The Grey Bruce Health Coalition will join a protest at Queen's Park in Toronto on Thursday, aimed at raising the alarm about what it calls the "urgent threat to public health care."
The Ontario Health Coalition claims the province has already shifted over a billion dollars of public health care funding to private, for-profit clinics and for-profit staffing agencies for a growing number of services. The coalition stated these clinics are charging patients hundreds or even thousands of dollars in illegal user fees for access to needed medical care.
Grey Bruce Health Coalition Co-Chair Brenda Scott pointed out that at the same time, local public hospitals, such as those in Durham and Chesley, are losing their emergency departments, vital care services, and staff.
"In our case, particularly to the reduced number of ER hours that we've had in some of our small rural hospitals and then one upcoming closure of a hospital as well in our local area," she said. "So we want to take the message down to the Government at Queen's Park to say we're not happy about that. And we'd like to see some changes."
Scott said their campaign is gaining momentum.
"I'm the Co-chair of the Grey Bruce Health Coalition. And our membership has jumped from about 200 to 500, around that figure, over the last year," she added. "And so people, as they're hearing about it, they're getting involved. They want to know more."
The Health Coalition reported user charges and extra billing for patients have been banned in Canada for decades, but accused the Ford government of doing nothing to stop the private clinics from flagrant violations of public medicare laws. The coalition has tracked privatization and user fees since prior to the passage of the Canada Health Act in 1984.
Scott pointed out local residents are concerned.
"I think when people hear about things like the closure of the Durham hospital, it really hits home. Either I'm in Durham and I've got a terrible situation to deal with or I don't live in Durham but I could be next," she explained. "So, yeah, I do think we're getting the message out and we're gonna keep at it."
Up to 10,000 people or more are expected to converge at noon at the south side of Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto, where there will be a kick-off rally. In all, sixty buses will bring participants downtown, where they'll be joined by thousands of protesters from the Toronto area. Four busloads will be arriving from the Grey Bruce area.
The crowd will march up University Avenue to Queen’s Park, where there will be a very large protest outside the Main Legislative Building on the lawn.
'There's a challenge ahead of us, but I think every time we protest we make progress, and we're further down the road that we need to go," Scott revealed. "So there's still work to do, willing to do it."
Scott said there is still some room on the buses if people want to join the protest. You should reserve you seat by calling 519 375 5812.
Locally buses will be leaving from:
- Chesley Community Centre: 7:30 a.m.
- Bayshore Community Centre, Owen Sound: 8:30 a.m.
- Meaford Hall: 8:30 a.m.
- Durham Community Centre: 8:30 a.m.
- Canadian Tire Parking Lot Hanover: 8:00 a.m.
Scott encouraged protesters to bring along a sign if they like.
"They don't have to make their own homemade sign, because we will have some, but lots of people like to do that," she said. "And I always love the homemade signs because they're so heartfelt and personal and I have a little collection over the years of homemade signs."
Protests will also be held in Ottawa, Cornwall, and several Northern Ontario communities.