The Peterborough - Kawarthas Chapter of The Council of Canadians

Campaigns: Public Health

The 2006 Canada Day Parade, photo credit: Michael D. Wiens

The Peterborough – Kawarthas Chapter of the CoC is taking the lead in the Peterborough chapter of the Ontario Health Coalition:

to protect the public health care system from for–profit privatization
to be a local watchdog to ensure community health care is properly delivered by local providers and to ensure their transparency and accountability
to engage the community to be more involved in the protection and reform of public health care

The Peterborough Health Coalition

Background

health care has always been a top priority campaign for the chapter
the Peterborough Health Coalition was formed as a chapter of the Ontario Health Coalition in March 2002
our CoC chapter assumed coalition leadership in August 2002
principal membership: CoC, CAW Retirees, Pet. District Labour Council, Older Women's Network, citizens

Goals

to protect and enhance Ontario's public health care system and the Canada Health Act
to oppose for–profit health care and creeping privatization
to increase due government funding
to positively effect Ontario health care policy
to be prominently involved in local health care service delivery, particularly at Peterborough Regional Health Centre, present site and new hospital 2008
to increase public engagement in Ontario and Peterborough Area health care policy

Highlights

Provincial work

forestall:
1. P3, public-private partnership, hospital program by Provincial Tory Government
2. the Provincial Liberals variation, called private financing initiatives
participated at several rallies in Toronto, one in Orangeville - also at two P3 hospital plebiscites in St. Catherines and Hamilton (June 05, March 06)
Provincial Premiers' health care funding conference at Niagara-on-the-Lake, July 04
Bill 36, the LHIN legislation (see below), Hearings at Queen's Park, Jan.-Feb. 06
presentations by Roy Brady and the team of Kathy Langley and Marie Bongard

Community Work and Participation

hosted health care "All-Candidates" election public meeting, Sept. 03
media release regarding Tory no-show
organized and hosted "Profit is Not the Cure" health care tour, featuring Maude Barlow, Natalie Mehra, Michael Hurley, Oct. 02
rally at 24 Sussex Drive, Feb. 03, and subsequent public health care conference in Ottawa leading up to the first Federal-Provincial health care funding Accord
burned McGuinty $$$, Dec. 04, to dramatize waste of taxpayers' money on P3 hospitals
held Open House during the afternoon of Paul Martin's health care funding agreement with the provinces, Sept. 04
held privatization conference for health care, electricity and water, May 04
hosted Ontario Health Coalition forum on long-term care in Ontario, May 04
media releases: Romanow Report, All-Candidates meeting, new Peterborough hospital, Local Health Integration Network legislation for the PRHC deficit elimination budget crisis:
1. addressed hospital board, Dec. 04, regarding accountability, community goverance, its deficit elimination Plan
2. media release demanding that the hospital Plan not eliminate the Women's Health Care Centre or transfer EEG procedures elsewhere, Dec. 04
3. MPP appointment to remove the deficit elimination crisis and save the Women's Health Care Centre, Jan. 05
4. organized and hosted a public meeting for community engagement toward the PRHC deficit elimination and funding crisis and conditions at the hospital
attended board meetings for the PRHC, Community Care Access Centre, Public Health Unit
Poverty and Health link action:
1. Resolution passed by the Public Health Unit board
2. Trent Radio program - both Nov. 05
two other Trent Radio presentations, Sept. and Oct. 05
spoke at 4th Year Trent-Fleming course class, 2003-05
provided assistance with assignments and public action
Roy Brady, provincial board member of Ontario Health Coalition, beginning Nov. 04
active participant at Fall OHC Action Assemblies
winner of OHC health care activist of the year, 2004
Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs):
1. presentations at Bill 36 Queen's Park Legislative Hearings
2. held LHIN-Bill 36 public forum for community engagement, Feb. 06
3. staged Bill 36 "steamroller" protest and community tour uptown, followed by MPP appointment, March 06 - second MPP appointment, March 24
4. active participation by several members at the Central East LHIN working group and public meeting, May 06
5. Roy Brady appointed to Central East Collaborative (community advisory group for LHIN)
Orientation Day, June 06