MEDIA ADVISORY - "Not Hospital Cuts As Usual - Wholesale Hospital Closures, Privatization and Dismantling of Community Hospital System in Ontario": Thousands to Rally at Ontario Legislature

TORONTO, Nov. 21, 2014 /CNW/ -

Where: In front of main doors (South doors) of Main Legislative Building, Queen's Park.

When: TODAY, Friday November 21 at 12 noon.

What: A massive rally at Queen's Park with more than 3000 people in attendance from across Ontario to save our community hospitals and stop the contracting-out of hospital services to private clinics. This will be an excellent photo-op as thousands gather with signs, banners, noisemakers, flags and live music. Participants will march down University Ave. (hospital row) where nurses, health professionals, patients, doctors and support staff will come out in support. Live percussion, parade of cuts, chants, visuals.

In tandem, a rally to protect the services at St. Marys Memorial Hospital and to join the OHC campaign to save our community hospitals and stop privatization will take place on Friday November 21 at 4 p.m. in front of St. Marys Memorial Hospital, 267 Queen St. W., St. Marys, ON. Contact Gayle Beattie for media inquiries: 519-301-8854.

People will be busing into Toronto from these communities, we have included contact info for media interviews or questions:

Belleville - CJ Christie 613-969-4357 
Brampton – Motilall Sarjoo 416-709-6352
Campbellford – Wanda Tucker 705-653-5850
Chatham – Shirley Roebuck 226-402-2724 
Cobourg – Peggy Smith 905-885-4005
Guelph – Magee McGuire 519-767-0084
Grey-Bruce – Len Hope 519-386-2342
Hamilton – Rolf Gerstenberger 289-260-9547
Kingston – Ross Sutherland 613-532-7846 
Kitchener-Waterloo – Shawn Rouse 519-502-4300 
Lindsay – James Mulhern 705-324-7841
London – Peter Bergmanis 519-860-4403 
Midland-Penetanguishene – Fran Moreau 705-549-7611 
Niagara – Sue Hotte 905-932-1646 
Niagara-on-the-Lake – Sue Hotte 905-932-1646
Oshawa – Lance Livingstone 905-431-0823
Ottawa – Marlene Rivier 613-222-8392
Perth/Smiths Falls – John Jackson 613-285-4048 
Peterborough – Roy Brady 705-745-2446 or Charlene Avon 705-761-4408 
Sarnia - Ted Hext 519-466-5316
Scarborough – Kingsley Kwok 416-835-3377
Stratford – Treena Hollingworth 647-537-4357 
Sudbury – Anne Marie MacInnis 705-698-7655 
Wallaceburg – Shirley Roebuck 226-402-2724 
Welland – Sue Hotte 905-932-1646 or Fiona McMurran 905-788-0756
Windsor – Andy Schmidt 519-903-1058

Who: The Ontario Health Coalition is the largest and broadest public interest group on health care in Ontario, representing more  than half a million people in our network. The coalition has more than 400 member organizations including: faith groups; student chapters; social justice organizations; non-profit community groups; health care unions; private sector unions; nurses' associations; doctors' organizations; women's groups; seniors' organizations and many more. The coalition is comprised of a network of more than 70 local chapters across Ontario.  Our mandate is to uphold single-tier public Medicare under the principles of the Canada Health Act. We encourage democratic public debate about public policy decisions and advocate for the public interest in health care.

SOURCE: Ontario Health Coalition

Natalie Mehra, 416-230-6402 (blackberry) or 416-441-2502 (office); en francais Sue Hotte, [phone]; Cantonese Kingsley Kwok, [phone].