Warning message

Please note that this page is from our archives. There may be more up-to-date content about this topic on our website. Use our search engine to find out.

PETERBOROUGH – Over 100 health care workers, community activists and concerned citizens will be gathering at the Peterborough Lions Club on Wednesday, February 25th, 2004 at 7:00 pm to discuss the threat and impact of privatization in the health care system in particular, and public service in general. The guest speakers are Sid Ryan, CUPE Ontario President and Michael Hurley, President of the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions (OCHU).

Participants will learn about Bill 8, legislation proposed by the Liberals, that gives the provincial Health Minister the power to force hospital CEOs to privatize and cut costs and moves hospitals even further away from community control and accountability.

The Liberals promised to stop P3 hospitals. Instead they’ve given the go-ahead for several more in Ontario,” says Hurley. “If legislation like Bill 8 passes, it won’t be long before all hospitals in Ontario are privatized”. Many local citizens, including members of the Peterborough Health Coalition, are keeping a watchful eye over attempts by the government to privatize our local health care services.

This government has not been shy about going after our public services,” says Ryan. “That’s not what they were elected to do, but the reality is that they are pushing privatization and we have got to stand up, community by community to stop them.”

For more information on the campaign against Bill 8, please visit http://www.cupe.ca/bil8campaign

  • Who:
    Sid Ryan, President, CUPE Ontario
    Michael Hurley, President, Ontario Council of Hospital Unions

  • What:
    Public Meeting to Protect our Public Services
    (Learn about Bill 8 and privatization)

  • Where:
    Peterborough Lions Club, Burnham Street (east city)

  • When:
    7 pm – 9 pm, Wednesday, February 25, 2004

CUPE Ontario (Canadian Union of Public Employees) is the province’s largest union, representing 180,000 workers in health care, municipalities, universities, school boards and social services. OCHU represents more than 27,000 hospital workers in 80 hospitals in the province.

-30-

For more information, please contact:
Candace Rennick, President, CUPE Local 2280
c: (705)876-0869

Diane Kalen, CUPE Communications
c: (647) 224-0662