Ontario Health Coalition supporters at Queen's Park rally, October 10, 2018 (Photo from OHC Facebook).Ontario Health Coalition supporters at Queen's Park rally, October 10, 2018 (Photo from OHC Facebook).
Sarnia

Concerns grow over healthcare privatization

Efforts to privatize Ontario's healthcare services could mean the closure of rural hospitals like CEE Petrolia.

That's according to the Sarnia-Lambton Health Coalition which is taking part in a rally to keep services public. The rally is being held on Tuesday at Queen's Park in Toronto.

Spokesperson Shirley Roebuck said privatizing healthcare is dangerous. She said Doug Ford's PC government plans to cut half a billion dollars from OHIP.

"Privatization also means that services may be relocated to larger centres," said Roebuck. "Privatization means closures, and closures would negatively effect really the rural population that doesn't have access to a large city hospital."

Bill 74 recently passed, which states that a single government agency known as Ontario Health will be in control of health care.

The bus leaves Sarnia at 7:45 a.m. from the Unifor building at Devine Street and Indian Road.

To reserve a seat for the free trip, call Roebuck at 226-402-2724.

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