Sault demonstrators demand action on doctor shortage
Local unions and those who recently lost their primary health-care provider gathered in front of Sault Ste. Marie MPP Ross Romano’s office Friday to protest the ongoing doctor shortage.
They were joined by a group of internationally trained physicians who said they face barriers to practising medicine in Ontario, despite their credentials and willingness to help.
“Since this de-rostering of over 10,000 patients in our community, I think persons have really recognized that there is a group of doctors in the Sault who can really assist with the health care challenges,” said Aaron Smith, referencing the recent decision by Group Health Centre to de-roster patients.
Smith is a trained physician from Trinidad and Tobago. He is among 49 internationally trained medical professionals said to be living in Sault Ste. Marie. He said he is among the few who are working in a health-care setting.
“I was fortunate to get a job as a unit assistant, so I do clerical work,” Smith said.
“It’s what I was able to get. I’ve been doing it for almost 18 months, and … I have a family to support. I have a wife and young baby and a daughter.”
Michele McCleave-Kennedy, president of the Sault District Labour Council, said fast-tracking international doctors into the health-care system would help ease the crisis.
Local unions and those who recently lost their primary health-care provider gathered in front of Sault Ste. Marie MPP Ross Romano’s office Friday to protest the ongoing doctor shortage. March 1/24 (Mike McDonald/CTV News)
“We won’t be able to attract business and folks to our community to come and live here without doctors here and without other services,” McCleave-Kennedy said.
CTV News contacted MPP Ross Romano’s office for comment but did not hear back before deadline.
Upon receiving word that Romano was holding a meeting pertaining to health care at a local hotel, protestors relocated to that site.
They were denied entry.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada's most wanted fugitive arrested in P.E.I. in connection with Toronto homicide
A suspect in a fatal shooting in Toronto’s east end last summer has been arrested in Charlottetown, just one week after he topped a list of Canada’s most wanted fugitives.
Concerns about plexiglass prompt inspections at some Loblaws locations in Ottawa
Inspections are underway at more than one Loblaws location in Ottawa after complaints were filed about tall plexiglass barriers.
Wisconsin school district says active shooter 'neutralized' outside middle school
A Wisconsin school district said an active shooter was 'neutralized' outside a middle school in Mount Horeb on Wednesday, and no one inside the building was injured.
Poilievre unrepentant over calling Trudeau 'wacko' as his MPs say Speaker should resign
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says he does not regret calling Prime Minister Justin Trudeau 'wacko,' and now his MPs are renewing calls for the House of Commons Speaker to resign, this time over ordering the Official Opposition leader to leave the chamber.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh confirms his party will support the Liberals' federal budget
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says his party will support the federal budget, ending any speculation that the party could pull out of its deal with the minority Liberal government.
Toddler of Phoenix first responder dies after bounce house goes airborne
A two-year-old child died after a strong gust of wind sent the bounce house he was in airborne and into a neighbouring lot in central Arizona, the Pinal County Sheriff's Office said.
Dental care program accepting claims for 1 million seniors
Citizens' Services Minister Terry Beech says 1,200 seniors have already visited a dentist and had their claims processed by the federal government's new dental care plan.
Lawyers for alleged serial killer to argue he is not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers told court they will argue alleged serial killer Jeremy Skibicki is not criminally responsible for the deaths of four Indigenous women by way of a mental disorder.
B.C. tribunal decides first case involving non-consensual sharing of intimate images
In a first-of-its-kind case, a B.C. tribunal has ruled on a dispute involving the non-consensual sharing of intimate images, awarding damages and issuing orders that the photos be destroyed and taken offline.