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Ontario Health Coalition |
CAMPAIGN UPDATE |
See a sample of the OHC sponsored municipal council resolution on health care passed in 55 cities.
A post May 15 summary of the campaign's accomplishements.
List of Events planned across Ontario to celebrate National Medicare Day - May 15
See what's planned for National Public Medicare Day in Toronto and Kingston.
OHC phones are ringing off the hook April 22
Unprecendent support for Medicare from municipal councils province-wide April 20
Ontario Health Coalition Update Summary of Results to Date
Look for the next phase in the Campaign to protect and extend our publicly funded, administered and delivered Medicare system in upcoming announcements.
A Grassroots Campaign
Launched in December at a meeting in Toronto attended by more than 300 members, the Yes! National Public Medicare Campaign is a grassroots effort conducted by thousands of volunteers across the province.
The idea is simple and old-fashioned. And effective. The Ontario Health Coalition worked with local coalitions and volunteers to hold community meetings to sign up canvassers to go door-to-door across Ontario talking to friends and neighbours about the threat to Public Medicare and asking for their support to protect and extend it.
Local meetings started in late January. Forum after forum has been filled to overflowing. As word spread, volunteer coordinators called in from city after city offering to set up campaigns in their areas. By May, over 53 communities - covering the vast geographic area and at least 2/3 of the electoral ridings in the province - were organizing canvassers to go door-to-door.
Small citizens' committees got together in towns across the province. Committees grew. Canvassers volunteered and were trained. Petitions were written. Mall displays, farmers' market displays, leafletting, media events, campaign offices in donated spaces and community events built community presence and more support.
In late April canvassers took to the streets asking neighbours to sign petitions, put up red Medicare ribbons and lawn signs to show their support.
Together, we are making history. Town by town we have covered the province in red ribbon and lawn signs saying Yes! National Public Medicare. Municipal Councils have unanimously passed resolutions of support in the dozens. Tens of thousands of Ontarians have signed petitions. Across main streets banners proclaiming support for Public Medicare are hanging. Literally hundreds of newspaper articles have been written about the support for Public Medicare and the reasons behind it.
But we're not finished yet. We know public opinion is on our side. And our mobilizing capacity is bigger and broader than ever. But the threat to Public Medicare is coordinated and strong. In the upcoming weeks we will be meeting with local communities to launch the next phase of our coordinated effort to protect and extend Public Medicare. Contact us or your local coalition and get involved. The only thing that stands between Public Medicare and its destruction is the people of this province and country. Let's build our strength to save and strengthen Public Medicare for generations to come!
Wednesday, May 15 is National Medicare Day
Events Planned Across Ontario
Arnprior
Wrap the nursing home in red Medicare ribbonLeafletting at the hospital
Sue McSheffrey 613-432-7208 skmcsh@renfrew.net
Barry's Bay
TBASue McSheffrey 613-432-7208 skmcsh@renfrew.net
Brampton
4:30 pm Leafletting and ribboning at the Four CornersJanet Kern 905-796-0073
Brampton
12:00 pm Ribboning at William Osler Hospital.Janet Kern 905-796-0073
Brockville
6:00 pm Celebration at Campaign Office, 44 King St. EBobbi Jordan 613-342-5086 jordandb@recorder.ca
Burlington
7:30 - 9:30 pm "Medicare Is Under Attack: Profit Is Not the Cure" Forum - Keynote speaker: Dr. Gordon GuyattBaptist Church, 2225 New St.
Ed Babb 905 681-0242
Chatham
12:00 pm At the front doors of the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (Public General Hospital on Emma St.) - a human chain with ribbonsAaron Demester 519-351-9148 mdemeest@sympatico.ca
Cobourg
4:00 - 7:00 pm Barbeque at Legion in Campbellford(note: main event was a 172 km Stretcher Relay through Northumberland County with events in each town along the way held last Saturday)
Bill Nichol 905-377-8375 wnichol@cupe.ca
Cornwall
4:00 pm Meet at Hotel Dieu Hospital, walk to General Hospital then Lamoureux Park for gathering with ribbons.Madeline Lebrun 613-933-2390 madeleine.lebrun@sympatico.ca
Guelph
3:00 pm Celebration and ribboning in downtown squareCarole Milligan 519-823-2923 camill@web.net
Hamilton
4:00 pm Rally and ribboning at City Hall with city and provincial officialsFran Borsellino 905-516-5690
Kingston
4:00 - 5:00 pm Circle Hotel Dieu HospitalBagot and Johnson Streets
Ross Sutherland 613-374-5258
Kingston
6:00 pm Celebration, 206 Concession St.Ross Sutherland 613-374-5258
Lindsay
12:00 pm Street Theatre along downtown strip. Party in afternoon with city officials.James Malhem 705-324-7841 poetman@nexicom.net
London
3:30 pm Rally and ribboning at St. Joseph's Hopstial (Richmond and Grosvenor)Peter Bergmanis 519-433-4403 ohclondon@hotmail.com
North Bay
5:00 pm Human Chain at North Bay City HallDawson Pratt 705-497-9434 prattd@canadorec.on.ca
North Bay
6:00 pm Paint the Town Red! CelebrationDawson Pratt 705-497-9434 prattd@canadorec.on.ca
Oshawa
11:00 am BarBQueMedia Tent with period players: pay with a chicken to get treatment
Alexander Park (across from Lakeridge Health - Oshawa Site)
Jim Freeman 905-434-5922 jfreeman5922@rogers.com
Ottawa
12:00 pm Rally at Federal Health Minister Anne McLellan‚‚s office, Brooke Claxton Building, Columbine Street in Tunney‚‚s PastureAbe Rosenfeld 613-244-2817
Ottawa
6:45 pm Free Film Screening and Discussion featuring movie "John Q." at Mayfair Theatre, 1074 Bank St.Abe Rosenfeld 613-244-2817
Peterborough
5:30 pm Celebration with music, ribbons, speakers in Del Crary ParkBev Toivenen 705-292-9277
Port Colborne
March and RallyRose Bisson 905-834-1145
Renfrew
10:00 am - 2:00 pm Distribute leaflets and ribbon at Town HallSue McSheffrey 613-432-7208 skmcsh@renfrew.net
Sarnia
4:30 pm Human chain and ribboning at St. Joseph's Hospital (corner of London Rd. and Russell St.)Arlene Paterson 519-869-6826 Arlin2@hotmail.com
St. Catharines
11:00 am - 2:00 pm Barbeque and ribboning at Montebello Park, downtown.Kim Stasiak 905-227-2881 epan@tbaytel.net
Sudbury
3:00 -7:00 pm Science North - Celebration and human chain. Speakers, testimonials, music, barbequeAnn Rinneard 705-675-2227 arinneard@sympatico.ca
Thunder Bay
11:30 am -12:30 pm Ring the Hospital Walkabout McKellar SiteEvelena Pan 807 344-5027 epan@tbaytel.net
Thunder Bay
2:30 - 3:30 pm Ring the Hospital Walkabout PA SiteEvelena Pan 807 344-5027 epan@tbaytel.net
Goderich 4:00 pm March from County Court House on the Square to MP Paul Steckle's Office
Cathy 519-524-8832
Timmins
7:00 pm Rally at Timmins District Hospital - leafletting and ribboningBen Lefebvre 705-235-8121 x 7599
caw599@kiddmet.falconbridge.comToronto
10:00 am News conference Queen's Park Media StudioNeil Walker 416-414-7088 Cell
Natalie Mehra 416-441-2502 Cell
Toronto
12:00 noon Human chain will encircle Queen's Park with red ribbon: "YES National Public Medicare"Neil Walker 416-414-7088 Cell
Natalie Mehra 416-441-2502 Cell
Windsor
4:30 pm March from Hotel Dieu Hospital to waterfront for rally with music, ribbons, speakers.Mike Longmoore 519-256-8082 dlongmoore@cogeco.ca
Woodstock
Street Theatre visit to area MP and MPPs to ask for Medicare refund because of privatization.Mayor's signing of proclamation.
Violette Thibodeau 519-539-6626 vmthib@sympatico.ca
Save Public Medicare! Information
Forty three municipalities on board to support National Public Medicare
As of May 10, the following municipal councils in Ontario have endorsed the National Public Medicare Campaign resolution from the Ontario Health Coalition. The resolution, endorsing the principles of the Canada Health Act and calling for a publicly funded, administered and delivered health system, has met with unprecendented support across the province. In many councils it was passed unaminously. Congratulations to the local health coalitions Ontario-wide for a tremendous effort.
1. Black River Matheson, Township of
2. Brighton
3. Cardinal
4. Chapleau, Township of
5. Cobourg
6. Cochrane
7. Cornwall
8. Cramahe Township
9. Edwardsburg
10. Fauquier/Strickland, Township of
11. Fort Erie
12. Haileybury
13. Hearst
14. Iroquois Falls
15. Kingston
16. Kirkland Lake
17. Lindsay
18. London
19. Matachewan
20. Merrickville
21. Moonbeam
22. New Liskard
23. Niagara Falls
24. North Bay
25. Opasatika
26. Oshawa
27. Ottawa
28. Port Perry
29. Sarnia
30. Sault Ste. Marie
31. Scugog, Township of
32. Smooth Rock Falls
33. St. Catharines
34. Sudbury
35. Thunder Bay
36. Timmins
37. Toronto
38. Val Rita, Township of
39. Welland
40. Windsor (city)
41. Windsor (county)
42. Woodstock (city)
43. Woodstock (county)
Wednesday, May 15
NATIONAL MEDICARE DAY
On May 15, we join communities across the province and across the country to stand together for the pride of our nation, National Public Medicare - universal, accessible, portable, publicly administered -- the hard evidence of Canadian's commitment to each other.
TORONTO PROGRAM
12 noon Yes! National Public Medicare Join the human chain to surround Queen's Park with Medicare ribbon.
1 - 3 pm Picnic Food for your body, music for your spirit
8 pm Paint the Town Red! Thank you party at Oasis (back room) College St., west of Spadina
Co-sponsored by4:00 - 5:30 pm * RALLY TO PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH CARE. Join other supporters of National Public Medicare to circle Hotel Dieu Hospital with red and white 'Yes! National Public Medicare' ribbon symbolically protecting public, non-profit health care. When you come to the rally please bring some non-perishable food for the Hotel Dieu Food Bank Drive.
6:00 pm * CELEBRATION OF PUBLIC MEDICARE. Join other friends of the
Save Public Medicare Campaign for a fun evening of music, food, and
celebration. 206 Concession Street.
For more information call 374-5258
Ontario Health Coalition phones are ringing off the hook!
Thank you Michele Landsberg, for an excellent column in Sunday's Toronto Star (April 21). The flood of calls from readers filled our voicemail within a few hours of publication. Here, in your own words, is a sampling of some of the comments we have received so far:
from Lindsay, Ontario "I'm wholeheartedly in agreement with the campaign to save Medicare ...please send petitions and ribbons. I want to canvass my neighbourhood!"
from the Beaches in Toronto
"I want to show my intense support for the Medicare system -- albeit it needs some tweaking and some funding and bringing back the nurses. I'm totally against privatization. I just read Michele Landsberg's column and I'm totally appalled how these privatizing interests are taking things over."from Barrie, Ontario
"I'd like to add my voice to support in keeping our OHIP system and I'd like to help in canvassing my neighbourhood."from Orangeville, Ontario
"I want to take part in this as vigorously as I can otherwise they'll rob us of all the Medicare that we people have nourished for so many years. Take care. Godspeed!"from Brighton, Ontario
"Please send me petitions and ribbons I want to help."from Northern Ontario
"I'm calling in support of keeping Medicare the way it is and just improving upon it... and NOT privatizing it. Thank you!"from Orillia, Ontario
"I'm very much an ardent supporter of Medicare. Please call me so I can help out."from Etobicoke, Ontario
"Please, please we must have Medicare....one system for all of us and no privatization."from Toronto, Ontario
"I do not want privatization. I want Medicare. And I want to know what I can do about it!"First Canvassers Reporting Excellent Results
First reports are just in from Kingston this weekend where one canvasser found 30 people home in a few hours. He reports that 25 of the 30 signed the petition and 15 put up ribbons. Was it hard? Not at all. Person after person at the door thanked him for his work to Save Public Medicare. Some friendly advice for other canvassers: offer to put up the ribbon while you're at the door on a visible tree, fence or in the doorway -- people appreciate it! Canvassing is scheduled to start across the province on April 24.
Line Ups Reported -- To Sign Petitions!
In mall displays and market stalls across the province - Save Public Medicare petitions are a hot item. Coalitions report that people are lining up to sign on! Thousands have already signed -- in one mall in one day alone over a thousand signed. Outside a cafe, one volunteer had over 200 people sign on in 2 hours.
Super-Decorated Community Agencies Drawing Cheers
This week Toronto Health Coalition held a spring decorating day -- with a difference. Community agencies and coalition members bedecked their properties with ribbon, balloons and signs. Neighbourhoods and agency members joined in for a fun and productive day.
Join In!
Community campaigns are off the ground in over 39 localities across the province. Call us to find out how to join in.
Look for information on
May 15 National Medicare Day events to be held in communities all over Ontario. First announcements will be out soon in our upcoming newsletter.The Ontario Health Coalition extends our warmest thanks to the hundreds of concerned community members and the local coalitions - who are working together to Save Public Medicare. We know how hard you're working and what an incredible job you're doing...you are the best!
UNPRECEDENTED SUPPORT FROM CITY COUNCILS ACROSS ONTARIO TO SAVE PUBLIC MEDICARE!
Municipal Councils across the province have been approached by local health coalitions pass the Ontario Health Coalition's Save Public Medicare resolution and proclaim May 15 National Public Medicare Day.
Congratulations!
The following communities have passed resolutions:
Kingston, Ottawa, Thorold, Welland, St. Catharines, Niagara Falls, Merrickville, Cornwall, Edwardsburg, Cardinal, and Oshawa.
Sixteen more will be passed over the next two weeks.
What a build up!
Communities are holding events, signing up volunteers and flooding council meetings in support of Public Medicare. Literally hundreds of newspaper articles have been sent in from east to west, far north to south.Thank you all for all your hard work.
(Sample of resolution passed)
Welland Municipal Council Resolution
Whereas: Welland residents and Canadians alike pride ourselves on the fact that Canada has provided universal, publicly accessible health care to it's citizens for over 30 years.
Whereas: The principles of the Canada Health Act are the basis upon which our public health system was formed and have provided public access to life saving and life enhancing care for over a generation.
Whereas: Canadians are challenged as we have never been before to protect, restore and upgrade where necessary our public Medicare system.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: That Welland City Council supports Canada's public health care system and the principles of the Canada Health Act.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That Welland City Council calls upon the Romanow Commission, and federal and provincial governments to ensure that the principles of the Canada Health Act are maintained, and the public health care system is publicly delivered and upgraded where necessary, and that adequate public funding be provided to do so.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That Welland City Council hereby proclaims May 15, 2002, National Public Medicare Day.
The passed resolution was copied to Prime Minister Jean Chretien, Premier Mike Harris, MPP Tony Clement, MP Allan Rock, MP Anthony Tirabassi, MPP Peter Kormos, and the Welland Health Coalition.