nor any […]

RELEASE: Doug Ford’s Figures “Way Off”: Coalition Deeply Concerned About His Statements on Hospitals in Northern Ontario

(April 13, 2018) On this week’s swing through Northwestern Ontario PC Party Leader Doug Ford cited wildly incorrect numbers for hospital bed costs and raised the spectre of another round of hospital bed cuts. Mr. Ford was quoted in Thunder Bay’s media yesterday falsely stating that comparable hospital beds cost $3,500 while long-term care beds […]

RELEASE: Better but not cured: Health Coalition responds to Wynne pre-election funding announcement

(March 22, 2018) Toronto – Today’s hospital funding announcement is a move in the right direction but still falls short, the Ontario Health Coalition reported at Queen’s Park after the announcement. Premier Kathleen Wynne announced a 4.6 per cent increase in hospital funding to be unveiled in next week’s provincial Budget, just weeks in advance […]

ISSUE UPDATE: Ontario Health Coalition Succeeds in Protecting & Strengthening Ontario’s Ban on Private Hospitals

(February 9, 2018) We sent out an update in early December, but it appears that many of you did not get it. Here is the final update on our campaign in late November/early December to restore Ontario’s ban on private clinics after the government removed it in their omnibus health care bill that was brought […]

RELEASE: Health Minister’s hospital bed announcement welcome but it is only a temporary band aid, more is needed: Health Coalition

Health Minister’s hospital bed announcement welcome but it is only a temporary band aid, more is needed: Health Coalition (February 2, 2018) Toronto – “Although the Minister’s announcement today promising to extend funding for 1,235 ‘temporary’ hospital beds for one year is a positive step it is only a temporary band aid that will not […]

URGENT ACTION ALERT: New Bill Allows Private For-Profit Hospitals & More Private For-Profit Clinics

(November 23, 2017) The Ontario government is moving forward with legislation that lifts the ban on private hospitals, rolls private hospitals in with private clinics and renames them, offensively, Community Health Facilities, and makes it easier for private hospitals and clinics to expand and more difficult for the Minister to stop them. This legislation was brought […]

VIDEO: Impassioned debate in legislature on hospital cuts featuring quotes from OHC

(November 2, 2017) Analysis The Ontario Health Coalition’s media release was featured in an impassioned debate in the Legislature. Following upon revelations that more than 4,300 patients were treated on stretchers in hallways and other makeshift areas in the first four months of this year in Brampton’s hospital, many waiting 40 – 70 hours for […]

RELEASE: Thousands of Patients Lining Hospital Hallways in Brampton “Code Gridlock” Just the Tip of the Iceberg

(October 31, 2017) Coalition Calls for Long-Term Plan to Reinvest & Rebuild Hospital Bed Capacity Toronto – A memo obtained by the NDP, released in the media today, reveals that more than 4,300 patients stayed on stretchers in hospital corridors and the like for significant lengths of time, often waiting 40 – 70 hours for […]

RELEASE: Wynne Government’s Hospital Bed Announcement a Temporary Band-Aid But Health Coalition Slams Expanding Health Care Privatization

(October 23, 2017) Toronto – The Ontario Health Coalition congratulated the Health Minister for recognizing the crisis in Ontario’s hospitals and announcing 1,200 new hospital beds today. However, the coalition cautioned that this is only temporary band-aid that will partially alleviate the crisis but not solve it. One-fourth of the hospital money announced today was […]

RELEASE & REPORT: The Elephant at the Health Ministers’ Meetings: How Will Provinces Cope with $31 Billion Cut

(October 18, 2017) New National Report Outlines the Huge Cost of the Failed Health Accord As Health Ministers from across Canada meet in Edmonton today, Canada’s Health Coalitions released a report showing the recent bilateral health schemes pushed through by the Trudeau government have come at a huge cost. The report “Health Accord Breakdown: Costs […]

RELEASE: Private Clinics & the Threat to Public Medicare in Canada: Results of Surveys with Private Clinics and Patients

(June 10, 2017) From the autumn of 2016 to the spring of 2017, researchers at the Ontario Health Coalition called all the private clinics we could reach across Canada. Included in the survey are private surgical clinics including cataract surgery clinics, MRI/CT, colonoscopy/endoscopy clinics and “boutique” physician clinics. In total, we surveyed a sample of […]

EVENT: Public Consultation on Public Hospital Reform

(June 2, 2017) Now is the time when we can make a difference Organizations and individuals are invited to attend and submit oral or written submissions on reforming Ontario’s hospitals in the public interest. We are holding public hearings across the province. Your input will be used to help create a report on reforming hospitals […]

EVENT: We Can’t “Bear” to Lose Medicare Tour

(June 2, 2017) The giant teddy bear is 7-feet tall and 4 1/2 foot-wide: a much-loved and friendly prop to help educate our communities about the threat of health care privatization. Private for-profit clinics are trying to take over services from our local public non-profit hospitals. They charge user fees amounting to hundreds or even thousands […]

RELEASE: Ontario Budget Health Care Investments Do Not Meet Expectations: Hospital Funding Inadequate to Stop Cuts & Meet Community’s Needs

(April 28, 2017) Despite the hype, the Ontario Budget did not provide the relief from a decade of hospital cuts that was hoped. Overall health funding will increase by 3 percent, less than the rest of the public sector. Home and community care funding increases are positive and appear to remain at the same rate […]

RELEASE: Ontario Budget Health Care Investments Do Not Meet Expectations: Hospital Funding Inadequate to Stop Cuts & Meet Community’s Needs

(April 27, 2017) Despite the hype, the Ontario Budget did not provide the relief from a decade of hospital cuts that was hoped. Overall health funding will increase by 3 percent, less than the rest of the public sector. Home and community care funding increases are positive and appear to remain at the same rate […]

BRIEFING NOTE: Pre-Budget Note

(April 26, 2017) In a speech April 13 to the Empire Club, Ontario Finance Minister Charles Sousa reported that in every corner of Ontario he heard from residents, civic leaders and businesses that health care and public hospitals are top priority issues, and he promised significant investments in this year’s budget. These increases will follow […]

REPORT: Our Hospitals, Our Communities: Report on Hospital Care Surveys in Chatham-Kent

(March 28, 2017) In 2016 Ontario Minister of Health, Dr. Eric Hoskins appointed a Supervisor under the Public Hospitals Act to take over the leadership of the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance, which includes the two Chatham hospitals on one site (Public General and St. Joseph’s) and the Sydenham District Hospital in Wallaceburg. Since his appointment, Supervisor […]

RELEASE: Health Care Advocates Dismayed with Ottawa’s Divide and Conquer Tactics: Hopes for a Canadian Health Accord Dashed as Provinces Signs Deal

(March 10, 2017) Toronto/Ottawa/Edmonton: The Ontario, Quebec and Alberta governments, which had initially held out for better, were compelled to sign onto a bilateral health funding deal with Ottawa today. In the federal election, the Trudeau government promised to break with the high-handed approach of the previous Harper government and negotiate a new Health Accord […]

RELEASE & BACKGROUND: Ontario Government Responsible for Overwhelmed Hospital Emergency Departments: Critical Bed Shortages “Systemic and Pervasive”

(January 10, 2017) Reports of critical and pervasive hospital bed shortages are streaming in from across Ontario. In Brantford, hospital officials recently reported the “emergency department is overwhelmed”. At Lakeridge Health, all four hospitals across Durham are so full that hospital managers set up an emergency “command centre”. In Ottawa and London health coalition members […]

RELEASE: As Prime Minister Trudeau meets with First Ministers, Health Coalition calls for both sides to give ground to forge a new Health Accord in the public interest

(December 9, 2016) In advance of tonight’s dinner discussion on health care between the provincial-territorial Premiers and the Prime Minister, the Ontario Health Coalition called out both sides for their intransigence and advocated a new Health Accord forged in the public interest. For months, provincial premiers and the federal government have been at odds over […]

UPDATE: 100 Patients, families and concerned residents traveled to the Ontario Legislature

100 Patients, families and concerned residents traveled to the Ontario Legislature as Wynne government forces through the mega-mergers of their local hospitals. This week, the Wynne government used extraordinary powers to order the forced merger of the hospitals in Durham and Scarborough. The merger will cost almost $50 million of dollars, taking this money away from […]

UPDATE & BRIEFING NOTES: Durham/Scarborough Hospital Merger Mania

(November 24, 2016) UPDATE POSTED NOV. 24: Minister of Health Orders Mega-Hospital Merger “By Fiat”: Health Coalition Outraged, Vows to take its Fight to the Legislature Durham/Scarborough – The Ontario Health Coalition expressed outrage in reaction to news that the Minister of Health is forcing through massive hospital mergers in Scarborough and Durham affecting more than […]

RELEASE: As Health Ministers from Across Canada Meet to Negotiate Health Accord

(October 17, 2016) Months of sparring in the media may come to an end this week as Health Ministers from across Canada meet to discuss a new Health Accord. This morning, representatives of the Canadian & Ontario Health Coalitions, Canadian Doctors for Medicare and the Council of Canadians gathered outside the King Edward hotel where […]

RELEASE: Coalition Applauds MPP Gates’ Call for Premier to Answer on Status of Niagara Falls Hospital

On Thursday, in advance of Premier Kathleen Wynne’s visit to Niagara Falls today, MPP Wayne Gates questioned the Health Minister in the Ontario Legislature on the slow pace of approval for a new hospital in Niagara Falls. He advocated that local contractors be used in the construction. All this is good. There is no question that the Niagara Falls hospital is old and a new one is required. Two years ago, the Niagara Health System submitted to the Ministry of Health a Phase I proposal to build a new hospital in Niagara Falls that has not yet been approved. Unfortunately, here in Niagara, as is the case in Scarborough, Durham, Picton and other areas, the government has used a vague and distant promise of a new hospital in what appears to be an attempt to stifle dissent about closure of needed health care services and a dismantling of local governance.

RELEASE: More than 94,000 Ontarians Join in Grassroots Referendum to Stop Devastating Hospital Cuts

(May 31, 2016) Massive Piles of Votes delivered to Opposition Party Leaders Outside Ontario Legislature Toronto – From across Ontario representatives from dozens of communities facing devastating cuts to their community hospitals carted thousands of ballots to the Ontario Legislature. The votes – 93,840 of them as of last night – were cast in a […]

RELEASE: Volunteer-Led Referendum Launched Across Ontario to Save Local Hospitals: Ontarians to Vote Saturday May 28

(April 25, 2016) Volunteer-Led Referendum Launched Across Ontario to Save Local Hospitals: Ontarians to Vote Saturday May 28 (Toronto, ON) […]

ADVISORY CORRECTION: Volunteers in Communities Across Ontario are Mounting Referendum to Save Local Hospitals

(April 22, 2016) *PLEASE NOTE: The Sudbury media launch has been postponed until further notice. Ontario is currently in the ninth consecutive year of real-dollar cuts to global hospital budgets, the longest stretch in Ontario’s history. These cuts mean that hospitals across the province, cannot keep up even with basic inflation. Hospitals have been […]

REPORT: “Beyond Limits”: Ontario’s community hospital cuts worst in Canada

(April 13, 2016) Toronto – The data is irrefutable. Ontario’s cuts to hospital nursing care and hospital beds are the most severe of anywhere in Canada. In a new report Beyond Limits: Ontario’s Deepening Hospital Cuts Crisis released today, the Ontario Health Coalition finds that the cuts to community hospital care are a result of […]

RELEASE: Welland Hospital Awareness Day at Ontario Legislature: Patients, Residents Demand Plan to Close Welland Hospital Be Stopped

(March 21, 2016) Toronto – At a press conference today at Queen’s Park, patients and concerned citizens from Welland issued an urgent plea to Ontario’s Minister of Health to overturn the decision to close the Welland Hospital, telling him that more than 100,000 people served by the Welland Hospital will suffer worse access to […]

RELEASE: Welland Hospital Plan Unveiled: Precarious Services are No Replacement for Hospital Closure, Coalition Warns

(March 18, 2016) Welland/Niagara/Toronto: The Niagara Health System (NHS) revealed a sliver of its hospital plans today. In its email to the media, the hospital outlined its new proposal for an ambulatory care centre (outpatient clinics), an “urgent care” centre (walk-in clinic) and long-term care beds to be located in Welland. The timing of the […]

RELEASE: Devastating Hospital Cuts & Flawed Process for Health Reform Consultation: Key Issues for this Session of the Ontario Legislature

(February 16, 2016) Toronto – Ontario’s premier stated that jobs and the economy are her priorities for this session of Ontario’s Legislature, which opened today. Impacting both jobs and local economies but not part of the Premier’s media messages, two key health care issues impacting Ontario’s communities will also be on the front-burner, including: Devastating […]

RELEASE: Patients, Concerned Citizens and Workers Rally Outside Pre-Budget Hearings to Stop Devastating Hospital Cuts, Privatization

(February 1, 2016) As MPPs from all three political parties from the Ontario Legislature traveled to Toronto for pre-budget hearings today, they were met with protests by patients, concerned residents and health care workers. The message was clear: stop the devastating cuts to – and privatization of – local hospitals across Ontario. The Ontario Legislature’s Standing […]

EVENTS: Members of Provincial Parliament Traveling Across Ontario for Pre-Budget Hearings

(January 11, 2016) The Ontario Provincial Parliament’s Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs has chosen Hamilton, Windsor, Thunder Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, Ottawa and Toronto to hold pre-budget consultations. We are now entering the 9th consecutive year of hospital cuts – the longest stretch of hospital cuts in Ontario’s history. Every service cut is […]

IN THE NEWS: Health Care Wait Times – What is the Real Story?

(December 8, 2015) By: Natalie Mehra, Executive Director, Ontario Health Coalition Today, a high-profile report tracking health care wait times was released from the Wait Times Alliance. Eliminating Code Gridlock in Canada’s Health Care System, is a credible summary and a useful addition to public policy decisions about health care planning. It is written by […]

RELEASE: Giant Protest Sends Message to Wynne Government: “We Can’t Take Any More Cuts”

(November 13, 2015) Giant Protest Sends Message to Wynne Government: “We Can’t Take Any More Cuts” (Trenton, Ontario) – At a major regional rally today in Trenton, hundreds gathered to deliver a strong message to Lou Rinaldi, the senior Liberal MPP for the region. The Take Back Our Hospitals Rally, organized by the Ontario Health Coalition […]

EVENTS: Take Back Our Hospitals: Fall Days of Action in S/E Ont, N/E Ont, and Scarborough/Durham

(October 23, 2015) Take Back Our Hospitals Days of Action in S/E Ontario, N/E Ontario and Scarborough/Durham Southeastern Ontario Rally Friday November 13, 12 p.m. Centennial Park, Trenton Buses will be traveling in from the whole region. For more info on buses email us at ohc@sympatico.ca Active citizens have succeeded in stopping cuts all across Ontario. Let’s […]

CALL-OUT: It’s Time to Take a Stand! Regional Days of Action to Stop Hospital Cuts and Hospital /Home Care Privatization

(May 11, 2015) Days of Action Rallies at senior government Ministers’ offices Hamilton/Niagara 10 a.m. Rally @ Cabinet Minister Ted McMeekin’s office, 299 Dundas St. E., Waterdown *For ride/carpool from Hamilton, meet by 9 a.m. at the Steelworkers’ Hall, 350 Kenilworth Ave. N., Hamilton. For more information contact Rolf Gerstenberger 289-260-9547 Hamilton residents will then […]

RELEASE: Hundreds Rally to Stop Health Care Cuts and Privatization in First Day of Action — Protests Planned Across Ontario

(April 17, 2015) (Sudbury, Ottawa, Hamilton, Niagara, London) – In response to severe hospital cuts and the threat of privatization of home care and hospital services, organizations representing hundreds of thousands of seniors, patients, health care workers, nurses, health professionals and concerned citizens have joined forces to call for mass protests in each region of […]

ADVISORY: Leaders of Organizations Representing More than Half-A-Million Ontarians Join Forces to Stop the Hospital Cuts & Hospital/Home Care Privatization

(April 15, 2015) Advisory: Leaders of Organizations Representing More than Half-A Million Ontarians Join Forces to Stop the Hospital Cuts & Hospital/Home Care Privatization (Toronto) – Hospital wards, emergency departments, even entire hospitals are being closed down. Hundreds of nurses have received lay-off notices in recent months. Health professionals’ services are being systematically cut […]

FULL REPORT: Planned Closure of Five Hospital in Niagara Puts Patients At Risk, Warns International Health Expert

(April 2, 2015) Planned Closure of Five Hospitals in Niagara Puts Patients At Risk, Warns International Health Expert Coalition is Concerned that Niagara Closures Pave the Way for Hospital Closures Across Ontario (Toronto) An international health policy expert warned that the plan to close five hospitals in Niagara risks patient safety, “lacks any rational justification” and […]

ADVISORY: Media Conference with International Expert Condemning Niagara Hospital Closures

(April 1, 2015) MEDIA ADVISORY Media Conference with International Expert Condemning Niagara Hospital Closures (Toronto, ON) – The Ontario Health Coalition will be hosting a media conference with an international health policy expert with decades of experience analyzing global health policy reform who has conducted a full review of the plans to close five community […]

RELEASE & REPORT: International Health Policy Expert Finds Plan to Close Five Hospitals in Niagara Threatens Patient Safety and Contains “Glaring Omissions”

(March 30, 2015) (Welland/Niagara Falls) An international health policy expert warned that the plan to close five hospitals in Niagara risks patient safety, “lacks any rational justification” and contains “glaring omissions”. In two press conferences today in Welland and Niagara-on-the-Lake, Dr. John Lister, author of two books on global health reform and professor at Coventry […]

EVENTS: Photos from Rally at Queen’s Park

(November 21, 2014) Many thanks to the thousands of people who came out to the November 21 Rally at Queen’s Park. Thanks to your support and hard work, the event was a huge success! The sun was shining as more than 3000 participants from across Ontario gathered to call on Ontario’s government to Stop the […]

ADVISORY: Thousands Rally at Ontario Legislature to Stop Unprecedented Cuts and Privatization that Threaten Community Hospitals All Across Ontario

(November 18, 2014) Thousands Rally at Ontario Legislature to Stop Unprecedented Cuts and Privatization that Threaten Community Hospitals All Across Ontario Where: In front of main doors (South doors) of Main Legislative Building, Queen’s Park When: Friday November 21 at 12 noon What: A massive rally at Queen’s Park with more than 3000 people in […]

CALL-OUT: Get on the bus to join the November 21 Giant Rally at Queen’s Park!

(November 10, 2014) STOP private clinics SAVE our local public hospitals 12 p.m. Friday November 21 Giant Rally @ Ontario Legislature, Queen’s Park Toronto www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca Buses will be coming from all over Ontario! Please see below for a list of buses and who to contact to get on the bus in your community + more information on […]

URGENT: Save Our Community Hospitals Upcoming Meetings and Events across Ontario

(November 4, 2014) The government of Ontario is undertaking an aggressive plan to dismantle community hospitals and contract-out hospital surgeries and diagnostics to private clinics. In the most aggressive cuts plan that we have ever seen, after more than five years of budget slashing, they plan to close all of the outpatient services that they […]

CALL-OUT: November 21 Giant Rally at Queen’s Park to STOP the private clinics

(October 24, 2014) STOP private clinics SAVE our local public hospitals 12 p.m. Friday November 21 Giant Rally @ Ontario Legislature, Queen’s Park Toronto

RELEASE: More than 80,000 Ontarians Vote to Stop Wynne Government Plan to Cut Local Community Hospitals and Contract Out Care to Private Clinics: Health Care Advocates Call On the Premier and New Health Minister to Stop the Privatization Plan

(July 8, 2014) One of the first major controversial issues faced by Ontario’s new Health Minister is the government’s plan to cut clinical services from local public hospitals and contract them out to regional private clinics. Today at the Ontario Legislature, hundreds of health care advocates representing every region of Ontario gathered to deliver more […]

REPORT: A Rural Nurse Speaks Out: New Report Appeals for Devastating Cuts to Small Community Hospitals to Stop

(June 5, 2014) The OHC has released a new report by Shirley Roebuck, RN, and a number of rural active or retired rural physicians, administrators and community members on the devastating cuts to small rural community hospitals across Ontario. The report includes a list sampling of devastating cuts to small and rural hospitals across Ontario.

RELEASE: Ontario Budget: Austerity Continues For Community Hospitals Plus Some Good News on Minimum Wage, Pensions

(May 1, 2014) In today’s Budget Speech, the Minister of Finance pledged “what we will not do is sacrifice important public services”. But for the fifth year in a row, community hospitals will see their funding levels set below the rate of inflation which will result in further cuts to needed care services, movement of […]

RELEASE: More than 56,000 Ontarians vote to stop the dismantling of community hospitals in volunteer-led referendum: Health Coalition

(April 7, 2014) Over the last two and a half weeks, hundreds of volunteers with the Ontario Health Coalition have opened public voting stations to collect opinions about the government’s plan to cut services from local community hospitals and contract them out to high-volume private clinics. Balloting at over 100 voting stations and over 200 […]

RELEASE: VOTE SATURDAY APRIL 5th TO SAVE OUR LOCAL HOSPITALS!

(April 4, 2014) Vote to stop the Ontario government’s plan to cut local public hospitals and contract clinical services out to private clinics. Ontarians are asked to vote for one of the following statements in voting booths across Ontario: I support our local public hospitals. I do not want the government to cut their services […]

REPORT: Private Health Clinics Using Manipulative Tactics to Over-Bill Patients: Ontario Health Coalition Report

(March 25, 2014) Ontario Government’s Plan to Cut Medical Services from Local Public Hospital and Contract Them Out to Private Clinics Called a Significant Threat to Single-Tier Medicare.

REPORT: Proposed Scarborough-West Durham Hospital Merger: New report highlights $30 million cost and exposes plans to close hospital sites

(February 20, 2014) The Ontario Health Coalition in conjunction with the Scarborough Health Coalition released a new report today entitled “Look Before You Leap” highlighting concerns surrounding the proposed hospital merger in Scarborough-West Durham.

RELEASE: Scarborough-Ajax Facing Among the Worst Hospital Cuts in Ontario: Campaign Launched to Protect Services

(October 15, 2013) Today the Scarborough Health Coalition launched a campaign in Scarborough to protect hospital services. According to hospital documents, $28 million in “savings” must be found next year, meaning millions of dollars in hospital service cuts are underway and even more are being planned. The campaign will include town hall meetings, mass leafleting […]

RELEASE: Ontario’s Wynne Government Plans to Bring In Private Clinics: Threatens Non-Profit Community Hospital Care

(October 8, 2013) The Ontario government plans to introduce private specialty clinics to take the place of local community hospitals’ services. The government’s proposal would bring in legal regulations under the Independent Health Facilities Act and the Local Health System Integration Act to usher in private clinics and shut down services in community hospitals.

SUBMISSION: Submission on the proposed new regulation under the Independent Health Facilities Act (IHFA), 1990 and the proposed amendment to regulation 264/07 under the Local Health System Integration Act (LHSIA) 2006

(October 10, 2013) The Ontario government is proposing regulatory changes that would appear to transfer some or all funding and oversight of private clinics (IHFs) to the LHINs regime, allow Cancer Care Ontario to fund private clinics and expand the private clinic/IHF model in order to cut and privatize public hospital services. On October 10, […]

BRIEFING NOTE: New Legal Regulations Planned by Ontario’s Liberal Government to Cut Community Hospital Services and Expand Private Clinics

(October 8, 2013) Ontario’s Liberal government has announced plans to bring in new legal regulations to expand the use of private clinics to take hospital services out of our community hospitals. Is this the end of our community hospitals as we know them? In the Ontario government’s vision for health care, community hospitals are the […]

FACT SHEET: Comparison of Public Hospitals Act to Independent Health Facilities Act

(October 8, 2013) Item Under Public Hospitals Act Under IHFA Comparison Power to approve new facilities, and sell, lease or dispose of facilities. Minister must approve new hospitals. Minister must approve articles before they are filed under the Not-for-Profit Corporations Act. (These establish the name and location of the hospital, among other provisions.) Minister must approve expansions, […]

RELEASE: “OHC Austerity Index Part II” details how Hospital Cuts and Privatization Reach New Levels: Coalition Announces “S.O.S.” – Save Our Services – Day of Action

(January 25, 2013) At a Queen’s Park press conference this morning, the Ontario Health Coalition, representing more than 400 organizations dedicated to protecting public health care, warned that the Ontario government’s austerity budget is causing unprecedented cuts to and privatization of hospital services.

REPORT: The Austerity Index Part I: Health Care cuts and deficits across Ontario

(December 5, 2012) Ontario’s health care funding, already nearly the lowest per person in the country, is being curtailed by $3 billion, resulting in unprecedented hospital and home care service cuts across the province. The Ontario Health Coalition has produced a tally of the cuts by region and community.

RELEASE: Health Minister’s Veiled Threat Likened to Bullying: Health Coalition Livid over Health Minister’s Tactics

(November 9, 2012) Response by the Ontario and Niagara Health Coalitions to threats by Ontario Health Minister Deb Matthews’ to cancel the proposed hospital of Niagara. According to Matthews, if Niagara municipal leaders criticize her appointee’s choice of location for a still-fictional new hospital, the project – which has never been approved anyway – may […]

RELEASE: Response to Niagara Hospital Consolidation Proposal

(May 3, 2012) Niagara Health System’s government-appointed Supervisor Kevin Smith has released an interim report recommending hospital restructuring in Niagara, including the closure of all the local hospitals outside of St. Catharines and the eventual construction of a new “mega hospital”. The OHC released a response to this proposal.

Public Consultations On Niagara Health Care & Hospital Restructuring

(August 11, 2011) In September, the Ontario & Niagara Health Coalitions will release a report evaluating the hospital restructuring in Niagara. At these meetings we’ll share our research findings, and we are asking the public to provide your input on this important report. How has the HIP affected you? What gaps in health care services […]

REPORT: No Vacancy: Hospital Overcrowding in Ontario, Impact on Patient Safety and Access to Care

(July 21, 2011) The OHC’s new report finds that Ontario has the fewest hospital beds per person of all provinces in Canada. The result is serious hospital overcrowding that puts patients at risk.

CORRESPONDENCE: between Tom Closson and Natalie Mehra

(May 1, 2011) This is correspondence between Tom Closson, President and CEO of the Ontario Hospital Association and Natalie Mehra, Director of the Ontario Health Coalition, regarding the hospital secrecy clause in Budget Measures Bill (173).

NEWSLETTER: “The Pulse” OHC Newsletter and Action Alert

(May/June 2011) The May 2011 issue of The Pulse includes news about ta new OHC report that finds 10,000 people are waiting for home care, the hospital secrecy law, how the Canada-Europe Free Trade deal (CETA) could negatively impact the health care system, a review of Colin Leys’ new book “The Plot Against the NHS” […]

RELEASE: McGuinty Government Fails to Take Hospital Secrecy off the Table – Amendment to Budget Bill Gives Hospitals Wide Berth to Hide Information

(April/May 2011) The Ontario Health Coalition released a report appealing for equity and improved access to hospital services in rural Ontario. The report “Toward Access and Equality: Realigning Ontario’s Approach to Small and Rural Hospitals to Serve Public Values” is based on input received from more than 1,150 people who attended 12 hearings in regions […]

REPORT: Rural and Northern Framework/Plan

(March 8, 2011) The Ontario Government has released its “Stage 1” report from the Health Minister’s panel on Rural and Northern Health Care. The Ontario Health Coalition has filed its written submission to the panel.

ANALYSIS: Ontario Health Coalition Analysis of the Peterborough Hospital peer Review and Hospital Improvement Plan (HIP)

(June 21, 2010) According to a detailed analysis conducted by the OHC, the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) Hospital Improvement Plan (HIP) recommends draconian cuts to staffing levels and proposes significant cuts to hospital beds and services.

REPORT: Toward Equality and Access: Realigning Ontario’s Approach to Small and Rural Hospitals to Serve Public Values

(May 17, 2010) The Ontario Health Coalition released a report appealing for equity and improved access to hospital services in rural Ontario. The report “Toward Access and Equality: Realigning Ontario’s Approach to Small and Rural Hospitals to Serve Public Values” is based on input received from more than 1,150 people who attended 12 hearings in […]

REPORT: Putting Patients at Risk: Interviews with Ontario Paramedics on the Consequences of Closing Local Emergency Departments

(June 18, 2009) A new report, based on interviews with 50 paramedics across Ontario, on what the provincial government’s planned emergency room closures would mean for patient care in communities across the province.

RELEASE: Ontario Budget Will Not Help Save Hospitals from Closures, Cuts, Mass Layoffs

(March 26, 2009) In hard economic times, McGuinty’s failure to sustain local hospitals is out of line with the values and priorities of Ontarians.

RELEASE: Briefing Notes on Ontario’s Hospital Cuts and Restructuring 2008/2009

(December 2, 2008) A major round of hospital cuts and restructuring is underway in every health region in the province causing major layoffs, privatization and threatening local Emergency Rooms, birthing facilities and hospital beds. This new briefing note by the Ontario Health Coalition examines the cuts region by region.

Backgrounder: McGuinty Government Wiping Out Elected Hospital Boards

(October 29, 2008) KEY FACTS: The McGuinty government is using its extraordinary powers under the Public Hospitals Act with unprecedented frequency to appoint Supervisors to take over community hospitals. Hospital Supervisors are appointed by Cabinet and are given Terms of Reference by Cabinet. They report directly to the Minister of Health. In three communities recently, […]

RELEASE: Health Coalition Announces Major Campaign in Response to Hospital Supervisor’s Refusal to Compromise

(August 26, 2008) Midland – No matter how Dr. Kevin Smith – provincially appointed supervisor for Huronia District Hospital- wants to dress it up, he is still recommending the elimination of the voting rights of 2400 community members and the 100 year history of democratic hospital governance, said the Southern Georgian Bay Health Coalition in response to […]

PETITION: ACTION: Save Community Health Services – Midland and Penetanguishene

(July 18, 2007) Fight the undemocratic merger of the Huronia District Hospital with the Penetanguishene General Hospital.

PETITION: ACTION: Help Save Uxbridge Hospital

(July 18, 2007) Fight the loss of ER Services at the Uxbridge Hospital.

BRIEFING NOTE: on the Ontario Hospital Association/Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care Report on Core Services in Small, Rural and Remote Hospitals

(June 29, 2007) Review and analysis of the report by a Joint Policy and Planning Committee (JPPC) of the MOHLTC and the OHA.

(May 8, 2007) TO: Ontario Public Service Employees Union Service Employees International Union Ontario Council of Hospital Unions Ontario Health Coalition FROM: Steven Shrybman (Ext. 2456) DATE: May 8, 2007 Matter No: 06-643 RE: William Osler Health Centre P3 1. On April 26, 2007 the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care (the Ministry) filed […]

SACK GOLDBLATT MITCHELL LLP MEMORANDUM

(May 8, 2007) On April 26, 2007 the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care (the Ministry) filed the record of its approvals for the William Osler Health Centre (WOHC) P3 hospital with the Ontario Divisional Court despite the determined efforts by the private consortium involved in the P3 to prevent its details from being […]

Urgent P3 Hospital Update

(April 1, 2006) Contents Upcoming Plebiscites & Pictures from the Current Campaigns Plebiscite Results in Hamilton & Cross-Ontario Totals Updates on P3 projects in Sarnia, Quinte, Trillium, London St. Jo’s and Sudbury, Woodstock, North Bay and Sault Ste. MarieWhat is Being Accomplished? The Good News and The Bad News The Ontario Federation of Labour rally […]

FACT SHEET: Hospital Cuts and Restructuring: A Closer Look

(January 31, 2006) FACT SHEET

Toronto Star Editorial: Public health care cheapest and best

(December 22, 2005) Ontario Health Coalition 15 Gervais Drive, Suite 305, Toronto, Ontario M3C 1Y8 Phone (416) 441-2502 Fax (416) 441-4073 email ohc@sympatico.ca reprinted from <http://www.thestar.com/> Toronto Star Editorial: Public health care cheapest and best Dec. 22, 2005. 01:00 AM While debate rages in Canada over private versus public approaches to health care, elsewhere the […]

P3s -SIGN CAMPAIGN RESOURCE PAGE for local STOP THE P3 HOSPITAL campaigns

(October 12, 2005) Action Resources MS Powerpoint Show Presentation prepared by Marilyn Birmingham of Kingston Health Coalition (PPT version) MS Word Outline Option This is a text outline version of the slide presentation. For those who are unable to open the Powerpoint version. Prepared by Marilyn Birmingham of Kingston Health Coalition (WORD outline) Sign Request […]

Up to 23 New Hospitals to Be Privatized Under Government’s 5-Year Infrastructure Plan: Coalition Launches Major Plebiscite to Keep Hospitals Public

(May 25, 2005) Toronto/St. Catharines – Today the Ontario government released its 5-Year privatization plan for the province’s hospitals. The Plan was released on the heels of the launch of a major anti-P3 plebiscite in St. Catharines to keep the community’s new hospital public. The plebiscite is the first in a series planned for communities […]

Up to 23 New Hospitals to Be Privatized Under Government’s 5-Year Infrastructure Plan: Coalition Launches Major Plebiscite to Keep Hospitals Public

(May 25, 2005) Ontario Health Coalition 15 Gervais Drive, Suite 305, Toronto, Ontario M3C 1Y8 tel: 416-441-2502 fax: 416-441-4073 email: ohc@sympatico.ca www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca May 25, 2005 For Immediate Release Attn: Assignment Editor Up to 23 New Hospitals to Be Privatized Under Government’s 5-Year Infrastructure Plan: Coalition Launches Major Plebiscite to Keep Hospitals Public Toronto/St. Catharines – […]