The Peterborough - Kawarthas Chapter of The Council of Canadians
Campaigns: Public Health
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:
- P3, public-private partnership, hospital program by Provincial Tory Government
- 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:
- addressed hospital board, Dec. 04, regarding accountability, community goverance, its deficit elimination Plan
- media release demanding that the hospital Plan not eliminate the Women's Health Care Centre or transfer EEG procedures elsewhere, Dec. 04
- MPP appointment to remove the deficit elimination crisis and save the Women's Health Care Centre, Jan. 05
- 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:
- Resolution passed by the Public Health Unit board
- 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):
- presentations at Bill 36 Queen's Park Legislative Hearings
- held LHIN-Bill 36 public forum for community engagement, Feb. 06
- staged Bill 36 "steamroller" protest and community tour uptown, followed by MPP appointment, March 06 - second MPP appointment, March 24
- active participation by several members at the Central East LHIN working group and public meeting, May 06
- Roy Brady appointed to Central East Collaborative (community advisory group for LHIN)
- Orientation Day, June 06
