Health Coalition fighting privatization of health care
Sir: On Feb 1 Ontario Health Minister Christine Elliot stated that independent health facilities would be allowed to operate private hospitals, to help with the backlog of medical procedures and surgeries built up during COVID.
“Independent health facilities” is another way of saying private, for-profit clinics. She was saying they would be allowed to encroach on the work of public hospitals.
After the Ontario Health Coalition held press conferences, the Minister and Premier Doug Ford quickly back-tracked, saying that it wasn’t true. We disagree.
According to the Fiscal Accountability Office, the government has calculated it would cut $17.8 billion from public programs over the next eight years. This would mean service cuts, as the health care system has been living under austerity budgets for over 25 years. What would be cut in Sarnia-Lambton?
The Ford government is half way through awarding 15,000 new long-term care beds to private, for-profit businesses, in spite of their terrible records during the pandemic. More than 4,000 LTC residents died, many from lack of care.
Home-care is almost totally privatized, yet only 60% of home care requests can be filled.
Most of us have seen first-hand the shortages of staff, of hospital beds, of LTC beds and home-care services.
At the Sarnia Lambton Health Coalition we are battling back against any privatization of health services. We are beginning a huge campaign to keep our public health care system viable and with access for all.
We need volunteers and we need donations to pay for advertising. We want to ensure everyone in Sarnia-Lambton has the true facts about health care.
Contact me at [email protected] and check the Ontario Health Coalition-Sarnia Lambton Facebook page for more or register for the Local Emergency Summit against privatization of Health Services, scheduled for April 7 at 7 p.m. on Zoom.
Together we can win this fight.
Shirley Roebuck
Sarnia Lambton Health Coalition
Is election history repeating itself this year?
Sir: An old adage states: “Past actions and behaviours reflect those of the future.”
During the 2018 Sarnia municipal election many people I spoke to had two issues on their mind —the millions of dollars poured into Centennial Park, and the politics playing out at City Hall.
With the 2022 election coming in October, people are already talking about the proposed millions to be spent on Sarnia’s Master Plan initiatives, and the ongoing bickering among certain council members.
And let us not forget what’s now surfacing about council’s diversity training fiasco.
In the 2018 municipal election the two politicians most vocal about the cost of Centennial Park - one being the subject of much political attack - were re- elected with the most votes, while four of the five seeking re-election lost their seats.
Those who represent voters should realize their past actions may very well reflect their future political demise.
Phil Nelson
Sarnia
Restaurant owner could benefit from lesson in kindness
Sir: Recently I met with a group of friends for our monthly luncheon at a local restaurant. Shortly after placing our order, a waitress tapped me on the shoulder and told me the owner/cook had suggested I exchange my chair for a metal chair.
Then it dawn on me what she meant. Yes, I am a big girl, but by no stretch of the imagination big enough to break a restaurant chair.
I told her I would absolutely NOT be changing chairs. My lovely friends didn’t skip a beat, and immediately said, “We're out of here.”
I requested to speak to the owner/cook but he wouldn’t come out (cowards rarely do), so I stepped into the kitchen and gave him a piece of my mind.
When I reached the parking lot, I was surrounded by my loving friends and hugged by each. If he was trying to humiliate me, he failed miserably, but I was hurt and angry that I had been targeted.
Why? Was he having a bad day and decided to share the wealth? My friends and I went to another restaurant.
Needless to say, none of us will be returning to that establishment. You would think during a pandemic when many restaurants are struggling the owner would have been more than happy to have us there.
I won’t go on because I refuse to give him the power to cause pain. There are two types of people in this world, those like my beautiful friends who surrounded me with love, and those like the owner/cook who are toxic and feel its acceptable to bring others down to make themselves feel bigger and better.
That’s pathetic, and he should be ashamed.
Cathie Fergusson
Sarnia
Mike Weir Park has room for all, including cricket club
Sir: Regarding the Feb. 24 sports story, “Cricket club ponders future after pitch opened to others.
I would like to question why Sarnia council is more or less bumping this club from its home field? They have been there for over 35 years, and I believe the location isn’t hindering any neighborhoods.
I will give a little lay of the land, in case some are thinking there isn’t enough room for a cricket pitch.
Mike Weir Park has five acres. To the north is a beautiful beach that compares with Canatara Beach. Parking is well laid out with a good-sized play area for kids.
A paved circle around the park is used for joggers and dog walkers, as well as traffic.
To the northeast is a fenced-in old bridge we all know will never be used again. It once spanned the Cull Drain on Old Lakeshore Road. Only us retired people know what it is. As a retired metal inspector, this bridge is good for scrap, as it would be very expensive to repair. Putting in a new bridge and expanding Old Lakeshore would be great, but this city council will not get it done.
The area in question has only the cricket pitch and a worn down baseball back screen with trees grown in around it. In other words, not used by any groups.
There is plenty of room in this park to leave the pitch alone and offer any of the other land to other groups.
To prove my point, why do you think a young Mike Weir used to hit golf balls there? Lots of space!
Jamie Cockerham
Sarnia
Nothing sticks to Trudeau, the Teflon man
Sir: The way the British people are up in arms over Prime Minister Boris Johnson attending parties that he (no doubt) shouldn’t have is over the wall. They are out for blood.
Meanwhile, Johnson is no match for the multiple scandals and blunders of our sunny days prime minister, Justin Trudeau.
Yet there is no uproar, no demand that he resign. He just keeps on going, and what the people think of him and his misdeed means absolutely nothing to him.
He knows, as always, that he will pay no penalty for anything he does.
James Muxlow
Courtright