Whereas all hospitals since the inception of public medicare in Canada were public and non-profit until the introduction of privatized (P3) or alternative financing mechanism hospitals;

Whereas these privatized hospitals turn control of hospital services over to for-profit corporations for service contracts of unprecedented duration and scope, diminishing local control over our hospital's services and functions;

Whereas the evidence shows that these privatized hospitals will cost more, taking money away from clinical budgets and leading to cuts in doctors, nurses and support staff;

Whereas the extra costs could fall back on the local community and hospital;

Whereas the bundling of all the hospital services from patient-records to portering to disinfection is unprecedented and difficult if not impossible to reverse;

Whereas higher costs, profit-taking, user fees and legal disputes are characteristics of these privatized hospitals;

Whereas the private for-profit health industry's interest in two-tier services, user fees and service charges threatens the future of universal one-tier public Medicare;

Therefore be it resolved that _______________ Council strongly supports the new hospital and strongly supports that our hospital be financed and procured publicly, and;

Be it further resolved that we call upon the government of Ontario to:

• provide public funding St. Catharine's new hospital

• ensure that the management, lands, operation, and administration of our hospital remain public and non-profit under direct control of our local hospital board

Be it further resolved that _______________ Council send a copy of this resolution to the Premier, the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal and the Minister of Health, and all municipal and regional councils in the catchment region of the new hospital.