Saying that enough is enough, health care activists are speaking out against numerous funding cuts to health care.
A rally was held at the Bradley Convention Centre on Saturday, with pledges to fight back against the Ontario government to prevent the elimination of healthcare services.
Chatham-Kent Health Coalition co-chair Shirley Roebuck says the rally’s message was that their supporters have to get out and tell politicians that the cuts are unacceptable.
Roebuck says the cuts that the Ford government are proposing will affect people in long-term care, waiting to go into the hospital or waiting for an ambulance.
The Health Coalition claims the Doug Ford government intends to cut funding for and eliminate 25 out of 35 local public health units across Ontario, as well as eliminate 49 out of 59 local paramedic & ambulance services and eliminate 12 of 22 local dispatch units.
Former CAW leader Ken Lewenza Sr. says the health care system has been stretched to the limit and despite an aging population, no government has dealt with the issue and provided the necessary funds.
Lewenza asked the crowd to fight and make a difference to protect healthcare services in the province.
The rally was the first of four stadium healthcare rallies planed by the Ontario Health Coalition across the province. Future rallies are scheduled for Toronto, Ottawa and Sault Ste. Marie.