Media Advisory - Town hall meeting in New Liskeard April 8 to organize major rally against hospital cutbacks

NEW LISKEARD, ON, April 7, 2015 /CNW/ - There will be a community meeting Wednesday April 8 at 7:00 p.m. at the Royal Canadian Legion, 90 Whitewood Avenue in New Liskeard.

The meeting has been called to help organize a rally against cuts to services and staff at the Temiskaming Hospital and at hospitals across northern Ontario. The rally will take place April 17 at noon at the office of Liberal MPP Glenn Thibeault in Sudbury.

Temiskaming hospital announced significant budget cuts, including OR closures last fall. The cuts have been the subject of 2 rallies and 2 public meetings. The cuts result from the provincial underfunding of Ontario's hospitals, which are currently in the 4^th year of a 5-year funding freeze.

Natalie Mehra, Executive Director of the Ontario Healthcare Coalition will attend the meeting, along with Michael Hurley, President of the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions and Arlene Hearn, president of CUPE Local 904, which represents staff at the hospital.

SOURCE Ontario Council of Hospital Unions (CUPE)

please contact: Arlene Hearn, President, CUPE Local 904: 705-647-8501; Michael Hurley, President, Ontario Council of Hospital Unions/CUPE: 416-884-0770; Natalie Mehra, Executive Director, Ontario Healthcare Coalition: 416-230-6402