/R E P E A T -- UPDATE: MEDIA ADVISORY - Thousands to Rally at Ontario Legislature to demand restored & expanded public health care: No cuts and privatization/

All political party leaders invited to make commitments to the crowd

TORONTO, Oct. 19, 2018 /CNW/ - In what is shaping up to be one of the largest public rallies at the Ontario Legislature regarding the Doug Ford government's plans to date, the Ontario Health Coalition is ramping up to demand that the government live up to its pre-election promises to "end hallway medicine" and improve mental health resources. Noting that Doug Ford did not mention the word privatization in the pre-election campaign, the Coalition will send a strong message that the public expects the government to restore closed hospital beds, improve hospital, long-term and mental health care, and re-invest in front-line services. The government has no mandate to cut, privatize, engage in mega-mergers of hospitals or other services, roll back gains that were made last year, and other negative proposals that have been floated or implemented since the Ford government took power.

The Coalition has invited Premier Ford to speak to the crowd at the rally, along with Andrea Horwath, leader of the Official Opposition, NDP; John Fraser, Interim Liberal Leader, and; Mike Schreiner, Leader of the Green Party. We have received confirmations from three of the four leaders who will come to the rally and address the crowd.

MAIN RALLY AT QUEEN'S PARK TORONTO:

What: Mass Rally. Expected size 5,000 – 8,000+ people. (90 buses are coming in from towns across Ontario.)

When: Tuesday, October 23, at 12:30 p.m. Note: There will be a march up University Avenue starting at Sick Kids Hospital at 12:20 p.m.

Where: Queen's Park, in front of the Main Legislative Building, Toronto.
Cameras/Photographers: Very visible, colourful costumes, signs, slogans, diverse rally. The crowd will form a giant circle around the front of Queen's Park (hands off our health care!).

Who: The Ontario Health Coalition represents more than half-a-million Ontarians in a network of more than 400 member organizations and more than 50 local chapters. The Coalition is made up of patient groups, seniors' organizations, unions representing health care workers and private sector workers, health professionals, doctors, nurses, cultural organizations, womens' groups, anti-poverty and social justice groups, ecumenical and faith organizations, municipalities, businesses, non-profit health and social services and many more.

LOCAL MEDIA OPPORTUNITY ACROSS ONTARIO:

In each town between 50 and 200 people are getting on buses to come to the big health care rally at the Ontario Legislature. Local media is invited to join the trip and/or to interview local participants as they embark on the buses. Note: the times listed here are departure times. Please arrive 15 minute prior for interviews.

Woodstock
Unifor Local 636, 126 Beale Street, Woodstock
9:00 a.m.
Contact: Oxford Coalition for Social Justice, Bryan Smith, 226-228-8309

Hamilton
Centre Mall, 1275 Barton St. E., Hamilton
10:00 a.m.
Contact: Janina Lebon, Co-Chair Hamilton Health Coalition, 905-545-5514

Ottawa
1055 St. Laurent, (directly behind Boston Pizza), Ottawa
5:45 a.m.
Contact: Al Dupuis, Co-chair, Ottawa Health Coalition, 613-808-7710

Kingston
Kingston Shopping Centre, (Sir John A. MacDonald Blvd. and Bath Rd.) Kingston
7:30 a.m.
Matthew Gventer, Co-chair, Kingston Health Coalition, 613-542-5834

Lindsay
Lindsay Square Mall, 401 Kent St W, Lindsay
9:30 a.m.
Contact: Bonnie Kennedy, Co-chair, Kawartha Lakes Health Coalition, 705-738-2617

Kitchener
Unifor, 600 Wabanaki Drive, Kitchener
9:00 a.m.
Contact: Jim Stewart, Co-chair Waterloo Region Health Coalition, 519-588-5841

London
Bus # 1
Masonville Place Mall, 1680 Richmond St, London (Fanshawe Park Road and Richmond Streets), London
Contact: Jeff Hanks, Co-chair, London Health Coalition, 226-448-3067
9:00 a.m.
Bus #2
281 Wellingston Street, London
Contact: Neil Hamell, 705-221-1034
9:00 a.m.

Peterborough
Canoe Museum, 910 Monaghan Rd. Peterborough
9:00 a.m.
Contact: Roy Brady, Co-Chair Peterborough Health Coalition, 705-745-2446

Sarnia
Unifor Hall, 900 Devine St. (Corner of Devine and Indian Rd.), Sarnia
Shirley Roebuck, Co-Chair Health Coalition, 226-402-2724
7:30 a.m.

Wallaceburg
Parking Lot (across from Tim Hortons), 62 McNaughton Ave., Wallaceburg
7:00 a.m.
Shirley Roebuck, Co-Chair Health Coalition, 226-402-2724

Sudbury
York and Paris Streets, across from Bell Park, Sudbury
6:30 a.m.
Contact: Dot Klein, Co-chair, Sudbury Health Coalition, 705-566-9072

Windsor
Aylmer & Wyandotte St. E., Windsor
8:00 a.m.
Contact: Windsor Health Coalition, Philippa von Ziegenweidt, 519-974-2789

Durham Region
Baseball Diamond, Lake Front West (near arena), 1221 Phillip Murray Ave., Oshawa
9:30 a.m.
Contact: Charlie Courneyea, Co-chair, Durham Health Coalition, 416-557-5935

St. Catharines (Niagara Region Health Coalition)
Go Bus Stop
Fairview Mall
10:00 a.m.

Grimsby (Niagara Region Health Coalition)
Grimsby Go station
10:00 a.m.

Toronto
Bernard Betel Centre, 1003 Steeles Ave. W., North York
10:30 a.m.
Contact: Elizabeth McNab, 416-785-8570

SOURCE Ontario Health Coalition

Dana Boettger, OHC Communications, 416-441-2502; Media interviews - Natalie Mehra, executive director, Ontario Health Coalition 416-230-6402 (mobile)