News + Events

Government to blame for Northumberland hospital cuts: union

(September 30, 2015) By Karen Longwell, Northumberland News Northumberland Quinte-West MPP Lou Rinaldi argues hospital funding has increased in the last decade COBOURG — A review of Northumberland Hills Hospital doesn’t get to the heart of the operating budget shortfalls, according to union officials. Hospitals across Ontario are cutting services in the face of a […]

Nurses associations joining Health Coalition in supporting debate

(September 27, 2015) By Neil Bowen, Sarnia Observer Wednesday’s scheduled candidates’ debate over health care might not be so much about what the candidates say as about the candidate who has already said she won’t attend. Sarnia-Lambton Conservative candidate Marilyn Gladu has stated she won’t be attending the meeting, scheduled for Sarnia library auditorium from […]

Health coalition wants to hear from local candidates on health care

(September 24, 2015) By Shaun Malley, CBC News Neighbourhood rally designed to engage voters on election issues. A group of about a dozen LaSalle residents met Thursday to try and make health care a top issue in the upcoming federal election. The Windsor Health Coalition sponsored the gathering, which featured speakers talking about their personal […]

Auditor Wants Thorough Review of Home Care Services

(September 23, 2015) By Donovan Vincent, The Star News Reporter Nearly 40 per cent of the $1.5 billion the province spends on centres that provide home and community based health care doesn’t go toward “face-to-face” treatment of patients. That’s among the key findings in a 65-page report from Ontario’s auditor general, who is calling for […]

Candidates Square off at Cornwall Chamber Luncheon

(September 21, 2015) By Greg Peerenboon, Cornwall Standard-Freeholder About three dozen people, mostly business-types, were presented with a number of dishes to chew on during a Chamber of Commerce organized Q&A luncheon Monday at a Pitt Street eatery. Despite a preponderance of business-related issues, the spiciest item on the menu appeared to be health care, […]

Brockville hospital cuts hurt patients

(July 28, 2015) By Ronald Zajac, Recorder and Times A provincial funding freeze is leading Brockville General Hospital to cut front-line staffing and endanger patient health, a small group of health care union advocates said Tuesday. The Ontario Health Coalition launched a petition urging the provincial government to stop the recently announced cuts at BGH […]

CAMPAIGN: Petition to save hospital services at Brockville General Hospital

(July 29, 2015) Click here for Petition (PDF)

Health Action Assembly and Conference 2015

(July 27, 2015) Health Action Assembly & Conference ASSEMBLY Saturday, November 21 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Church of the Holy Trinity 10 Trinity Sqr. (tucked in beside Eaton Centre off of James St.) Toronto $0 – $40 sliding scale per day (Please pay what you are able. Your fees help subsidize coalition members from […]

Advisory Devastating Hospital Cuts at Brockville General Hospital

(July 24, 2015) Devastating Hospital Cuts at Brockville General Hospital — Coalition Launches a Petition to Protect Hospital Services Brockville General Hospital is facing major direct cuts to departments all across the hospital including the intensive care unit, operating room, complex care, palliative care, emergency, stress test clinic, day surgery, diagnostic imaging, medical/surgical, and switchboard, amounting […]

Ontario shifting home care to private clinics as province seeks savings

(July 13, 2015) By Kelly Grant and Elizabeth Church, Globe & Mail When Jennifer Sewell had a benign cyst removed from her left breast last summer, the procedure was supposed to be a straightforward day surgery. Instead, the 40-year-old mother of two from rural Southwestern Ontario developed an infection at her incision site, a wound […]

Ontario Health Coalition 2015 Award Nominations Are Now Open!

(July 13, 2015) Anyone who supports the work of the Ontario Health Coalition is invited to nominate persons who they believe to best embody any of the following awards. To download a Microsoft Word version of the nomination form, please click here. The Daniel Benedict Award Daniel Benedict, a distinguished former Ontario Health Coalition board […]

EVENTS: Southwestern Ontario’s Day of Action to Stop Privatization and Protect Our Public Healthcare and Services!

(July 6, 2015) Thank-you to everyone that came out to support Southwestern Ontario’s Day of Action on Friday, June 26. Over 200 people stood outside Deb Matthew’s office in London to raise awareness about the serious cuts that are happening to our hospitals and services. Stay tuned via Facebook, Twitter and/or our website for further events […]

Giant Rocking Chair Tour stops in Ingersoll

(June 16, 2015) By John Tapley, Ingersoll Times The Ontario Health Coalition’s Giant Rocking Chair Tour made a stop in downtown Ingersoll on Friday, June 12, to help raise awareness of its campaign for a minimum standard of care to be reinstated for long term care facilities in Ontario and to improve access to long […]

Health care advocates take it to the streets

(May 27, 2015) By Steve Henschel, Niagara This Week Welland’s Don Huneault makes his voice heard during a rally at St. Catharines MPP Jim Bradley’s office held by the Save Our Welland Hospital campaign and Ontario Health Coalition in opposition to proposed cuts to health care in Niagara and beyond. ST. CATHARINES — Over 100 people took […]

Ottawa couple speaks out against hospital cuts after 48-hour wait in ER

(June 10, 2015) By Adam Feibel, Ottawa Citizen Nancy Parker is joining an Ontario Health Coalition protest Friday at MPP Bob Chiarelli’s office because of the long delays her heart-patient husband has faced in gaining admission to hospital. The emergency room has become a familiar place for Lee Parker. A heart attack in November and subsequent […]

EVENT: Giant Rocking Chair Tour 2015

(June 3, 2015) “Rock in” Ontario’s Way to Comfort, Safety and Care Come out and show your support as we, make time to care! Join the Ontario Health Coalition, local health coalitions, friends and allies as we tour the province, pushing for improved access to care and improved levels of care in Ontario’s long-term care homes. A giant 10-foot tall rocking chair will […]

EVENTS: Join us at the upcoming Ottawa Region Day of Action

(May 29, 2015) Our next Regional Day of Action is fast approaching!

Friday rally in Sudbury geared to urge government to stop bleeding

(April 16, 2015) By Jeffrey Ougler, Sault Star Current cuts to Ontario health care do not cut the mustard with Ontario Health Coalition — and the advocacy group plans to give the provincial government a good piece of its mind Friday.

CCH avoids ‘Code Red’… for now

(April 4, 2015) By Greg Peerenboom, Cornwall Standard-Freeholder The ‘code red’ is not flashing over the Cornwall Community Hospital. But the power cord is lying beside the electrical outlet. That’s the warning that CCH CEO Jeanette Despatie is sounding in the wake of a public awareness move by the Ontario Health Coalition, which has placed […]

Hamilton’s hospitals are over capacity

(April 3, 2015) By Joanna Frketich, Hamilton Spectator Hamilton’s hospitals are bursting at the seams. Two of the city’s adult acute care hospitals are far over capacity while the third is close to full. Overcrowding is the worst at Juravinski Hospital on Concession Street, which has eight per cent more patients than funded beds. St. […]

Expert review slams Kevin Smith hospital report

(April 2, 2015) By Melinda Cheevers and Steven Henschel, Fort Erie Post WELLAND, NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE — An expert review of the Niagara Health System’s blueprint for future health care delivery has called the plans “dangerous” and describes the region as heading towards a “profoundly risky situation.”

‘Code Red’ at Ontario Hospitals: Health coalition

(April 2, 2015) By Dani-Elle Dube, Ottawa Sun Hospitals across Ontario are deep into in crisis mode and it’s only going to get worse if something isn’t done about it soon, said the Ontario Health Coalition (OHC) Thursday.

Health care supporters rally at offices of Scarborough Centre Conservative MP James

(March 31, 2015) By Scarborough Mirror A large crowd of universal health care supporters held a rally outside the offices of Scarborough Centre Conservative MP Roxanne James’ constituency office on Tuesday, March 31, afternoon.

Hospital plans ‘deeply flawed’, expert

(March 30, 2015) By Allan Benner, The Tribune A British international health policy expert hammered the Niagara Health System’s hospital restructuring plans, citing a “glaring” lack of public consultation and research.

Crisis support program shutting down after 18 years

(March 26, 2015) By Theresa Boyle, The Toronto Star A 24-hour crisis response program in Toronto is shutting down. The Community Crisis Response Program, which has been funded by the Scarborough Hospital for the last 18 years, is shutting down Friday.

HSN downplays cuts, says Ontario Health Coalition

(March 24, 2015) By Jonathan Migneault, Sudbury Northern Life Health Sciences North has “seriously downplayed” the impact of upcoming cuts to frontline care, says the executive director of the Ontario Health Coalition. “The camel’s back has broken,” said Natalie Mehra. “At this point we need to work to restore beds and services.”

Ontario Health Coalition to host public forum on hospital cuts

(March 20, 2015) By Sudbury Northern Life Staff In light of recent news at Health Sciences North, the Sudbury chapter of the Ontario Health Coalition has planned a public meeting to discuss upcoming hospital cuts at the United Steelworkers Hall on Brady Street, on March 24.

Hospital cuts stir concern

(March 15, 2015) By Carol Mulligan, Sudbury Star Sudburians concerned about potential cuts to hospital services are being urged to attend a public meeting March 24 to try to stop them from occurring. The Ontario Health Coalition says Health Sciences North is planning to cut more than 87,000 hours of nursing care and to close […]

A golden chance to fix home-care mess: Hepburn

(March 14, 2015) By Bob Hepburn, The Toronto Star After years of denying anything was wrong, the Ontario Liberal government must now face the truth that it’s made a mess of home care in this province. At the same time, though, the government has just been handed a golden opportunity to fix a system that […]

Local home care services lacking: Ontario Health Coalition survey

(March 12, 2015) By Joelle Kovach, Peterborough Examiner A scathing new report on the state of home care in Ontario includes a section on how some Peterborough residents think local services are lacking. The Ontario Health Coalition released its report Wednesday after interviewing nearly 100 people across Ontario about their experiences with home care.

Ontario’s home-care system needs urgent changes, expert panel says

(March 12, 2015) By Theresa Boyle, The Toronto Star Ontario’s home and community care system is failing patients and their families and needs “urgent attention,” says an expert panel tasked by the province to take a hard look at services and suggest fixes. “Everyone — clients and families, providers and funders — is frustrated with […]

Policy needed on how far apart mat wards can be

(March 11, 2015) By Ronald Zajac, Recorder and Times Natalie Mehra has seen so many maternity wards close, she has a simple question for the Ontario government. “Is there a kind of policy that’s being passed behind closed doors to close down smaller centres’ and rural hospitals’ birthing?” she asked in an interview this week

TMH rally attracts good crowd

(March 9, 2015) By Joyce Cassin, Quinte West News After listening respectfully to local politicians, and representatives from the Local Health Integration Network, Our TMH, Ontario Health Coalition, etc., the residents in attendance at the rally interested in saving Trenton Memorial Hospital got down to their concerns.

Save OB Group hits Toronto

(March 6, 2015) By Jason Viau, Blackburn News Four Leamington women travelled to Toronto, meeting with politicians from all parties with hopes of keeping the local obstetrics unit alive. The goal of the trip, they say, was to bring the issue to the forefront of Queen’s Park.

Mothers go to Queen’s Park in support of Leamington obstetrics unit

(March 5, 2015) By Rick Dawes, The Windsor Star Leamington moms have taken the county obstetrics battle to Queen’s Park. MPP Taras Natyshak (NDP—Essex) tweeted about the women at the Ontario Legislative Building Thursday morning.

Leamington, Ont., moms sound alarm over potential birthing centre closure (Leamington-Hospital)

(March 5, 2015) By The Canadian Press TORONTO – Ontario’s health minister says he is confident that even if an obstetrics unit in the Leamington hospital closes, women and babies in the area will receive high-quality care. Eric Hoskins says a decision is expected in June on whether Leamington District Memorial Hospital will close its […]

Ontario urged to prevent obstetrics closure

Cuts to Ontario birthing services ripped

(March 5, 2015) By Antonella Artuso, Toronto Sun TORONTO – Women are increasingly being forced to travel farther to have their babies as hospital birthing services are cut or shut down completely, the Ontario Health Coalition (OHC) warns. The OHC brought a group of women, including expectant mothers, to Queen’s Park Thursday to highlight the possible loss […]

Our TMH rally expected to draw hundreds

(March 5, 2015) By Ernest Kuglin, The Intelligencer/Trentonian QUINTE WEST – The community-based movement to prevent sending local health care services “brick by brick” down the road to Belleville continues Saturday. The Our TMH rally at Trenton High School is expected to draw hundreds of residents. The rally starts at 1 p.m.

Ontario must change law on hospital secrecy

(March 4, 2015) Op-Ed, Toronto Star It’s hard to imagine that a 33-year-old woman could die in a Toronto hospital after being admitted for a toothache. But that’s what happened to Pamela Minocha. Why such an unimaginable tragedy occurred is unknown. Because of a provincial secrecy loophole under which hospitals can conduct critical care investigations, […]

Coalition isn’t done hunting for answers to ‘accounting errors’ at Peterborough’s hospital

(March 4, 2015) By Sarah Frank, Peterborough This Week PETERBOROUGH — The Peterborough Health Coalition is staying the course on a mission to further investigate the cause and fallout of $57 million worth of “accounting errors” at the Peterborough Regional Health Centre. By submitting freedom of information requests, the group is hoping to receive more […]

The Community deserves more from hospital officials: Peterborough Health Coalition

(February 26, 2015) By Lance Anderson, Peterborough This Week PETERBOROUGH — More information about the hospital’s $57 million “accounting errors” fiasco needs to be given to the public, according to Roy Brady. Mr. Brady, a member of the Peterborough Health Coalition, recently received a letter from Peterborough Regional Health Centre officials. That letter was in […]

Meeting hears Sault Area Hospital cuts must be curbed

(February 25, 2015) By Jeffrey Ougler, Sault Star SAULT AREA HOSPITAL – Hands off Sault Area Hospital hands-on health-care workers. That was an overriding message conveyed Wednesday evening during a meeting organized by The Sault Ste. Marie Health Coalition, along with the Ontario Health Coalition, area health-care workers, concerned community groups and local citizens, geared to “save […]

Letter: Peterborough Regional Health Centre responds to community’s concerns

(February 24, 2015) By Peterborough This Week The Peterborough Regional Health Centre has published this letter addressed to Roy Brady, member of the Peterborough Health Coalition, in response Mr. Brady’s presentation to the hospital’s board of directors. Thank you for your letter of Jan. 12 and for your presentation to our Jan. 28 meeting of […]

A fight to save healthcare jobs

(February 18, 2015) By Darren Taylor, sootoday.com The Ontario Healthcare Coalition will be holding a public meeting in Sault Ste. Marie to protest impending job cuts at Sault Area Hospital (SAH) and, hopefully, come up with a plan to apply enough pressure to the Ontario government to save those jobs. SAH will soon begin the […]

North Bay: Speakers condemn hospital cuts

(February 9th, 2015) By PJ Wilson, The North Bay Nugget It’s going to take public pressure – lots of public pressure – from people across the province to reverse cuts to Ontario’s health care and hospital systems. “We can win. We have stopped and reversed health-care cuts,” Natalie Mehra, executive director of the Ontario Health […]

North Bay citizens calling on ON Health Coalition to help stop cuts

(February 10, 2015) By K.A. Smith, baytoday.ca “You know that Clara Hughes campaign? She is asking people to come forward and ask for help with their mental health. The problem is there is nobody at the hospital to listen anymore.” This was the experience for Lana Brown. She stood before a crowd Monday night at […]

While Ontario Liberals cut health funding, we need to support home care workers

(February 5, 2015) By Jesse McLaren, rabble.ca While the Ontario government cuts hospitals and downloads care onto the community, and Community Care Access Centre CEOs give themselves hefty pay hikes, both have forced frontline health workers onto cold picket lines to fight a wage freeze. Cutting and privatizing healthcare For years the Ontario Liberals have […]

3,000 home and community care workers on strike across Ontario

(January 30, 2015) By Katrina Clarke, The Toronto Star Nearly 3,000 home and community health-care workers hit the chilly picket lines across Ontario Friday as CEOs, managers and administrators stepped up to the front lines. Community Care Access Centre (CCAC) workers voted to strike on Thursday evening after negotiations between the Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) […]

Standing up for health care

(January 27, 2015) By Valerie MacDonald, Northumberland Today PORT HOPE – The state of our health care and its future is the focus of a speakers event being hosted by the Northumberland Labour Council and Northumberland Coalition Against Poverty (NCAP). Standing Up For Health Care will take place Saturday, March 7 from 10 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. […]

‘Save the NOTL Hospital Group’ looks for support

(January 26,2015) By Melinda Cheevers, Niagara-on-the-lake Town Crier NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE — A group of concerned residents from Niagara-on-the-Lake and beyond made their case for keeping the town’s cottage hospital open during a town hall meeting Saturday. The “Save the Niagara-on-the-Lake Hospital Group” hosted the event, held at the Community Centre, with about 70 people in attendance. […]

Save OB Gets Coalition Support

(January 21, 2015) By Ricardo Venza, Blackburn News The Ontario Health Coalition is set to kick-off a campaign against the proposed closure of the obstetrics ward at Leamington District Memorial Hospital. A day-of-action outside of the London office of Liberal minister Deb Matthews, door-to-door campaigning and pushing the issue to area MPPs are all ideas […]

Health Coalition Joins OB Fight

(January 20, 2015) By Adelle Loiselle, Blackburn News The Ontario Health Coalition wants to help build the campaign to keep Leamington’s obstetrics unit open. The Erie St.Clair LHIN put the March 31 closure on hold while an expert panel reviews the decision by the board of directors at Leamington District Memorial Hospital.

Ontario Health Coalition joins fight to save Leamington obstetrics unit

(January 20, 2015) By Derek Spalding, Windsor Star Proponents behind the public campaign to save the obstetrics unit at Leamington District Memorial Hospital say they need to take their fight to Ontario’s health minister. That was one of the messages from a public meeting held Tuesday evening by the Ontario Health Coalition. The forum included discussions […]

Where’s senior’s physio after hip surgery?

(January 18, 2015) By Sue-Ann Levy, Toronto Sun Three years ago when Brenda McDonald had her first surgery to replace her left hip, she moved seamlessly from the hospital to a rehab centre where she received eight sessions of OHIP-funded physiotherapy. The 72-year-old Mississauga resident says even before she left the hospital, she was given […]

Health coalition battles impending hospital closing

(January 18, 2015) By Cathy MccCabe, niagarareview.ca The Niagara Health Coalition hosted a Save Our Niagara-on-the-Lake Hospital meeting Saturday at the Community Centre to raise awareness about the proposed closure. The closure of the NOTL hospital would mean the loss of 22 beds and the Nurse practitioner clinic.

Health Coalition looking for support for NOTL Hospital

(January 14, 2015) By Penny Coles, Niagara Advance A group of Niagara hospital supporters refuses to give up. Although there has been little opposition to the announced closure of the Niagara-on-the-Lake Hospital – at least not this time – Niagara Health Coalition co-chair Sue Hotte says it’s not too late to fight it.

Discussing Cuts at Leamington District Memorial Hospital

(January 14, 2015) By Sheila McBrayne, Leamington Southpoint Sun The Ontario Health Coalition, Leamington Health Coalition and Save OB Leamington are holding a public meeting to stop the closure of the obstetrics unit and save hospital services at Leamington District Memorial Hospital. The meeting will be held Tuesday, January 20 at 7 p.m. at Leamington […]

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

(January 6, 2015) *Info on rallies below 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. […]

RELEASE: Home care cuts undermining Medicare

(November 25, 2014) Toronto Star Letter to the Editor by Natalie Mehra, Executive Director of the Ontario Health Coalition, in response to Health Minister. Click here for Letter

Ontario Health Coalition protests hospital cuts at Queen’s Park

(November 21, 2014) Toronto Sun, Antonella Artuso, Queen’s Park Bureau Chief. TORONTO – Ontario’s health-care system is hurting from thousands of cuts as Premier Kathleen Wynne and her government pursue an “austerity” budget, protesters say. The Ontario Health Coalition (OHC) arranged for hundreds of people – and a larger-than-life puppet of Wynne – to descend on Queen’s […]

Midland, Penetanguishene residents protest hospital cuts: Rally at Ontario Legislature draws more than 2,000 people

(November 21, 2014) Midland Mirror, Jenni Dunning. TORONTO – Chanting, cheering and sign-waving residents of Midland and Penetanguishene joined a protest against hospital cuts of more than 2,000 people Nov. 21 at Queen’s Park in Toronto. Fran Moreau and Anne Robitaille spoke on a stage outside the Ontario Legislature about the closing of Georgian Bay […]

Stratford and Area Health Coalition urge locals to join them at a Nov. 21 rally at Queen’s Park

(November 14, 2014) Members of the Stratford and Area Health Coalition want to fill a bus headed to Queen’s Park for a Nov. 21 rally. The trip has been organized in conjunction with the Ontario Health Coalition. Buses from across the province are expected to arrive at Queen’s Park at noon for the protest to […]

Hospital mum on reasons for woman’s death after a dental abscess

(October 31, 2014) Pamela Minocha, 33, died in a Toronto hospital after a toothache. Because of a provincial secrecy loophole, her family doesn’t know why. Her parents don’t know if her unexpected death could have been prevented, because what happened is a secret shielded by the sweeping Quality of Care Information Protection Act (QCIPA). Invoking […]

Taking Stock: With a New Health Minister it is Timely to Assess Where Ontario’s Health System is at and Where We are Going

posted July 18, 2014

(July 18, 2014) With the appointment of a new Health Minister, it is timely to take stock of where Ontario’s health system has come from and where we are going. There have been significant improvements in Ontario’s health care system. The number of MRIs has vastly increased. Wait time management has improved and there has […]

The cancer funding reversal a victory for the grassroots

(February 13, 2014) Chalk one up for public outrage. After more than two weeks of daily news coverage, petitioning, public meetings and the threat of a door-to-door, 40,000-home canvassing drive, a grassroots mobilization against plans to halt the local thoracic cancer program has succeeded. Windsor-area MPPs exalted at Queen’s Park Monday after the Liberal government […]

Door-to-door cancer campaign kicks off

(February 13, 2014) Nearly 100 supporters attended a meeting Saturday to kick off the Windsor-Essex Health Coalition’s campaign to fight the threatened loss of thoracic cancer surgery in the area. As part of the campaign, volunteers vow to knock on 40,000 doors throughout the community to collect signatures and information from individuals about what they’d […]

Health coalition vows to knock on 40,000 doors to keep thoracic cancer surgery in Windsor

(February 13, 2014) The Windsor Essex Health Coalition vows to knock on 40,000 doors as part of a campaign to fight the threatened loss of thoracic cancer surgery. Following a 10:30 a.m. organizing meeting at Windsor Public Library’s main branch on Ouellette Avenue, there should be volunteers knocking on doors throughout the community as early […]

Province not to blame for aging hospital facilities in Scarborough: MPPs

(February 13, 2014) Two Scarborough MPPs say Ontario’s Liberal government isn’t to blame for inadequate, aging facilities at both Scarborough hospitals which would hamper their efficiency even if they decide to merge. The hospitals themselves are responsible, Soo Wong and Bas Balkissoon suggested. “If the administration does not do its work and identify its needs, […]

Coalition Fighting Privatized Healthcare

(February 13, 2014) A pilot campaign to keep healthcare services local and reject privatization is starting in Windsor. Executive Director of the Ontario Health Coalition Natalie Mehra says they’re teaming up with the Windsor-Essex chapter to go door-to-door looking for support. “I think that we can really win this one,” says Mehra. “I mean I […]