Ontario Health Coalition referendum wraps up, votes being counted
The votes are being counted...
“It's going to be a resounding no to profitization of public hospital services,” said Peter Bergmanis, co-chair of London Health Coalition.
The Ontario Health Coalition started a referendum in April, asking people to choose whether they want public hospital services privatized to for-profit hospitals and clinics.
"I think it's important to keep it public so that everyone has equal access to healthcare,” said voter Vanessa Fralic. “I think that's what Canada is all about. And I think it needs to stay that way".
"[Public healthcare] protects people from going bankrupt and getting even more ill,” said voter Dirka Prout.
Two months ago, the Ford government passed Bill 60.
It would allow more private clinics to offer some publicly funded surgeries to help reduce the backlog built up during the pandemic.
Some residents said they’ve experienced private health care south of the border.
“I lived in the US for four years,” sais Lucille Trickett, a voter. “I had the unfortunate experience of going to an ER, and when I got checked in, they immediately asked for my credit card.”
Peter Bergmanis of the London Health Coalition worked on counting the votes on May 28, 2023, for the recent referendum on the potential privatization of health care services. (Brent Lale/CTV News London)
Sylvia Jones, Ontario’s Minister of Health, has stated throughout this referendum that Ontarians will always access the healthcare system with their OHIP card, not their credit card.
The province said it will invest $80 billion dollars into the health care system this year.
However, the coalition feels allowing privatization could lead to even less frontline staff.
"They're making another tier of healthcare that is far more attractive for anyone to work than the public one where they cap in their wages,” said Bergmanis. “They have horrible working hours and conditions. So yeah, this is going to make it even tougher for people to get care in the public hospital system."
The final count of the votes being tallied in London, Ont. and area will be released Tuesday.
Bergmanis believes the province will have no choice but to listen to Ontarians.
“We have potentially up to a million people (in the province) who didn't have a say last year,” said Bergmanis. “We've got a lot of voters who are very angry."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
RCMP uncovers plot to sell drones and equipment to Libya
The RCMP says it has uncovered a plot by two men in Montreal to sell Chinese drones and military equipment to Libya illegally.
Doctors ask Liberal government to reconsider capital gains tax change
The Canadian Medical Association is asking the federal government to reconsider its proposed changes to capital gains taxation, arguing it will affect doctors' retirement savings.
Demonstrators kicked out of Ontario legislature for disruption after failed keffiyeh vote
A group of demonstrators were kicked out of the legislature after a second NDP motion calling for unanimous consent to reverse a ban on the keffiyeh failed to pass.
BREAKING Man wanted in connection with deadly shooting in Toronto tops list of most wanted fugitives in Canada
A 35-year-old man wanted in connection with the murder of Toronto resident 29-year-old Sharmar Powell-Flowers nine months ago has topped the list of the BOLO program’s 25 most wanted fugitives across Canada, police announced Tuesday.
Tom Mulcair: Park now littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
Keeping these exotic pets is 'cruel' and 'dangerous,' Canadian animal advocates say
Canadian pet owners are finding companionship beyond dogs and cats. Tigers, alligators, scorpions and tarantulas are among some of the exotic pets they are keeping in private homes, which pose risks to public safety and animal welfare, advocates say.
Prince William and wife Kate thank public for birthday messages for son Louis
Prince William and his wife Kate thanked the public for their messages which had been sent to mark the sixth birthday of their youngest son Louis on Tuesday.
Equifax Canada testing use of rental payment data for credit scores
Equifax Canada says it's exploring how rent data could factor in to credit scores to help make credit and financial services accessible to more people.
She was the closest she'd ever been to meeting her biological father. Then life dealt her a blow
Anne Marie Cavner was the closest she'd ever been to meeting her biological father, but then life dealt her a blow. From an unexpected loss to a host of new relationships, a DNA test changed her life, and she doesn't regret a thing.