Source: ontariohealthcoaliton.ca
The Ontario Health Coalition says demonstrations taking place this weekend are the first in a series of events planned across the province opposing the privatization of hospital services.
The coalition says local volunteers aim to mobilize 10,000 people throughout Ontario this year to demand the Government of Ontario stop expanding private health-care delivery.
According to the group, public hospitals are facing deficits, service reductions, and underfunding, while the province directs hundreds of millions of dollars to private surgical clinics and nearly a billion dollars annually to for-profit staffing agencies.
The coalition argues those private options cost more than equivalent care provided in public hospitals and says many hospital operating rooms, MRI units, and services remain underused because of limited operating funding.
The Ford government has previously defended the use of private community surgical and diagnostic clinics, saying they help reduce wait times and clear backlogs while services remain publicly funded through OHIP.
There are planned demonstrations locally on Saturday in Owen Sound at 9:30am outside MPP Paul Vickers office, as well as outside the Meaford Hall at noon.