MEDIA ADVISORY: Five years into Ford government’s privatization of hospital services: longer wait-times, unequal access, and public opposition
Event Information
Begins: 19 June 2025
Location: Sudbury, ON
About 130,000 people negatively impacted in Greater Sudbury Area
SUDBURY, ON –(COMMUNITYWIRE)– Five years ago, the Ford government began the privatization of cataract surgeries under the guise of improving wait-times. New data from CIHI shows that wait-times for cataract surgeries have worsened since then, while new polling results show stiff public opposition to the government’s signature policy initiative.
However, the government is now moving ahead with further privatization of hospital services, including knee and hip surgeries.
On Thursday in Sudbury, CUPE’s Ontario Council of Hospital Unions (OCHU-CUPE), will be releasing a new report on privatization along with findings of a recent Nanos poll of residents in Ontario, 73 per cent of whom want the government to prioritize investments in public hospitals instead of private clinics.
The union will also be revealing how privatization of hospital services is negatively affecting Sudbury residents.
WHO:
Michael Hurley, president of CUPE’s Ontario Council of Hospital Unions (OCHU-CUPE) and Doug Allan, CUPE Researcher
WHAT:
Media conference to release polling and report on privatization of hospital services
WHERE:
Sudbury Public Library – 74 MacKenzie St, Sudbury ON
WHEN:
10 a.m. on Thursday, June 19
-30-
For more information, contact:
Zee Noorsumar, CUPE Communications
znoorsumar@cupe.ca
647-995-9859