Ontario-Wide Tour to Visit 15 Communities Warning of Ontario Budget Cutbacks to Health Care

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - May 7, 2012) - Most Ontarians don't realize that the McGuinty government's recent "austerity" budget will catapult the health system into another round of cuts and restructuring. With this warning, the Ontario Health Coalition is launching a 15 city tour across Ontario to prepare citizens to stand up and protect local access to health care services.

"The government's budget for health care is worse than even the most radical of recommendations. With the harsh new budget, the government is planning another major round of cutbacks and restructuring that will particularly hurt patients who need hospital care, nursing home placements, outpatient clinics and long-term care," said Natalie Mehra, director of the Ontario Health Coalition.

"We are holding a town hall meeting to discuss the government's plans and what they might mean for our local communities. We don't want to see any more hardship as a result of patients unable to access the care they need," Mehra said. "With the town hall meeting, we will launching an action plan to protect each region's health services from further cuts."

"There is no question that we can succeed in protecting needed care in our local communities," Mehra concluded. "But to do so, we need to be prepared and vigilant."

The coalition hopes that all community members who care about preserving public health care services will join the town hall meeting to hear updates about the budget cuts, give their input, and plan the fight-back campaign. Town hall meetings will be held in the following communities:

Niagara

Thursday May 10 at 7:00 pm - Royal Canadian Legion A.C. McCallum Branch 479, 5603 Spring St., Niagara Falls

With: Hugh Mackenzie, economist; Cathy Carroll, SEIU; Susan Schmidt, CUPE; Wayne Gates, municipal councillor; and Natalie Mehra, Ontario Health Coalition. Emcee: Sue Hotte, Niagara Health Coalition.

Hamilton

Saturday May 12 at 1:00 pm - St. Peter's HARRRP Community Centre, 705 Main St. E.

With: Dr. Gordon Guyatt; Diane Leclair, Ontario Nurses' Association; Cathy Carroll, SEIU; Natalie Mehra, Ontario Health Coalition director.

Kitchener

Monday May 14 at 7:00 pm - Royal Canadian Legion (Polish) Branch 412, 601 Wellington St. N.

With: Hugh Mackenzie, economist; Andy Summers, Ontario Nurses' Association; Shawn Rouse, CAW Health Council president; Natalie Mehra, Ontario Health Coalition director. Emcee: Orville Thacker, seniors' advocate.

Oshawa

Tuesday May 15 at 7:30 pm - Northview Community Centre, Gymnasium, 150 Beatrice St. E.

With: Dr. Rueben Roth, professor Laurentian University; Andy Summers, Ontario Nurses' Association; Natalie Mehra, Ontario Health Coalition Director

London

Wednesday May 16 at 7:00 pm - King's College, Labatt Hall Rm. 105, 266 Epworth Avenue.

With: Vicki McKenna, Ontario Nurses' Association; Michael Shapcott, Wellesley Institute; Sandi Blancher, OPSEU; Peter Bergmanis, CAW; and Natalie Mehra, Ontario Health Coalition director.

Peterborough

Thursday May 17 at 7:00 pm - Peterborough Public Library, Auditorium, 345 Aylmer St. N.

With: Dennis Howlett, Canadians for Tax Fairness; Sara Labelle, OPSEU; Marion Burton, Labour Council president; Roy Brady, Peterborough Health Coalition co-chair; and Natalie Mehra, Ontario Health Coalition director.

Kingston

Wednesday May 23, 7:00 pm - Regiopolis-Notre Dame Catholic High School Cafetorium, 130 Russell St.

With: Kathleen Lahey, Queen's University law professor; Dennis Howlett, Canadians for Tax Fairness; Sara Labelle, OPSEU; and Natalie Mehra, Ontario Health Coalition director.

Cornwall

Thursday May 24 at 7:00 pm - Navy Veterans Club, 30 6^th Street East.

With: Dennis Howlett, Canadians for Tax Fairness; Elaine MacDonald, municipal councillor; Anne Clark, Ontario Nurses' Association; and Natalie Mehra, Ontario Health Coalition director.

Ottawa

Saturday May 26 at 1:00 pm - Ottawa Public Library, Auditorium, 120 Metcalfe St.

With: Dennis Howlett, Canadians for Tax Fairness; Anne Clark, Ontario Nurses' Association; Ross Sutherland, RN, MA; and Natalie Mehra, Ontario Health Coalition director.

Matheson

Monday May 28 at 7:00 pm - Floyd Hembruff Civic Centre, 387 Hwy. 11

With: Dr. Gayle Broad, Algoma University; James Moffatt, Sheetmetal Workers' Union; and Natalie Mehra, Ontario Health Coalition director.

Sault Ste. Marie

Wednesday May 30 at 7:00 pm - The Moose Lodge, 543 Trunk Road.

With: Dr. Gayle Broad, Algoma University; Rob Giovagnoli, CAW; Natalie Mehra, Ontario Health Coalition

Thunder Bay

Thursday May 31 at 7:00 pm - Waverley Resource Library, 285 Red River Road.

With: Trish Hennessey, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives; Diane Parker, Ontario Nurses' Association; Kari Jefford, CAW; Mary Cory, OPSEU; and Natalie Mehra, Ontario Health Coalition director.

Kenora

Saturday June 2 at 1:00 pm - Best Western Lakeside Inn, Cascade Room, 470 First Ave. S.

With: Natalie Mehra, Ontario Health Coalition director.

Sudbury

Tuesday June 5 at 7:00 pm - Royal Canadian Legion Branch 76, 1553 Weller St.

With: Dr. Gayle Broad, Algoma University; Manny Carvalho, SEIU; and Natalie Mehra, Ontario Health Coalition director.

Windsor

Wednesday June 6 at 7:00 pm - CAW 195/2458 Union Hall, 3400 Somme Avenue.

With: Jim Stanford, economist; and Natalie Mehra, Ontario Health Coalition director.