SUDBURY, ON – “The people of Sudbury and front line hospital workers deserve answers to the many questions we have about the proposed private hospital for our community. But, Sudbury Liberal MPP, Rick Bartolucci, has declined our invitation to speak at a town hall forum about the future of our hospital,” says Marlene Izzard, the president of the local union representing Sudbury Regional Hospital workers.
After the announcement earlier this month that the province is turning to the private sector to redevelop the Sudbury Regional Hospital using a questionable funding model called alternative financing and procurement (AFP), Izzard, who leads CUPE 1623 of the Union of Public Employees (CUPE), began organizing a town hall forum slated for Thursday, October 20.
Invitations to speak at the forum — co-sponsored by the Ontario Health Coalition — were extended to elected provincial and municipal leaders, the hospital administration, and hospital privatization experts.
“The community deserves to know why we aren’t getting a 100 per cent public hospital. The Sudbury residents I’ve spoken with have many questions about the AFP model the province is proposing. And a public forum would afford our Liberal MPP the opportunity to provide those answers.
“We are hopeful that he will reconsider and take part in the forum panel discussion,” says Izzard.
| Town Hall Forum | Confirmed guest speakers include: |
| The Future of the Sudbury Hospital: Shelly Martel, Sudbury-Nickelbelt MPP Steelworkers Hall — Dieppe Room 92 Frood Road Sudbury, ON |
Shelly Martel, Sudbury-Nickelbelt MPP Natalie Mehra, Ontario Health Coalition Marlene Izzard, President, CUPE 1623 |
| Thursday, October 20, 2005 — 7:30 p.m. |
For more information:
Natalie Mehra
provincial coordinator, Ontario Health Coalition
(416) 230-6402
Marlene Izzard
CUPE 1623 president
(705) 929-8457
Stella Yeadon
CUPE communications
(416) 578-8774