STOP THE PRIVATIZATION OF OUR PUBLIC HOSPITALS
This is the first in a series of protests across Ontario to send a clear message that we will not let them privatize our public hospitals. Experience shows, if we can mount enough pressure we can stop Ford’s privatization.
Our goal is to inspire 10,000 Ontarians to come out. Let’s make a show of opposition commensurate with the threat. It matters that the Ford government feels the pressure or they will not stop. Please come out if you can. Please spread the word. Since the inception of public hospitals in Ontario, no government has undertaken privatization like this. It is a HUGE transfer of our public funding away from local public hospitals to profit-taking corporations.
The Ford government has announced almost $300 million for 61 new private surgical and diagnostic clinics. By Ford’s own numbers, this will redirect 1.2 million patients away from public hospitals. This is truly unprecedented privatization of our public hospitals’ core services. Between hospitals and long-term care, they are spending almost $1 billion on for-profit staffing agencies that cost up to triple per hour for nurses & PSWs, taking money away from recruiting and retaining a full-time local staff force to provide services.
While pouring our public money into more expensive for-profit clinics & hospitals, our local public hospitals have been pushed into deficit by the Ford government and forced to make cuts. Please note that our protests against hospital privatization are separate from the Fight Ford protests the same day that are not organized by us.
