Protesting Ford’s Privatization of Our Public Health Care
Seniors lifeline remains with local hospital services and are vital to all. Let’s protect that together!
Trish McAuliffe, NPF President and OHC Board Member
A Note from the Ontario Health Coalition
Thousands of people made a stand at protests across the province on May 30 to show the Ford government that Ontarians oppose the privatization of our public health care system. We made it loud and clear that we will keep building the fightback to protect and improve our public health care, ratcheting up the pressure on Ford. As lawn signs are distributed throughout Ontario this summer, we will keep pushing for the Ford govt to end this destructive privatization and restore our public health care. We extend an enormous thank you to all of you who devoted so much time and energy to creating this impactful show of strength. We could not do this without you!
Toronto
10,000 people marched along University Ave from Nathan Phillips Square to Queen’s Park, showing the Ford government that the fightback against their health care privatization is on. The march in Toronto was giant, with overhead videos showing the large scale of the event (see some clips on Facebook here or on Twitter here).
Public Medicare defenders from Toronto and buses all over the province came to make this massive show of strength. Patient advocates, health care workers, small and rural hospital advocates, long-term care advocates, labour leaders, faith leaders, and the three opposition parties spoke about the need to defend public health care against privatization.
To see a livestream, photo album, and more video clips, visit our Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/ontariohealth.
Photos and videos are also available on our Twitter account at: https://twitter.com/OntarioHealthC.
Sault Ste. Marie
200 public health care advocates gathered at Roberta Bondar Pavilion to push back against the privatization of Ontario’s public health care.
Thunder Bay
At mini Queen’s Park, 100 people came together to safeguard our public health care. You can watch the livestream at the Thunder Bay Health Coalition’s Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/thunderbayhealthcoalition/.
Dryden
Approximately 35 public Medicare defenders gathered outside of Conservative MPP Greg Rickford’s office, telling the Ford government to stop running our public health care into the ground.
North Bay
Outside of Conservative MPP Vic Fedeli’s office, about 30 advocates made a stand to restore our public health care and stop privatization.
Ottawa
200 people converged across the street from the Ottawa Hospital General Campus to show their support for public health care and the fightback against privatization. You can see photos at the Ottawa Health Coalition’s Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/ottawahealthco/.
Cornwall
Outside of Conservative MPP Nolan Quinn’s office, 35 public health care advocates came together to voice their opposition against Ford’s health care privatization.
The fightback to improve and protect our public health care has been built because of all of you who came out on May 30, organized, handed out thousands of leaflets, promoted on social media and news outlets, shared your stories, and supported the movement that we have built together.
Below is a sample of media coverage about the protests and amazing work that our local coalitions have done in addition to organizing the rallies on May 30th. Please note that we are non-partisan and not backed by any political party. Personal attacks on us from the Minister are just to distract and deflect. However, the more they are forced to answer for their privatization, the more pressure they are feeling. Thank you for your incredible work and support, and we hope that you are proud of our collective work!
Media Coverage
Thousands march on Queen’s Park against health care privatization
By: CBC News Toronto
Des milliers de personnes à Queen’s Park pour s’opposer aux fermetures d’hôpitaux
By: Radio-Canada, Toronto
Health care rally downtown | CP24 Live at Noon for May. 30, 2024
By: CP24
CTV News Toronto at Six for Thursday, May 30, 2024
By: CTV News Toronto
Global News at 5:30 Toronto: May 30, 2024
By: Global News
From Simcoe County to Queen’s Park: Protesters rally for health care funding
By: Mike Lang, CTV News Barrie
Northern cities join provincial health care protest
By: Mike McDonald, CTV News Northern Ontario
Ontario Health Coalition holding public hearings on ER closures
By: Scott Miller, CTV News London
ER closures across Ontario prompt public hearings on improving local hospitals
By: Hannah Schmidt, CTV News Kitchener
Health coalition calls on public to stand up for health care
By: Mike McDonald, CTV News Northern Ontario
Londoners to protest health-care funding cuts at Queen’s Park
By: Norman De Bono, The London Free Press
Small municipality vows legal action over hospital’s in-patient bed closure
By: Jessica Smith Cross, The Trillium
Grey Bruce Ontario Health Coalition joins Queen’s Park rally
By: Janice MacKay, CKNXNewsToday.ca
Cornwall rally against health-care privatization calls out Ford government
By: Shawna O’Neill, Cornwall Standard-Freeholder
Members of Renfrew County Health Coalition Inspired by Attending Ottawa Rally Thursday
By: myFM News/Oldies 107.7 staff, Rick Stow, ArnpriorToday.ca
Privatization the focus of health care protest (VIDEO)
By: Chris Dawson, BayToday.ca
The battle over the future of Ontario’s health care system heats up
By: Greg Estabrooks, North Bay Nugget
Simcoe County Health Coalition taking part in Queen’s Park protest
By: BarrieToday staff, BarrieToday.com
Protests Against Health Care Privatization
By: Jason Setnyk, Seaway News
‘The government has got to start to listen,’ says Fort Erie woman after Queen’s Park health-care rally
By: Allan Benner, St Catharines Standard
‘A lot of people are very angry:’ How a Doug Ford promise set off a health-care fight in cottage country
By: Rob Ferguson, Toronto Star
Rural Ontario town feels ‘blindsided,’ in state of emergency over removal of hospital’s in-patient beds
By: Kate Bueckert, CBC News Kitchener-Waterloo
West Grey declares State of Emergency over hospital cuts
By: Scott Miller, CTV News London
加拿大看病太难,去私人诊所是多一个选择还是灾难?
By: 思忆,51.CA
Blog image source: Ontario Health Coalition