Introduction: About the plebiscite and
why you should support it

The North Bay Health Coalition in conjunction with the Ontario Health Coalition has launched a campaign against the privatization of our new North Bay Hospital. We want to keep our hospital Public and not for Profit.

We are a conducting a Plebiscite in North Bay and the surrounding communities. There will be a permanent advance poll at the above address. On November 18, 2005 there will be a workplace vote, and on November 19, 2005 there will be polling stations set up in local businesses, churches and community centres. This means that we as citizens will have the opportunity to discuss and vote on this issue. If you could coordinate the voting in your location that would be great, if not we will provide volunteers to run the voting process.

This is a positive and necessary step that our community needs to take to save our Public Medicare system. Canadians are proud of the health care system that we have. Those before us fought many obstacles so that all citizens have the right to public health care.

The reasons that P3s (Public Private Partnerships) AFM (Alternative Financing Mechanisms) , PFIs (Public Funding Initiatives) and AFI (Alternative Financing Initiatives) are bad is because they come at a high cost to borrow the money. More money than a bank would charge the Government for a bond. This also means that the private consortium that lends the money is legally obligated to make a profit. That means that our health care has to make a profit.

We as a community will lose control of our hospital. This new hospital is one that we have all worked hard for and are all in agreement that we need.

We will come out to vote November 19th or come down and vote any day at our Advance Poll at 267 Main Street West. For further information please contact the North Bay Health Coalition. Thank you for your consideration.