"Public Medicare belongs to the people of Canada, not to politicians or business interests," noted Irene Harris, Ontario Health Coalition co chair. "The people have spoken. The polls are speaking. Now, finally, our politicians must do the right thing. Implement the Romanow recommendations now."

The Canadian Treatment Action Council (CTAC) also strongly endorsed the recommendations of the Romanow Commission. Lousie Binder, chair and a woman living with HIV stated today, "Finally someone has listened to the voices of average Canadians, not just rich and powerful business interests. Commissioner Romanow used the process of true citizen engagement and reported what he heard. It is these voices of citizens that must inform the political decisions today and in coming weeks."

Pat Futterer, a cancer survivor and representative of the Toronto Health Coalition joined the call for the immediate implementation of the recommendations and noted, "On the day that Romanow made his report the province of Ontario extended the for-profit cancer treatment centre at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto. Romanow‚s investigations discredit the notion of selling life saving services for profit. The Eves government must step back from this morally bankrupt and economically discredited plan. Stop destroying our health system and start improving it."

"This is an historic time," concluded Ms. Harris. "We have joined today with a mass of citizens‚ groups to call for our politicians to rise to the occasion. Let's stop the commercial sell-out of our health system. Let's adopt these recommendations and move on to improving the health system for the next generation."

The list of organizations that „signed on‰ to the call follows.

Implement Romanow Now!

Access Alliance

AIDS Action Now

Association of Ontario Health Centres

AWS North Bay

Brain Injury Association Network

Brampton and Mississauga District Labour Council

Communications, Energy & Paperworkers Union of Canada, CEP

Canadian Auto Workers Union, CAW/TCA Canada

Canadian Council of South Asian Seniors CAW Retirees

Canadian Pensioners Concerned

Canadian Treatment Action Council

Canadian Union of Public Employees of Ontario, CUPE

Care Watch

Carpenters, Drywall and Allied Workers

Concerned Friends of Ontario Citizens in Care Facilities

Disabled Women‚s Network of Ontario, DAWN

East End Community Health Centre

Flemington Health Centre

Fife House

Global Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS - North America

Graphic Communications International Union, GCIU

Hemophilia Ontario

Hospital Employees and Restaurant Employees Local 75, HERE

Immigrant Women‚s Health Centre

Industrial wood and allied workers of Canada, IWA

International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, IAM & AW

Kingston & District Labour Council

Labour Action Organization Centre

North Bay and District Health Coalition

North Bay Network for Social Action

Office and Professional Employees International Union, OPEIU Central Ontario Council

Older Women's Network

Ontario AIDS Network

Ontario Coalition for Social Justice

Ontario Coalition of Senior Citizens‚ Organizations

Ontario Federation of Labour

Ontario Federation of Union Retirees

Ontario Health Coalition & 53 local health coalitions

Ontario Nurses Association, ONA

Ontario Provincial Building & Construction Trades Council

Ontario Public Service Employees Union, OPSEU

Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation, OSSTF

Ontario Sheet Metal Workers‚ Conference

Out of the Cold

Parkdale Community Health Centre

Roman Catholic Dioceses of Sault Ste. Marie

St. Christopher House

Service Employees International Union, SEIU

Steel Workers of Active Retirees, SOAR

Street Health

The United Church of Canada

Toronto and York Region Labour Council

Toronto People with AIDS Foundation

Union of Needletrades, Industrial & Textile Employees, UNITE Ontario Council

Unitarian Fellowship of Northwest Toronto

United Auto Workers Local 251, UAW

United Steelworkers of America, USWA

United Transportation Union, Ontario Legislative Board

Voices of Positive Women

Windsor Women's Incentive Centre