News + Events

BRIEFING NOTES, VIDEO: Hospital discharges, the rights of patients & their substitute decision-makers

(December 20, 2024) Here is a recording and resources from our webinar “No Room at the Inn: Hospital discharges, what rights do patients & their substitute decision-makers have?” with Jane Meadus, lawyer and advocate at the Advocacy Centre for the Elderly and Natalie Mehra, executive director of the Ontario Health Coalition. The focus of the […]

Protesters shame Ontario government during pre-budget consultations

(December 17, 2024) By: Rob Ross, StratfordToday.ca The battle cries of ‘shame’ and ‘Doug Ford’s Gotta Go’ filled the sidewalk outside the front of the Arden Park Hotel in Stratford on Monday morning as groups concerned about the lack of commitment to education and healthcare voiced their displeasure with the provincial premier. The tone of the protest […]

Protest against health care, education cuts held in Stratford

(December 16, 2024) By: Bill Atwood, The Stratford Beacon Herald Chants of “hey hey, ho ho, Doug Ford has got to go” rang out in front of the Arden Park Hotel Monday morning as some Stratford residents and others from across Southwestern Ontario gathered outside where the province’s standing committee on finance and economic affairs […]

Healthcare protest planned for Stratford pre-budget meeting

(December 16, 2024) By: Eric Thompson, CKNewsToday.ca Those fed up with cuts to the Ontario healthcare system will have an opportunity to share their thoughts this morning at a provincial pre-budget hearing. The Ontario Health Coalition is organizing a demonstration Monday morning in Stratford ahead of scheduled budget consultations. Co-chair of the London Health Coalition […]

INFORMATION: Public Hearings on Ontario’s 2025 Budget (Pre-budget Consultations) Notice

(December 10, 2024) The Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs will meet to conduct Pre-Budget Consultations. (For those who know about hearings, scroll down to get to the dates, deadlines and registration link.) A “Standing Committee” of the Legislature is made up of MPPs from the political parties. There are Standing Committees on Justice, […]

Privatization ‘death knell’ to healthcare

(December 5, 2024) By: Mike Baker, The Highlander The Ontario Council of Hospital Unions (OCHU-CUPE) made a pit stop in Haliburton County last week armed with a 20-foot replica of the mythical Trojan Horse, which figurehead Michael Hurley said symbolizes the danger privatization poses to public healthcare. Demonstrations were held in Minden and Haliburton Nov. […]

Trojan Horse Tour — fighting healthcare privatization one community at a time

(December 4, 2024) By: Elizabeth Oakley, CKHA-FM A giant snowstorm that brought travel in many northern Ontario communities to a stand-still late last week also cut short the Ontario Health Council’s Trojan Horse Tour. After visiting both Minden and Haliburton on November 28, the threat of blizzard conditions caused organizers to call off visits to […]

Trojan Horse rolls through Haliburton

(December 3, 2024) By: Emily Stonehouse, The Haliburton County Echo “A poison gift.” That’s the phrase used by Michael Hurley, the president of the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions (OCHU), in reference to the infamous Trojan Horse. “It’s an excellent metaphor for the privatization of healthcare in our province,” he said. According to the myths […]

2024 worst year for Ontario ER closures, CBC analysis finds

(December 2, 2024) By: Julie Ireton, Valerie Ouellet, CBC News 1 out of every 5 hospitals with an ER or urgent care centre had unplanned shutdowns Timing was everything for Bruce Pieroway when he suffered a heart attack in late October in the rural farming community of Chesley, Ont., about two hours north of Kitchener. […]

CUPE’s Trojan Horse Tour stops in Barrie

(November 27, 2024) By: CTV News Barrie Health care advocates bring a giant trojan horse to Barrie’s City Hall to protest privatization. Click here to view video coverage

Trojan Horse rolls into Barrie to warn against privatized health care

(November 27, 2024) By: Bradford Today Symbolizing the threat of the plan to privatize hospital surgeries, a 15-foot replica of the Trojan Horse visited Barrie City Hall on Wednesday afternoon. The metaphor was deployed by CUPE’s Ontario Council of Hospital Unions (OCHU-CUPE) and the Ontario Health Coalition, who are asking that the Ford government cancel […]

Midland ‘Trojan Horse’ event cancelled due to stormy weather

(November 28, 2024) By: MidlandToday Staff CUPE’s Ontario Council of Hospital Unions (OCHU-CUPE), Ontario Health Coalition event had been slated for Friday afternoon On Friday afternoon, a 15-foot wooden Trojan Horse was expected to visit Midland town hall to symbolize “the duplicity of the Ontario PCs hospital services’ privatization plan.” But it turns out Trojan […]

‘Trojan Horse tour’ makes stop in Durham to shed light on ER closures

(November 27, 2024) By: Scott Miller, CTV News London A sign of contempt for the government’s healthcare decisions arrived in Durham Wednesday. A community that’s lost all its inpatient hospital beds and overnight ER hours, all within the past several months. “We need to stop this now, or I don’t think we’ll be able to […]

Ontario Health Coalition Trojan Horse trots into Durham to protest health care privatization

(November 28, 2024) By: South Grey News Members of the Grey Bruce Health Coalition and their supporters, including co-chairs Nora Beatty and Brenda Scott rolled into Durham on November 27 with a 15 foot fibreglass replica of the famous Trojan Horse of Greek mythology. Nora Beatty referenced the tale of the original Trojan Horse used […]

CUPE’s giant Trojan Horse, protest coming to Barrie City Hall tomorrow

(November 26, 2024) By: Bradford Today You might notice a giant horse in front of Barrie City Hall on Wednesday. As part of a provincewide “Trojan Horse tour,” CUPE’s Ontario Council of Hospital Unions (OCHU-CUPE) and the Ontario Health Coalition are calling for an end to ongoing privatization of hospital surgeries and diagnostic tests. They are demanding […]

FACT SHEET, BRIEFING NOTE & VIDEOS: What is Public Medicare and how did Canadians achieve it?

(November 27, 2024) Fact Sheet The History of Public Medicare What is Public Medicare? Public Medicare is the public health care system in Canada which is funded through our taxes. When you see a doctor or visit the hospital for medically necessary services using your OHIP card, you are using Public […]

Patients placed in hallway pods as hospital deals with overcrowding in Mississauga

(November 26, 2024) By: Karen Longwell, Insauga A recent post on social media highlights the issue of overcrowding as patients are in makeshift hallway pods in a Mississauga hospital. Overcrowding is familiar to anyone who has visited Credit Valley Hospital recently. A post on Reddit shows a patient pod in the hallway. The poster said […]

Ontario government plan ‘dangerous for our public hospitals,’ says CUPE

(November 25,2024) By: Ray Spiteri, NiagaraFallsReview (behind a paywall) –> The first part of the article is as follows: CUPE and the local health coalition rallied against privatization of hospital services in downtown Niagara Falls Monday. CUPE’s Ontario Council of Hospital Unions and the Ontario Health Coalition demonstrate in Niagara Falls Monday with a Trojan […]

EVENT: 2025 Health Action Assembly

(November 20, 2024) Ontario Health Coalition Health Action Assembly & Annual Conference In person: Central YMCA, 20 Grosvenor Street, Toronto or by Zoom for those who want to participate virtually (from home by computer) Saturday January 25 & Sunday January 26 10 am – 4:30 pm 9 am – 12:30 pm The […]

Healthcare Trojan Horse coming to Grey-Bruce this month

(November 15, 2024) By: Postmedia News A 15-foot Trojan Horse meant to symbolize concerns about the direction of healthcare in the province will be hauled throughout Grey-Bruce this month. The Ontario Council of Hospital Unions’ Trojan Horse has been touring the province to decry what the organization calls the defunding and underfunding of local hospital […]

Windsor Regional Hospital fundraiser aims to pay for key hospital equipment

(November 13, 2024) By: CBC News The foundation that benefits the Windsor Regional Hospital is making an urgent fundraising appeal to buy new patient equipment. It might come as a surprise to some that while the province pays for hospital operations and infrastructure, foundations like the one benefiting Windsor’s largest hospital step in to purchase new […]

FACT SHEET: What cataract surgery patients can and cannot be charged for

(November 14, 2024) Anyone in Ontario can make a complaint or ask questions by calling toll-free at 1-888-662-6613 or by emailing protectpublichealthcare@ontario.ca. The Ontario Health Coalition receives many complaints from patients who report being charged hundreds to thousands of dollars for medically necessary cataract surgery. This fact sheet is not legal advice but seeks to […]

WEBINAR: What does OHIP cover? Which patient charges are allowed and which are not allowed?

(November 14, 2024) Anyone in Ontario can make a complaint or ask questions by calling toll-free at 1-888-662-6613 or by emailing protectpublichealthcare@ontario.ca. WEBINAR: What does OHIP cover? Which patient charges are allowed and which are not allowed? Our webinar with Ontario Health Coalition executive director Natalie Mehra delves into how private clinics are embedding […]

CUPE, Health Coalition protest surgery privatization with Trojan Horse at Oakville Hospital

(November 12, 2024) By: Laura Steiner, The Milton Reporter A 15-foot Trojan Horse replica appeared outside Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital recently. CUPE’s Ontario Council of Hospital Unions (OCHU-CUPE) and the Ontario Health Coalition deployed it as a symbol of their opposition to the Ford government’s plan to privatize hospital surgeries. The two organizations are urging […]

Trojan Horse to warn about private health care

(November 12, 2024) By: Janice MacKay, CKNX NewsToday A 15 foot replica of the famous Trojan Horse will arrive in midwestern Ontario later this month to put the spotlight on the challenges facing Ontario’s health care system. Brenda Scott of the Grey Bruce Health Coalition explained that during the Trojan war in the 12th century […]

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, […]

Trojan Horse Highlights Risks of Healthcare Privatization

(November 9, 2024) By: Jason Setnyk, Seaway News On November 4, the Ontario Health Coalition, alongside local healthcare advocates, staged a media event at Cornwall Community Hospital. A striking 15-foot Trojan Horse was at the heart of the demonstration, symbolizing what activists view as the hidden dangers of privatizing healthcare services. The wooden horse, reminiscent […]

Trojan Horse joins the call to end privatization of Ontario hospital services

(November 8, 2024) By: Skylar Soroka, The Journal – Queen’s University A 15-foot long Trojan Horse trotted to Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC) to call for an end of privatized healthcare in Ontario. The horse was seen on Stuart St. on Nov. 7 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., where approximately 30 hospital workers and […]

Healthcare workers protest privatization in Kingston with “Trojan Horse”

(November 9, 2024) By: Owen Fullerton, YGK News CUPE’s Ontario Council of Hospital Unions (OCHU-CUPE) and the Ontario Health Coalition brought their “Trojan Horse” tour to Kingston on Thursday. The demonstration has been making stops throughout the province, likening the Ontario Conservative government’s plan of privatizing certain surgeries to the Trojan Horse story from Greek […]

‘They’re not an add-on, they’re a take away’: Trojan horse of privatized health care stops in Smiths Falls

(November 8, 2024) By: Taylor Clark, Smith Falls Record News Members of the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions and the Ontario Health Coalition gather outside the Perth and Smiths Falls District Hospital with a 15-foot Trojan horse in protest of the Ford government’s push toward privatization. A 15-foot wooden Trojan horse representing the privatization of […]

Strong turnout for health care privatization ‘Trojan Horse tour’

(November 7, 2024) By: Millstone News Organizers of the Trojan Horse tour were impressed with the turnout in Almonte this week. Many community members and local CUPE employees from Almonte General were in support at today’s rally. To protest the Ford government’s privatization of our public hospital services, the CUPE Ontario Council of Hospital Unions […]

Group Health Centre physician retirement to leave 1,500 more patients without primary care MD

(November 5, 2024) By: Jeffrey Ougler, The Sault Star GHC taking ‘proactive measures’ to manage transition and shoulder increased demand for Access Care Clinic following Dr. Michael Keating’s December departure The upcoming retirement of a veteran Group Health Centre family physician will affect approximately 1,500 patients, GHC says. Dr. Michael Keating, a family physician there […]

The Trojan Horse of healthcare privatization in Hawkesbury

(November 5, 2024) By: Philipp Oddi, Penticton Herald Making its trip through Ontario, the 15-foot Trojan Horse representing the privatization of healthcare stopped in front of the Hawkesbury and District General Hospital on the morning of November 4. The wooden structure has been invoking conversation around the increased reliance on private health clinics in the […]

The Trojan Horse of healthcare privatization in Hawkesbury

(November 5, 2024) By: Philip Oddi, The Review Making its trip through Ontario, the 15-foot Trojan Horse representing the privatization of healthcare stopped in front of the Hawkesbury and District General Hospital on the morning of November 4. The wooden structure has been invoking conversation around the increased reliance on private health clinics in the […]

Ontario Health Coalition’s trojan horse stops at Cornwall Community Hospital

(November 4, 2024) By: Shawna O’Neill, Cornwall Standard-Freeholder It isn’t the first time the Ontario Health Coalition’s 4.5 metre (15-foot) wooden trojan horse has come to the region, according to co-chair of the Cornwall/SDG chapter of the Ontario Health Coalition, Elaine MacDonald. “At that time, we were alarmed because of what the Liberals had been […]

Health coalition demands answers on why home-care patients left short of vital supplies for weeks

(November 1, 2024) by: Joanna Frketich (Hamilton Spectator) The president of a medical supply company went out on deliveries in Hamilton and Niagara last weekend to talk to home-care patients about a provincewide crisis that has left them without vital medical provisions. Bayshore HealthCare confirmed that founder Stuart Cottrelle personally delivered supplies to patients in […]

RELEASE: Health Coalition fully supports bill banning 2-tier clinics, increasing fines and expanding public access

(October 24, 2024) The Ontario Health Coalition is calling for Ontarians to put their full support behind a new Private Member’s Bill introduced by Liberal Health Critic Dr. Adil Shamji to be debated in the Legislature this evening. Almost a full year ago, Health Minister Sylvia Jones promised to take action to stop private clinics […]

Court to hear licence challenge for long-term care home with high COVID-19 death rate

(October 17, 2024) By: CBC News Toronto A health-care advocacy group challenging Ontario’s decision to grant a new licence to a Pickering long-term care home where more than 70 residents died during the COVID-19 pandemic will be heard by a panel of judges Thursday. The Ontario Health Coalition (OHC) is set to argue the province’s approval of a […]

Ontario government faces court challenge over Orchard Villa expansion

(October 16, 2024) By: Afua Baah, CityNews Toronto Cathy Parkes’ father was a resident of Orchard Villa long-term care home in Pickering. He died of COVID-19 in April 2020, but Cathy said the state in which her father lived his final days was deplorable. “The conditions surrounding his death were very traumatic for my family […]

ADVISORY: Press Conference: Court challenge to be heard Thursday re. Ford Government’s expansion & new 30-yr license for Southbridge’s Orchard Villa, for-profit long-term care with reprehensible record

(October 15, 2024) Toronto – On Thursday, a panel of judges at the Ontario Divisional court will hear a court challenge brought by the daughter of a deceased resident and the Ontario Health Coalition seeking a judicial review of the Ford government’s decision to grant an 88-bed expansion and new 30-year license for the 233-bed […]

Non-acute patients blocking ‘scarce and precious’ hospital beds, Ontario argues in Bill 7 defence

(September 24, 2024) By: Jack Hauen, The Trillium Ontario must make “heartbreaking” decisions about how to allocate hospital care, “a scarce and precious and finite resource,” a government lawyer argued Tuesday. The Ford government was in court defending a law that sets out fines for some hospital patients who refuse to move into long-term care […]

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 […]

Controversial Ontario law designed to free up hospital beds could impact Maritime provinces

(September 27, 2024) By: Leigha Kaiser, CTV News Atlantic A new Charter challenge that got underway Monday will test the constitutionality of a controversial Ontario law allowing hospitals to place discharged patients into long-term care homes not of their choosing or face a $400-a-day charge if they refuse. The Ontario Health Coalition and the Advocacy […]

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 […]

Judge grills lawyer challenging $400-a-day long-term care law

(September 23, 2024) By: Jack Hauen, The Trillium Advocates challenging Bill 7 got a rough ride on Monday. The Ontario Health Coalition (OHC) and the Advocacy Centre for the Elderly (ACE) brought a Charter challenge of the Ford government’s controversial law that fines hospital patients $400 a day for refusing to move to a long-term care home […]

Healthcare advocates head to court next week

(September 20, 2024) By: Randy Thoms, CKDR A charter challenge of provincial legislation that permits hospitals to transfer patients requiring an alternative level of care to a long-term home will be discussed in a courtroom next week. The Ontario Health Coalition and Advocacy Centre for the Elderly are behind the challenge. Bill 7 was implemented […]

Ontario law designed to free up hospital beds to be tested in court

(September 25, 2024) By: The Richard Syrett Show, Sauga960AM Click here for the original radio recording

CBC Ontario Today noon call in: How is bill 7 working for you?

(September 24, 2024) By: Amanda Pfeffer, Ontario Today with Amanda Pfeffer, CBC Radio One The Ontario government says the law helps to free up limited hospital beds. But some advocates disagree. Natalie Mehra, executive director of the Ontario Health Coalition, joined for an interview to start off the episode. Joining CBC to take your calls […]

Ontario Health Coalition continues legal challenge against Bill 7

(September 24, 2024) By: Caryn Ceolin, CityNews It’s the Ford government versus the Ontario Health Coalition in court again on Tuesday. As advocates question a bill that allows hospitals to send patients to a long-term care home they didn’t choose. Caryn Ceolin reports. Click here for the original video

Controversial law designed to free up hospital beds to be tested in Ontario court

(September 24, 2024) By: The Mike Farwell Show, CityNews, NewsRadio 570 Kitchener Click here for the original radio episode

‘It shortens their lives’: Widower recounts final days of her husband’s life following forced move to long-term care home

(September 23, 2024) By: CHCH News It has been called an infringement of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and now it is being challenged in court as one. The More Beds, Better Care Act was designed to move discharged patients out of hospitals and into long-term care homes, not of their choice — or […]

More Beds, Better Care Act to be challenged in court Monday

(September 23, 2024) By: CHCH News The More Beds Better Care Act, also known as Bill 7, will be challenged in court Monday on if it violates the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. A new charter challenge will put the controversial Ontario Law that requires hospitals to place patients ready to be discharged into long-term […]

The Jim Richards Show, Episode: The Field Trip Fallout continues into Week 2

(September 23, 2024) By: Jim Richards, The Jim Richards Show, NewsTalk1010 Natalie Mehra – executive director – Ontario Health Coalition, joins Jim to give her view on controversial law designed to free up hospital beds to be tested in Ontario court Click here for the original radio episode

Advocates fight against controversial Bill 7

(September 23, 2024) By: Sean Leathong, CTV News Toronto Advocates are challenging a bill that allows hospitals to move discharged patients into long-term care homes not of their choosing. Click here for the original video

Bill 7 to be charter challenged in court

(September 23, 2024) By: Courtney Heels, CP24 Click here for the original video

Controversial law designed to free up Ontario hospital beds to be tested in court

(September 23, 2024) By: Liam Casey, Global News A new Charter challenge that got underway Monday will test the constitutionality of a controversial Ontario law that allows hospitals to place discharged patients into long-term care homes not of their choosing or face a $400-per-day charge if they refuse. The Advocacy Centre for the Elderly and […]

Controversial law designed to free up Ontario hospital beds to be tested in court

(September 23, 2024) By: Clara Pasieka, CBC News Toronto A new charter challenge will test the constitutionality of a controversial law that allows hospitals to place patients into long-term care homes that are not of their choosing. CBC’s Clara Pasieka explains. Click here for the original video

Ontario’s controversial nursing home transfer law is being challenged in court. Here’s what you need to know

(September 22, 2024) By: Maria Iqbal, Toronto Star (behind a paywall) –> The first part of the article is as follows: Advocacy groups argue that law, meant to help deal with a shortage of acute care beds, violates the Charter rights of hospital patients. The Ford government’s More Beds, Better Care Act was introduced in 2022 […]

Law that could force patients into long-term care is challenged

(September 21, 2024) By: Sudbury.com Ontario’s Bill-7, the More Beds, Better Care Act, will be in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice on Monday Ontario’s Bill-7, the act that could force a patient out of the hospital and into a long-term care home, is facing a legal challenge. The Ontario Health Coalition along with the Advocacy Centre for […]

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

‘Abominable’: Untrained aides should not count toward LTC direct care targets, advocates say

(September 16, 2024) By: Sneh Duggal, The Trillium (behind a paywall) –> The first part of the article is as follows: A document The Trillium obtained through the freedom-of-information process showed resident support personnel make up about 10 per cent of the targeted 36 minutes of care provided by allied health professionals… Click here for […]

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 […]

MYTH BUSTER: 10 Big Myths about Health Care Privatization

(September 9, 2024) 1. The Ford government is indeed privatizing our public health care system. It is false to claim they are not. The Ford government has tried to downplay the extent to which they are privatizing, using words like “alternative”, “independent” or “community” health care facilities instead of referring to them as private for-profit […]

Ontario hospital patient fined $28,600 for refusing to go to long-term care home

(September 4, 2024) By: Jack Hauen, The Trillium An Ontario woman says her mother was fined more than $28,000 for refusing a long-term care home placement not of her choosing. Under the Ford government’s Bill 7, the More Beds, Better Care Act, hospitals can charge a fee of $400 per day to patients who decline […]

BRIEFING NOTE: The Ford Government’s Plan to Privatize Ontario’s Public Hospital Services

(September 3, 2024) THE LATEST On January 16, 2023, Premier Doug Ford announced his plan to open new private for-profit day hospitals in three cities, expand other for-profit clinics and shunt tens of millions in public funding to private clinics and hospitals. The premier said that 50% of the surgeries done in our public hospitals […]

Nurse practitioner behind pay-for-care clinic in Brant explains reasons behind opening private practice

(August 5, 2024) By: Celeste Percy-Beauregard, The Brantford Expositor Crystal Troup recently got a call from someone wanting an IUD. The patient’s family doctor told her she would need a referral to a gynecologist — with a six- to nine-month wait — to have the birth control device inserted, and she wondered if it was […]

SBGHC proposes crews not take mental health cases to Durham ER after 3 p.m.

(July 19, 2024) By: Scott Dunn, Owen Sound Sun Times Police and paramedics are expressing concerns about a South Bruce Grey Health Centre proposal to stop bringing people experiencing a mental health crisis to the Durham hospital after 3 p.m. For now, it’s business as usual until agreements are put in place, said Kevin McNab, […]

North Bay Health Coalition rallying against privatization

(July 8, 2024) By: Richard Coffin, MyNorthBayNow Another rally against healthcare privatization is taking place next week in North Bay. The Ontario Council of Hospital Unions and North Bay Health Coalition are organizing the July 15 event from 11:30 am to 1 pm outside of Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli’s office. They’re rallying against the privatization […]

There’s a private pediatric clinic run by nurse practitioners in London. Should Ontario fund it?

(July 6, 2024) By: Isha Bhargava, CBC News A private pediatric clinic run by nurse practitioners in London, Ont., is calling on the province to fund their services, which they say is reducing wait times and unnecessary emergency department visits for patients without family doctors. Healthy Kids Urgent Clinic operates a fee-for-service model charging between $65 to $85 for a visit. The […]

Rural health care access among issues raised at Chesley public hearing

(July 3, 2024) By: Pauline Kerr, Penticton Herald CHESLEY – The Ontario Health Coalition has been holding public hearings in communities across the province, to hear what the public has to say, and to gather input to develop recommendations for the future of our hospitals, including small, rural hospitals. On June 18, it was Chesley’s […]

CBC Ontario Today noon call in: Was your hospital there for you when you needed it?

(June 25, 2024) By: Ontario Today with Amanda Pfeffer, CBC Radio One The Ontario Health Coalition has been hosting a series of townhalls to find out why so many hospitals are periodically closing their doors. Executive Director Natalie Mehra joins Ontario Today, along with Geraldton District Hospital CEO Darryl Galusha. Click here for recording

EVENT: More than 10,000 at huge protests form widespread, visible opposition against Ford’s privatization of our public health care

(June 19, 2024) Thousands of people made a stand at protests across the province on May 30, 2024 to show the Ford government that Ontarians oppose the privatization of our public health care system. We made it loud and clear that we will keep building the fightback to protect and improve our public health care, […]

CAMPAIGN: Make it visible! Join the lawn sign campaign to stop Ford’s health care privatization

(June 19, 2024) As we head into the summer, we are building the fightback against health care privatization and putting out lawn signs across Ontario (see designs below). We have sent out 5,000 signs to local coalitions across the province and will order more if we are able to afford it. We are working to […]

EVENT: Annual Locally-Grown Garlic Sale 2024

(June 19, 2024) The Ontario Health Coalition works to improve our provincial public health care system. We are committed to saving local health care services, stopping cuts and privatization and keeping our community hospitals vibrant. Every year we sell Ontario-grown organic and heirloom varieties of garlic to raise funds. It’s garlic season and our Annual […]

Health-care system is ‘broken,’ Niagara woman says after dad dies suddenly in emergency room

(June 16, 2024) By: Samantha Beattie, Ethan Lang, CBC News CJohn Zammit, 88, died in a Welland, Ont., emergency department after experiencing a brief illness As her father laid sick on a gurney in a Niagara-area emergency room, Ann-Marie Zammit reassured him he’d recover. The medical staff at the Welland, Ont., hospital had told her […]

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 […]

EVENT: Now’s the time to make our stand… Giant protests and marches on Thursday, May 30

(May 24, 2024) More information can be found at StopForProfitHealthcare.ca. A speech from executive director Natalie Mehra on the importance of this campaign can be found here. Toronto: Gather at noon at the south side of Nathan Phillips Square across from the Sheraton, 123 Queen St. W. We will march to the Ontario Legislature at Queen’s Park […]

BLOG: An earnest appeal: There comes a time when conscience & community compel us to action

posted May 23, 2024

(May 23, 2024) There comes a time when one cannot sit on the sidelines and let it happen. When conscience and community compel one to action. I believe we are there. It is like we have reached a tipping point. If we do nothing, we accept the ever accelerating destruction of the public health care […]

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 […]

Save the Durham Hospital rally revs up community resolve

(May 8, 2024) By: Greg Cowan, Owen Sound The Sun Times People who jammed into the Durham Community Centre hall Tuesday night for a rally to save the Durham hospital said they hope their actions are more of a battle cry than a death rattle. Several hundred people joined a standing room only crowd and […]

Public invited to Owen Sound rally to save healthcare

(May 8, 2024) By: The Sun Times, Owen Sound The Sun Times Members of the public are being invited to attend a rally to save healthcare in front of Owen Sound city hall. The Grey Bruce Health Coalition will be holding the peaceful rally at city hall at the corner of 2nd Avenue East and […]

Ontario healthcare ‘never so bad’

(May 7, 2024) By: Sara McCLeary, Sault This Week About 60 people, mostly senior citizens, attended a recent townhall on Ontario healthcare, organized by Sault Ste. Marie-Algoma chapter of the Ontario Health Coalition. The May 2 meeting, held at the Moose Lodge, featured five panelists sharing insights about the current situation in the province, how […]

OHC town hall targets privatization

(May 4, 2024) By: Ron Jokelainen, First Local News Ontario Health Coalition (OHC) Executive Director Natalie Mehra says public healthcare in Ontario is “at the edge, the precipice” and the province is in clear danger of losing it. “Every public meeting I go to, I’m on panels with doctors, nurses, health professionals, policy people and […]

Health coalition calls on public to stand up for health care

(May 3, 2024) By: Mike McDonald, CTV News Northern Ontario The de-rostering of thousands of patients at the Group Health Centre in Sault Ste. Marie was the centre of attention at a town hall Friday organized by the Algoma chapter of the Ontario Health Coalition. Guest speakers included politicians, policy analysts and physicians and the […]

Critics question Ontario watchdog’s decision to keep health-care worker shortage data confidential

(April 30, 2024) By: Tu Thanh Ha, The Globe and Mail Health care stakeholders and an expert on privacy are criticizing a recent ruling that allows the government of Ontario to keep details of the province’s shortages of nurses, personal support workers and doctors confidential. Alec Fadel, an adjudicator at the Office of the Information […]

Soaring workloads, stress leave health-care system on brink of collapse

(April 29, 2024) By: Wendy Glauser, Healthy Debate Emergency departments are closing across the country. Wait times in those still open frequently surpass 20 hours. An unprecedented number of people are being cared for in hallways and spaces not designed for care as they wait for specialists or procedures. Frail elders are waiting months in […]

Ontario edging toward American health care model — health coalition

(April 30, 2024) By: Stu Campaigne, BayToday.ca Ontario Health Coalition plans a May 30 protest. ‘We’re very close. If people don’t care about their health care it’s going to happen and that’s why we have this campaign. We’ve had this for a couple of years now. We have stopped some elements of what the government […]

Ford government wins battle to keep health-care staffing shortage figures secret

(April 24, 2024) By: Isaac Callan & Colin D’Mello, Global News The Ford government has won a privacy battle to keep the extent of its nursing, personal support worker and physician shortage secret after Ontario’s privacy watchdog ruled that revealing them could be economically damaging. In September 2022, Global News filed and subsequently appealed a […]

EVENT: Long-Term Care Virtual Townhall Summary

(April 23, 2024) A townhall was held to get an update from the lawyers on what is happening with the class action lawsuits against long-term care homes. Also, Natalie Mehra, Ontario Health Coalition executive director, gave a general update on long-term care. Click here for the long-term care townhall summary

‘No More Hallway Healthcare’: Rally calls for more beds and no for-profit patient fees in Brampton

(April 19, 2024) By: Ryan Rumbolt, insauga Health care watchdogs are calling for hundreds of new hospital beds and a crackdown on patients being charged out-of-pocket fees in Brampton and Caledon. The plea comes from the Ontario Health Coalition which will be holding a “No More Hallway Healthcare” rally on Monday near Brampton Civic Hospital. […]

Patients reaching for their credit card, not just their OHIP card: Report

(April 19, 2024) By: Matt Hutcheson, City News The Ontario Health Coalition’s (OHC) most recent report paints a damning picture of the Ford government’s expansion of health care to private clinics. The OHC surveyed people between February 5 and March 8, asking patients about their experiences with care in private clinics. There were 231 patients […]

‘I think I was taken for a ride’: Ontario Health Coalition says patients being ‘unlawfully’ charged at private medical clinics

(April 16, 2024) By: Bryan Bicknell, CTV News London The Ontario government is letting private, for-profit medical clinics get away with unlawfully charging patients for health care that should be covered by OHIP, according to a watchdog group. The Ontario Health Coalition held a series of events across the province Tuesday to release its findings. […]

Health Coalition Co-Chair says Grey Bruce not immune to pressures from private clinics

(April 17, 2024) By: Adam Bell, CKNX News Today A damning report released by the Ontario Health Coalition has brought to light concerning practices in for-profit private clinics across the province. Titled “Illegal, Unlawful and Unethical: Case Studies of Patients Charged for Medical Care in Ontario’s Private Clinics,” the report reveals evidence of hundreds of […]

‘I think I was shafted’

(April 16, 2024) by: Bryan Bicknell, CTV News London The Ontario Health Coalition says patients are being ‘unlawfully’ charged fees at private clinics. CTV’s Bryan Bicknell reports. Click here to watch the video clip

Report reveals Ontario for-profit clinics charging patients thousands in unlawful fees

(April 16, 2024) By: Ainsley Smith & Caryn Lieberman, Global News More than 100 patients have come forward to voice their concerns over being charged for care in private clinics in a newly-released report by the Ontario Health Coalition (OHC). A majority of these patients are seniors living on fixed incomes, with the fees imposing […]

Ontario Health Coalition report highlights deceptive practices and extra fees in private clinics

(April 16, 2024) By: Barbara Patrocinio, QP Briefing A new report conducted by the Ontario Health Coalition (OHC) claims that many patients who underwent surgeries at private clinics were deceived into paying additional fees for supplementary services. The procedures should be covered by public funding. The report was based on interviews with 18 patients, and […]

Private clinics charge thousands in extra fees for OHIP-covered surgery: Ontario Health Coalition

(April 16. 2024) By: Matthew Trevithick, CBC News The Ontario Health Coalition (OHC) is taking aim at the province’s plan to expand the number of publicly-funded surgeries at private clinics, saying the experiences of two Londoners who were charged thousands for cataract surgeries is emblematic of the dangers that come with for-profit healthcare. Their stories […]

RELEASE & REPORT: Illegal, Unlawful and Unethical: Case Studies of Patients Charged for Medical Care in Ontario’s Private Clinics

(April 16, 2024) Anyone in Ontario can make a complaint or ask questions by calling toll-free at 1-888-662-6613 or by emailing protectpublichealthcare@ontario.ca. Toronto, April 16, 2024 – Released today, a new report Illegal, Unlawful and Unethical: Case Studies of Patients Charged for Medical Care in Ontario’s Private Clinics, featured evidence from more than a hundred […]

Patients claim ‘unlawful and illegal’ charges for medically necessary services in Brampton and across Ontario

(April 15, 2024) By: Ryan Rumbolt, InSauga Health care advocates are speaking out after patients say they’ve been charged extra fees, denied procedures and tricked into paying for add-ons at clinics in Brampton and across Ontario. The news comes from the Ontario Health Coalition (OHC), which says it has gathered reports of more than 100 […]

As private-pay crackdown looms, ‘executive health’ clinics charge freely

(April 15, 2024) By: Jack Hauen, The Trillium As millions of Ontarians struggle to find family doctors, private-pay clinics are having somewhat of a heyday. New nurse practitioner-led clinics have made headlines recently for openly charging yearly fees for primary care. They’re either illegal or exist in a loophole, depending on who you ask. Health […]

MRI wait times among the longest in the province for London, Ont. area patients

(March 27, 2024) By: Bryan Bicknell, CTV News Newly released provincial data shows London and area hospitals have some of the longest wait times in the province to receive an MRI scan. That’s a major concern, according to health watchdog Ontario Health Coalition. London representative Peter Bergmanis said the long waits can take a toll […]

‘Stolen Time’ doc shows grim reality in some long-term care homes

(March 27, 2024) Doreen Nicoll, Rabble Extendicare, Revera Inc and Sienna Senior Living are thriving long-term care (LTC) corporations. Extendicare claims they are, “Helping people live better, one life at a time.” While Revera wants seniors to know, “Some things get better with age.” Sienna Senior Living claims to be, “Cultivating happiness in daily life.” […]

Nearly 300 Ontario patients moved to LTC homes they didn’t choose

(March 20, 2024) By Allison Jones and Liam Casey, The Canadian Press Nearly 300 people in Ontario have been moved from hospitals to long-term care homes not of their choosing under a law the government implemented over a year ago. The law can see those patients placed in homes up to 70 kilometres away — […]

Retired Sault Steelworkers feel targeted by Group Health Centre cuts

(March 18, 2024) By: Cory Nordstrom, CTV News Northern Ontario. Among those hit particularly hard by the Sault’s Group Health Centre de-rostering of 10,000 patients are former Steelworkers, who helped create the health centre. A meeting from those retirees took place Monday, with plenty of discussion about the current state of health care. It was a […]

Protest at Brampton Civic will push for better healthcare following release of alarming Ontario Health Coalition report highlighting PC move to privatization

(March 17, 2024) By: Hafsa Ahmed, The Pointer. Click here for the original article

EVENT: May 30 Giant Protest & March: The fightback is on to save public health care

(March 18, 2024) More information can be found at StopForProfitHealthcare.ca. Updated information on the campaign can be found here. Thursday May 30 12 pm noon The Fightback is On Either we save our public medicare now, or we are going to lose it Giant march & protest. Send a message to the Ford government & […]

Ottawa woman ‘outraged’ at $110 charge at Appletree clinic for routine cervical cancer screening

(March 12, 2024) By: Elizabeth Payne, Ottawa Citizen Ontario’s Ministry of Health says it is launching an investigation into the practices of an Ottawa Appletree clinic after a woman was charged $110 to see a nurse practitioner for a routine cancer screening test. Eileen Murphy says she registered with the Appletree clinic near Carling and […]

Five-month investigation paints a picture of a dangerous and disturbing “Wild West” of private clinics operating with little or no oversight.

(March 9, 2024) By: Burlington Gazette Five-month investigation, paints a picture of a dangerous and disturbing “Wild West” of private clinics operating with little or no oversight. A report released by the Ottawa and Ontario Health Coalitions contains shocking revelations about the ownership and management behind private health clinics in Ottawa. Based on a five-month […]

Durham ED to close overnight indefinitely beginning March 10 due to staff shortage

(March 08, 2024) by: Greg Cowan, Owen Sound Sun Times The emergency department in Durham will soon close overnight due to a critical shortage of nurses, South Bruce Grey Health Centre announced. Starting on March 10, the emergency department at the Durham hospital will shut its doors every night at 5 p.m. and reopen at […]

RELEASE & REPORT: Fraud, criminal conviction, misrepresentation and unlawful user fees: New report exposes a “Wild West” of for-profit health care in Ottawa private clinics

(March 8, 2024) A new report released by the Ottawa and Ontario Health Coalitions contains shocking revelations about the ownership and management behind private health clinics in Ottawa. Based on a five-month investigation, Freedom of Information requests, corporate filings, interviews and court records, the report paints a picture of a dangerous and disturbing “Wild West” […]

Health coalition says province starves public hospitals

(March 2, 2024) By: James Matthews, Minden Times Allowing some medical procedures to be done at private facilities starves public hospitals, says the Ontario Health Coalition. A new report, entitled 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 […]

Private American companies supplying HHS with staff for cardiac surgery

(March 2, 2024) By: Joanna Frketich, The Hamilton Spectator (behind a paywall) –> The first part of the article is as follows: Hamilton’s largest hospital network signed contracts with two private American companies to temporarily supply staff to operate heart-lung machines that the union claims are costing tens of thousands of dollars a week. Hamilton […]

Murky rules for nurse practitioners give rise to private clinics in Ontario

(March 1, 2024) By: Sarah MacMillan, CBC News When Kyle Truong needed medical attention for a respiratory infection last year, he said there weren’t many convenient options for accessing timely care. Truong, who lives in Toronto, hasn’t had a family doctor for about four years. But then he discovered a private clinic where he could […]

Private surgeons group doubles weekend orthopedic surgeries in Ottawa

(February 28, 2024) By: Elizabeth Payne, Ottawa Citizen One year after a group of orthopedic surgeons began renting vacant operating rooms on Saturdays at The Ottawa Hospital’s Riverside campus, the group is doubling the number of surgeries it performs there. Cameron Love, president and CEO of The Ottawa Hospital, said the Academic Orthopedic Surgical Associates […]

Ontario Health Coalition calls out Ford government

Feburary 21, 2024 By: Tina Yazdani, City News The Ford government is under fire over the state of the province’s healthcare system. As Tina Yazdani reports, OHC officials say the government is ‘pouring’ money into private-for-profit clinics and hospitals. Click here to watch the video clip

Ontario Health Coalition presents latest report into privatization at Cornwall event

(February 21, 2024) by: Shawna O’Neill, Cornwall Standard-Freeholder Cornwall was once again a host as the Ontario Health Coalition released its most-recent report on privatizing services available at publicly funded hospitals on Wednesday. Ontario Health Coalition Cornwall/SDG chapter co-chairs Elaine MacDonald and Louise Lanctot spoke about how the coalition believes policies approved by the Premier […]

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 […]

Public Healthcare in Peril: The Price of Privatization and Economic Mismanagement in Ontario and Zimbabwe

(February 18, 2024) by: Olalekan Adigun, BNN Breaking Ontario faces a public healthcare crisis as the Ford government pushes for privatization, while Zimbabwe’s healthcare sector collapses due to neglect and mismanagement. Discover the policy implications and the need for reform in both regions. In the heart of Ontario, a storm brews over the future of […]

Kingston Health Council Report Released

(February 14, 2024) by: Jeff Green, Frontenac News Report on Cataract Surgery in Kingston offers a long view of the pitfalls of healthcare privatisation. The Kingston Health Council (KHC), and its affiliate the Ontario Health Council, have been persistent critics of the Ford government’s efforts to support private delivery of publicly funded healthcare as part […]

NDP raises concerns about ‘executive health’ clinic charging patients thousands

(February 16, 2024) by: Sneh Duggal, The Trillium Toronto residents said they lost their family doctor last year after she moved to the ‘executive health’ clinic As the province grapples with a family doctor shortage, New Democrats are raising concerns about clinics offering health care to Ontarians for hefty fees. Last fall, the South Keys […]

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: Families & Advocates Announce Legal Action as Ford Government Grants New Long-Term Care Licenses to Corporations with Hideous Records

(February 13, 2024) Toronto – The daughter of a deceased long-term care resident and the Ontario Health Coalition are asking the court to require the Ford government live up to their own long-term care legislation. The advocates are seeking a judicial review of the Ford government’s decision to grant an 87-bed expansion and new 30-year […]

Doug Ford’s new infrastructure bank will benefit investors, not the public

(February 8, 2024) By: Linda McQuaig, Toronto Star It seems like a good rule-of-thumb that the housing of frail and vulnerable people should not be left to those with a voracious appetite for profit. This could be regarded as a key takeaway from the pandemic, when it emerged that death rates were four times higher […]

Health coalition holding discussion on fate of Fort Erie hospital

(January 8, 2024) By: Allan Benner, Standard There’s increasing interest in a public meeting on the state of health care in Fort Erie, after a previously scheduled meeting was cancelled due to a medical emergency that resulted in death. Organizer Sue Hotte from Niagara Health Coalition said the scope of Thursday’s meeting has grown since […]

Ontario’s Hospital Labour Force Is At A Breaking Point

(January 8, 2024) By: Adam D.K. King, The Maple No one will be shocked to learn that health-care workers across Canada are overworked and stressed out. Yet the extent of the problem revealed by each new study or poll can’t help but astonish. This past Wednesday, the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions (OCHU), part of […]

Hallway health care: Ontario Health metrics put numbers to strained system

(January 3, 2024) By: Jessica Smith Cross, The Trillium On an average day, 1,326 people were on stretchers in Ontario emergency department hallways or other “unconventional spaces” at the end of the last fiscal year. It’s one of the metrics Ontario Health (OH) uses to track the health of the health-care system, and it’s at its highest reported […]

South Bruce Grey Health Centre hospitals were plagued with emergency department closures

(December 28, 2023) By: The SouthGrey This was the fifth most-read story of the year and was seen as the local indicator of a much bigger problem facing the province. In an Ontario Health Coalition report released on December 5, it was revealed that the number of Ontario hospital emergency closures has soared to a new record […]

Rural communities ‘suffering from the lack of health-care services,’ Niagara Falls MPP tells Fort Erie council

（December 22, 2023) By: Sarah Ferguson, Fort Erie Post Having access to health care when it’s needed is not a privilege; it’s a human right. However, Niagara Falls NDP MPP Wayne Gates said accessing health care is a problem here in Niagara and across the province. At the Dec. 18 Fort Erie council meeting, Gates […]

Death of man awaiting start of Fort Erie forum on health care highlights need for rural services, says health coalition chair

(December 12, 2023) By: Sarah Ferguson, Fort Erie Post What was supposed to be an opportunity for community members to share their thoughts on the state of health care turned into an emergency situation. Just before the Fort Erie meeting on public health care was expected to start, a man in attendance had a medical […]

Ontario healthcare report finds over a thousand service shutdowns

(December 11, 2023) By: Freq 90.5/Oldies 96.7 The Ontario Health Coalition released a report this past Tuesday, December 5th, which they say paints a stark picture of the province’s healthcare system. The report tracked the closures of hospital services in 2023 and found a total of 1,200 temporary or permanent closures across Ontario occurred. OHC […]

Kitchener nurse practitioner operating private clinic

(December 9, 2023) By: Tyler Kelaher and Karis Mapp, Kitchener As Ontario’s public health system continues to battle long wait times and a shortage of family doctors, a Kitchener nurse practitioner claims to have the first and only private health clinic in the area. Phlox Health in south Kitchener offers many of the same services […]

EVENT: 2023-24 Health Action Assembly & Annual Conference

(December 9, 2023) Ontario Health Coalition Health Action Assembly & Annual Conference In person: Central YMCA, 20 Grosvenor Street, Toronto, or by Zoom for those who want to participate virtually (from home by computer) Saturday January 20 & Sunday January 21 10 am – 4:30 pm 9 am – 12:30 pm The […]

National charity calls on northern communities to keep the hope alive

(December 8, 2023) By: Austin Campbell, Superior North News A charity that promotes equitable access to healthcare and provides free medical transportation is calling on communities along the north shore of Lake Superior for their support. Established in 1986, Hope Air is a nationwide charity that provides transportation to and from medical appointments for patients […]

Gélinas continues to voice concerns over emergency room closures

(December 7, 2023) By: Sudbury Nickel Belt MPP France Gélinas, who is also the Ontario opposition health critic, said the numerous temporary closures of hospital emergency rooms in Ontario is putting lives at risk. Gélinas was voicing her concern in the Ontario Legislature on Tuesday when she quoted a number of department closures that have occurred to […]

“An unprecedented failure of leadership,” Ontario Health Coalition tracked 2023 hospital closures

(December 7, 2023) By: Lake 88.1 News The Ontario Health Coalition released a report Tuesday which they say paints a stark picture of the province’s healthcare system. The report tracked the closures of hospital services in 2023 and found a total of 1,200 temporary or permanent closures across Ontario occurred. OHC Executive Director Natalie Mehra […]

Ontario hospital ERs have closed 867 times so far this year, health coalition says

(December 6, 2023) By: Elizabeth Payne, Ottawa Citizen Emergency departments and other hospital services have closed a record number of times in Ontario so far in 2023, according to a new Ontario Health Coalition report being described as “staggering.” As of Nov. 24, there had been 867 temporary emergency department closures in the province this […]

Ontario hospitals closed for thousands of hours this year: report

(December 5, 2023) By: Isaac Callan and Colin D’Mello, Global News A new report from a health advocacy group suggests there have been more than 1,000 hospital closures in Ontario so far this year. A new study released by the Ontario Health Coalition tracked closures between Jan. 1 and Nov. 24 and found that 1,199 closures had […]

London region ERs have closed 77 times this year: Report

(December 5, 2023) By: Free Press Rural and small-town hospital emergency rooms in Southwestern Ontario have been closed at least 77 times so far this year, a new report by a provincial health advocacy group says. There have been 868 temporary emergency room closures, including one that was permanent, so far this year across Ontario, […]

Ontario hospital services shuttered over 1,000 times this year: advocacy group

(December 5, 2023) By: Jessica Smith Cross, The Trillium There have been more than 1,000 closures of hospital services in Ontario this year, totalling more than 31,000 hours of lost care, according to an advocacy group. The Ontario Health Coalition, which advocates for public health care, tracked the closures of emergency departments, urgent care centres and other facilities through news […]

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 […]

Patients languish on wait lists while ORs sit empty, Ontario Health Coalition claims

(November 23, 2023) By: Joanna Frketich, The Hamilton Spectator The Ontario Health Coalition says the majority of Hamilton’s operating rooms (OR) are not used on evenings or weekends. The advocacy group claims Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS) has at least two ORs that have been permanently shut down and that other operating rooms sometimes close when there isn’t enough staff. “In […]

Gates presents petition calling for restored Niagara Health urgent care hours

(November 22, 2023) By: Allan Benner, The Standard Niagara Falls MPP Wayne Gates has presented petitions signed by more than 4,000 people to the provincial government demanding restoration of 24/7 urgent care centre services in Fort Erie and Port Colborne hospitals, calling the current situation “completely unacceptable.” Gates said the time it can take to […]

Home care bill will enrich private companies, create conflicts of interest, advocates warn

(November 20, 2023) By: Jessica Smith Cross, Sudbury.com EDITOR’S NOTE: A version of this article originally appeared on The Trillium, a new Village Media website devoted to covering provincial politics at Queen’s Park. The Ford government’s plan to reorganize the home-care system will enrich the province’s for-profit providers and leave Ontarians struggling with a “fractured and chaotic system,” advocates are warning. […]

Ford govt illegally expanded private hospital, lied to public: Ontario Health Coalition

(November 20, 2023) By: CANINDIA The Ontario Health Coalition (OHC) and Democracy Watch are calling out the Doug Ford government for its alleged illegal expansion of a for-profit hospital known as Don Mills Surgical Unit during Christine Elliott’s tenure as Health Minister. OHC held a press conference along with legal expert on conflict of interest […]

Ontario breaks all-time record for ER closures, health coalition says

(November 20, 2023) By: CBC News Advocacy group the Ontario Health Coalition says health-care access is worsening in the province with 1,199 instances where health-care services were closed so far in 2023, including 868 emergency room closures — an all-time high. Click here for video coverage

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 […]

Bluewater Health CEO says sorry for concerns over cyberattack

(November 17, 2023) By: Bryan Bicknell, CTV News Bluewater Health says it’s sorry for the concerns of patients caused by a cyberattack at the hospital last month. It was part of a major ransomware attack on hospital groups throughout southwestern Ontario. “I want to acknowledge how unsettling it must be to our patients to have […]

Outcomes are inferior when we deliver on a for-profit basis’: Longer wait times at private clinics, according to report

(November 11, 2023) By: Bryan Bicknell, CTV News A new study says operating rooms in southwestern Ontario hospitals are being under-utilized because of short staffing. The report by left-leaning think tank Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives also warns that shifting some medical procedure to private clinics in Ontario will actually lead to longer wait times. […]

Canadian Hospitals Face Underutilization due to Staffing Shortages, Study Finds

(November 10, 2023) By: Somasetty Suresh, Express Healthcare Management A recent study conducted by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives reveals that operating rooms in hospitals across southwestern Ontario are being under-utilized due to persistent staffing shortages. The report also cautions against the shifting of medical procedures to private clinics in the region, as it […]

BRIEFING NOTE, ANALYSIS & SUBMISSION: Ford government’s new law (Bill 135) to further privatize home care

(November 5, 2023) Background Bill 135, the Convenient Care at Home Act has passed First and Second Reading in the Ontario Legislature. After Second Reading, bills are sent to Committees of the Legislature for public consultation. In this case, the bill has been referred to the Standing Committee on Social Policy and there will be […]

Government should use use surgical capacity in hospitals instead outsourcing it: report Author of the article:

(November 8, 2023) By: Hugo Rodrigues, Standard-Freeholder This article has been amended to clarify a statement from the Cornwall Community Hospital. The author of a new report on the Ontario government’s stated intentions to increase the for-profit delivery of certain services in health care visited Cornwall Tuesday, bringing with him a message of support for […]

Province insists that expansion of private health care is working

(November 8, 2023) By Kyle Darbyson, The Sault Star The Ontario government is pushing back on a recent report released by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, which claims that the province’s health care system is “on the edge of the precipice” due to its recent elevation of for-profit facilities. In this report, Simon Fraser […]

Ontario health care ‘on the edge of the precipice’

(November 7, 2023) By: Kyle Darbyson, Fort Frances Times Simon Fraser University policy researcher Andrew Longhurst is calling on Premier Doug Ford’s government to scrap its expansion of the for-profit health-care sector, which he believes comes at the expense of public hospitals. Longhurst detailed his grievances with the for-profit health-care system in a new report […]

Thousands sign Niagara petition calling for restored urgent care hours

(November 7, 2023) By: Sarah Ferguson, Welland Tribune News With more than 4,000 signatures on it, Niagara Falls MPP Wayne Gates thinks a petition calling for restored service to Niagara’s two urgent care centres (UCC) will get the attention of the provincial government. He intends to make sure of it. “(The number of signatures) works […]

Report raises red flags over Ontario’s health care privatization

(November 7, 2023) By: BayToday At a media conference led by CUPE’s OCHU and the Ontario Health Coalition in North Bay on Monday, the speakers urged the Ontario government to scrap private surgeries and invest in public hospitals. The discussion turned to the situation at the North Bay Regional Health Centre where there are 10 operating rooms and three are dedicated to specific types […]

Longer operating room hours would save lives, researcher tells Sault audience

(Novemeber 6, 2023) By: Darren Taylor, SooToday.com A small but concerned group of people gathered at the Sault Ste. Marie Public Library’s main branch Monday morning for an information session on the role of for-profit health care in Ontario. The group listened to findings in a report titled At What Cost? Ontario hospital privatization and the threat […]

GROUP WONDERS WHY NIAGARA’S OPERATING ROOMS AREN’T BEING USED TO TACKLE LONG SURGICAL WAIT LISTS

(November 3, 2023) By: Bonnie Heslop, iHeartRadio A news conference was held in Niagara Falls today on the state of health care in the Region and across Ontario. CUPE was joined by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and author of the new report, ‘At What Cost?’ which is critical of the Ford government’s plans […]

New report looks at the threats of hospital privatization in Ontario

(November 3, 2023) By: Evan Brewer, CityNews Kitchener Andrew Longhurst is the author of a new report titled “At What Cost?” which looks into the Ontario government’s plan to put more funding towards for-profit facilities. Longhurst spoke in the region on Friday in detail about some of his findings detailed in the report. “For wait […]

Private health care won’t reduce wait times — it may raise them, report says

(November 3, 2023) By: Eric Stober, Global News A new report released Thursday says that privatization of health care in Ontario won’t reduce wait times but may actually increase them. That’s because for-profit centres could as well face the staffing shortages that have plagued the public sector, and any talent that is attracted to the private model will in […]

Expansion of private clinics likely to increase wait times in Ontario, report suggests

(November 2, 2023) By: Katherine DeClerq, CTV News Ontario’s plan to allow more for-profit clinics to conduct surgeries and diagnostic procedures is likely to increase wait times rather than reduce them, a new report suggests. The report, released Thursday by left-leaning think tank Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, suggests that for-profit surgical and medical imaging was […]

New report highlights negative impacts of health care privatization in Ontario

(November 2, 2023) By: Samantha Lawson An independent group says its new report highlights negative impacts on the Ford government’s privatization of surgeries and diagnostic procedures, saying the government’s model is unlikely to increase capacity and reduce wait times. The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives says its report reveals the government has dramatically increased funding […]

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 […]

Information thin as southwestern Ontario hospital cyberattack stretches on

(October 25, 2023) By: CBC News Information on the cyberattack affecting five southwestern Ontario hospitals is thin as the outage of key systems including email and patient records stretches on. An OPP cyber crimes team is investigating the ongoing cyber attack, which was announced on Monday night. TransForm is the IT provider for hospitals including Windsor Regional, […]

Hamilton family seeks answers after dementia patient found outside in hospital gown

(October 10, 2023) By: Hadi Azad, CHCH News A Hamilton woman is angry after she says her father, who has dementia, was discharged from St. Joseph’s Hospital last Thursday evening, and was later found outside his supportive residence in just a hospital gown. Leslie Lang-Clementi wants people to know what happened to her 72-year-old father […]

CFRA LIVE – HOW THE HEALTHCARE GAME IS CHANGING POST-COVID

(October 3 2023) By: CFRA Live A new Ottawa-based walk-in clinic is promising efficient service and no wait times. However, an annual price tag could soon be attached to that. How does this practice fit into our public healthcare system? How has Canada’s healthcare game changed since the arrival of COVID-19? CFRA’s Andrew Pinsent chats […]

Public wants province to rein in private clinics, Gélinas says

(October 2 2023) By: Len Gillis, Sudbury.com Although the Ontario Health Coalition brought thousands of people to the front lawn of Queen’s Park this week, NDP health critic France Gélinas said the message was missed by the Conservative government. Gélinas stood in the Ontario Legislature on Sept. 27 to say that Ontario residents want the government to […]

New walk-in clinic generates plenty of healthcare chatter in South Keys

(September 29, 2023) By: Kristy Cameron, iHeartRadio Heading into the long weekend, the South Keys Health Centre is generating plenty of conversation around Canada’s Capital. Located on Bank Street and Hunt Club Road, the new walk-in clinic is promising efficient service and no wait times, a service they argue is filling a void in our […]

New walk-in clinic in Ottawa’s south end charging membership fee

(September 28 2023) By: Tyler Fleming, CTV News It is something that thousands of people in the city of Ottawa need but don’t have, access to regular medical care. While a new clinic in the south end is offering just that, along with fast service and no wait times, it comes with a yearly membership fee. […]

Ontario Health Coalition raise concerns about emergency department closure

(September 27 2023) By: Elisa Nguyen, Fort Frances Times Small, rural and local hospital services are under threat of permanent closures, says the Ontario Health Coalition who urges the Ford government to take action. “Emergency departments are repeatedly closing down, birthing closed, critical care gravely understaffed, and yet the Ford government is doing substantially nothing,” […]

Grey Bruce joins thousands calling for better healthcare

(September 26 2023) By: Eric Thompson, CKNXNewsToday.ca Demonstrators gather in front of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario on September 25. (Photo courtesy of Ontario Health Coalition/Twitter) Thousands of protestors, including a local contingent, gathered at Queens Park on Monday to oppose privatization of the province’s healthcare system. The Grey Bruce Health Coalition brought a busload of […]

Kingston healthcare employees join anti-privatization rally at Queen’s Park

(September 26 2023) By: Owen Fullerton, YGK News Protestors at Queen’s Park on Monday Members of the Kingston Health Coalition and several hospital unions were part of a large protest at Queen’s Park on Monday afternoon. Three full busses left Kingston on Monday morning to gather outside of Ontario Legislature as it made its’ return […]

‘Why would anyone trust this government?’ Doug Ford slammed as he unwinds Greenbelt plans

(September 25, 2023) By: Kristin Rushowy, Robert Benzie and Rob Ferguson, The Peterborough Examiner Under fire over the $8.28-billion Greenbelt land swap scandal, Premier Doug Ford will introduce legislation within weeks to return the properties to the protected zone. Ford’s move will enshrine in law his policy flip-flop from last Thursday, when he announced housing development would be prohibited on […]

Ontario to introduce new Greenbelt bill soon, new housing minister says

(September 25, 2023) By: Allison Jones, The Canadian Press Ontario’s legislature resumed sitting Monday after a summer recess, with a controversy about Greenbelt land removals looming large, despite Premier Doug Ford saying last week that he is reversing the decision. Ford said in question period that he admitted he made a mistake with the move […]

‘I love this hospital. It saved my life’: Residents show support for Fort Erie urgent car

(September 25, 2023) By: Sarah Ferguson Niagara, The Standard June Robinson says she has spent so much time at the Douglas Memorial Hospital site that most of the staff know her by name. This past summer, when Niagara Health announced the urgent care centres (UCC) in Fort Erie and Port Colborne would no longer provide […]

Ontario Premier Doug Ford Announces Cabinet Shuffle Following Third Minister’s Resignation & Greenbelt Reversal

(September 25, 2023) By: Weekly Voice Ontario Premier Doug Ford has undertaken a cabinet shuffle for the second time in recent weeks following the resignation of Ontario Labour Minister Monte McNaughton, who is leaving politics to enter the private sector. David Piccini will replace McNaughton as the new labour minister, while MPP Andrea Khanjin will […]

Ontario Health Coalition protests against private healthcare

(September 25 2023) By: CJ Goater, CFOB 93.1 The Border Thunder Bay Health Coalition Protest – CJ GoaterProtestors gathered around the province for the opening day of the Ontario Legislature, to protest the privatization of health care. The protest was organized by the Ontario Health Coalition, with the help of local municipal health coalitions. Jules […]

VIDEO: Local protest against provincial privatization of healthcare

(September 25 2023) By: Leigh Nunan, TBnewswatch.com Video coverage of the Ontario Health Coalition’s rally in Thunder Bay on September 25, 2023. Click here for video coverage

OHC holds protests in Dryden

(September 25 2023) By: Clint Fleury, NWOnewswatch.com DRYDEN – With rural hospitals across northern Ontario at risk of emergency room closures on a regular basis, the Ontario Health Coalition is pushing back against what it calls the province’s move to privatize the healthcare system. Rural hospitals are already straining their operating budgets to afford agency workers, […]

Protests call attention to health care privatization

(September 25 2023) By: Kevin Jeffrey, TBnewswatch.com THUNDER BAY – As provincial representatives return to the legislature at Queen’s Park, calls to strengthen Ontario’s health care system are getting louder. There were protests across the province organized by the Ontario Health Coalition (OHC), including at the government building known as “mini Queen’s Park” in Thunder Bay, where […]

‘Enough is enough’: Protesters rally at hospital against for-profit clinics

(September 25 2023) By: Darren Taylor, SooToday Approximately 40 people — including unionized healthcare workers, supporters from other unions and concerned citizens — gathered for an Ontario Health Coalition rally outside Sault Area Hospital Monday afternoon to voice their displeasure with the Ford government’s use of for-profit healthcare clinics in the province. “The province has enough money […]

Protesters against healthcare privatization gather at Queen’s Park

(September 25 2023) By: Samantha Lawson, CHCH News As members of the provincial parliament returned to Queen’s Park, several thousand people gathered on the lawns outside. They say there’s a healthcare crisis in this province, and they’re calling on Premier Doug Ford to fix it. And advocates say the first step is reversing the government’s […]

Sault protesters worried about private health care

(September 25 2023) By: CTV News Northern Ontario Dozens gathered in Sault Ste. Marie on Monday to protest what they say are provincial plans to privatize health care. Click here for video coverage

Healthcare workers from London, Ont. and surrounding region among those taking part in Queen’s Park rally

(September 25 2023) By: Gerry Dewan, CTV News London Similar to the Greenbelt controversy, healthcare rally organizers in London are pointing to the Ford government’s reversal on Greenbelt land deals that stood to greatly benefit developers. They’re hoping for a similar turnaround on the issue of healthcare privatization. Peter Bergmanis is co-chair of the London Health Coalition, […]

Healthcare groups flood Queen’s Park in massive protest

(September 25 2023) By: CityNews Toronto An estimated 8,000 healthcare workers and advocates rallied at Queen’s Park on the opening day of the legislature. As Tina Yazdani reports, they want the Ford government to stop what they describe as the privatization of the healthcare system. Click here for original video

Thousands attended Queen’s Park to protest health care privatization in Ontario

(September 25 2023) By: Beth Macdonell, CTV News Toronto Thousands of protesters gathered on the lawn of Queen’s Park Monday afternoon to show their opposition to the privatization of healthcare as the legislature resumes following a summer break. The protest was organized by the Ontario Health Coalition, an organization dedicated to protecting public health care. […]

Ontario Health Coalition vows to keep ‘heat on’ in fight against privatization – WITH PHOTO GALLERY

(September 25 2023) By: Jeffrey Ougler, The Sault Star Keeping the “heat on” is necessary in battling what the Ontario Health Coalition brands as continued privatization of hospital services. “I think we’ve got to bear down on the media scrutiny and we have to bear down on the public pressure to make sure this is […]

Extended and extensive ER closures cause tension in rural Ontario

(September 23 2023) By: Scott Miller, CTV News London Chesley, Ont.’s emergency room was supposed to reopen on Monday following a three week closure — it has now been extended until Oct. 2. Walkerton’s ER has been closed most of this weekend, while Durham’s ER will be closed four of the next seven nights. Such […]

Extended and extensive ER closures cause tension in rural Ontario

(September 23 2023) By: Scott Miller, CTV News Chesley, Ont.’s emergency room was supposed to reopen on Monday following a three week closure — it has now been extended until Oct. 2. Walkerton’s ER has been closed most of this weekend, while Durham’s ER will be closed four of the next seven nights. Such is the […]

Ontario Health Coalition warns that Chesley hospital most at risk of closure in the province

(September 22 2023) By: Pauline Kerr, Walkerton Herald Times CHESLEY – Natalie Mehra, executive director of the Ontario Health Coalition, paid a visit to the Chesley hospital site for a brief press conference the morning of Friday, Sept. 15. Mehra joined Brenda Scott, chair of Chesley Hospital Community Support and co-chair of Grey Bruce Health […]

Frustration mounts for three rural hospitals

(September 22 2023) By: CTV News Three local hospitals demand provincial action to address emergency room staffing crisis. Click here for full video

Ontario Health Coalition warns that Chesley hospital most at risk of closure in the province

(September 22 2023) By: Pauline Kerr, The Walkerton Herald Times CHESLEY – Natalie Mehra, executive director of the Ontario Health Coalition, paid a visit to the Chesley hospital site for a brief press conference the morning of Friday, Sept. 15. Mehra joined Brenda Scott, chair of Chesley Hospital Community Support and co-chair of Grey Bruce Health Coalition’s […]

Health coalition urging Niagara residents to fight for their hospitals

(September 21 2023) By: Allan Benner, St. Catharines Standard Allan Benner / Torstar Niagara Health Coalition members held a rally at the Welland hospital Thursday, urging residents to join people from across the province for a protest at Queen’s Park, Monday. As hospital service reductions continue in the region and across Ontario, Niagara Health Coalition members […]

LETTER: Privatization is no solution to our healthcare woes

(September 21 2023) By: SooToday SooToday received the following letter about the state of health care in Ontario. Reneging on its promise and despite widespread criticism, the Ford government has moved ahead to privatize core public hospital services. We should all be concerned. Bill 60 was passed into law by the Conservative majority government last May. […]

Health care privatization protested Monday

(September 22 2023) By:Brian Kelly, The Sault Star A demonstration Monday protests moving surgeries and diagnostics to for-profit sites. Ontario Health Coalition is organizing the event opposed to privatization in health care that starts at noon on Lukenda Drive near Sault Area Hospital. Similar gatherings will be held in Dryden, Thunder Bay and Toronto. Click […]