In PC-held Ottawa, Renfrew, Pembroke, Glengarry ridings, 71% don’t support Ford government health system overhaul

OTTAWA, ON – 71% of the more than 1,500 residents polled in PC-held ridings in Ottawa, Glengarry, Renfrew and Pembroke say they don’t support the massive changes the PCs are planning to make to the province’s health system. Initially, these health system changes included merging the province’s 150 hospitals into 30-50 mega hospitals, privatizing services…

Ford’s $1 billion public health cut puts Torontonians’ safety at risk; will swamp metro hospitals

TORONTO, ON – Premier Doug Ford’s massive cut to public health funding, which will impact outbreak and infection control, drinking water testing, vaccination rates and fuel hallway medicine, can only be described as “callously dangerous” public policy, says the union that represents more than 1000 Toronto public health staff and thousands of Toronto hospital workers.…

Cuts to overdose prevention fuel worst health emergency in a generation

TORONTO – Today, CUPE Ontario is standing in solidarity with hundreds of concerned Torontonians in mourning the thousands of deaths due to overdose caused by government inaction, and sounding the alarm that overdose deaths will increase after the Ford Conservatives cancelled funding for three currently-operating, and two proposed Overdose Prevention Sites (OPS) across the province. “It…

West Park Healthcare Centre workers join CUPE

TORONTO, ON – Behavioural Support Workers and Behavioural Therapists in the Acquired Brain Injury Behavioural Services Department (ABIBS) at West Park Healthcare Centre have joined the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) after a certification vote held Monday, March 11, 2019. Organizer Deb Oldfield was happy to welcome the group into CUPE. “These workers decided…

Tentative settlement reached between CUPE and Hastings Prince Edward Public Health

BELLEVILLE, ON – The union representing workers at Hastings Prince Edward Public Health, Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 3314 has reached a tentative settlement in negotiations with the health unit. CUPE Local 3314 represents approximately 62 workers, including public health inspectors, dental hygienists, registered dental assistants, health promoters, programme assistants, family home visitors,…