Thousands will rally to protect health care from Ford’s massive cuts, privatization and restructuring plans


TORONTO, April 29, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In what is expected to be one of the largest rallies to date against the Ford government’s cuts. A massive rally will be held tomorrow, Tuesday, April 30, 2019 at Queen’s Park. More than 100 buses will be arriving from across the province to the Ontario Legislature to stop the health care cuts, privatization of health care services, and mega-mergers that threaten the local health care services on which Ontario residents rely. At the protest we will hear from cancer survivors, chronic pain patients, nurses, health professionals, paramedics, doctors, seniors, health care unions, care workers and others who are committed to fighting cuts, mega-mergers and privatization. Virtually every day there are reports and leaks of new health care cuts and privatization plans. An up to date list of the cuts is available on the Health Coalition website https://www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca/.  The Ford government has no mandate for any of this having promised to improve health care, not engage in the most radical restructuring and cuts to health care services our province has ever seen.

Health coalition spokespeople are available for interviews early in the morning prior to the rally please contact Natalie Mehra, executive director 416-230-6402(c).

WHERE: Queen’s Park outside the Legislative Building.
   
WHEN: Tuesday April 30, 2019 at 12:00 pm. Note: there will be pre-rallies and a march up University Ave. beginning at 11:30 pm
   
WHAT: Mass rally. Expecting 12,000+ people bus arriving from across Toronto
   
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, women’s groups, anti-poverty and social justice groups, ecumenical and faith organizations, municipalities, businesses, non-profit health and social services and many more.

For more information contact: Devorah Goldberg, research & campaign director, 416-441-2502(w) 647-631-8811(c), Natalie Mehra, executive director 416-230-6402(c).