Local residents who support public healthcare are encouraged to come out to a protest this weekend outside Windsor-Tecumseh MPP Andrew Dowie's office.
The Windsor Essex Health Coalition will protest to stop the privatization of healthcare, starting at 11 a.m. at 5452 Tecumseh Road East.
Local organizer Patrick Hannon says the group has held previous protests and will keep protesting as long as the Ford government diverts healthcare dollars to private clinics.
"We have to build public awareness in order to amass enough people protesting about it that we can actually stop the Ford government from their continued privatization and roll that back," he said. "We will be keeping up pressure on the Ford government and their MPPs."
The demonstration is just one of many taking place across the province. Organizers hope to activate 10,000 people. Protests are also planned in Ottawa, St. Catherines, Port Colbourne, Kitchener-Waterloo, Kawartha Lakes, and Elmvale in Simcoe County.
"While [Premier Doug] Ford is pouring hundreds of millions into private for-profit clinics, and almost a billion a year into privatized staffing agencies, his government is purposely forcing our local public hospitals into deficit and cuts," read a release. "To add insult to injury, the private clinics cost more per surgery, and the private staffing agencies charge double to triple her hour more than hiring on permanent staff in public hospitals."
Hannon said the public needs to take a hard look at where the Ford government is spending health dollars.
"The MPPs will tell people that they're spending an unprecedented amount on health care," said Hannon. "What they're not saying is the unprecedented amount is going to private clinics. They have already spent this year over $1-billion."
The coalition warns the Ford government risks the health, safety, and lives of those living in Windsor and Essex County, just to enrich what it calls "profit seekers at the public's expense."
