Union stops in Espanola, Ont., to warn of 'Trojan horse' of private heath care
The union that represents hospital workers across the province is used a symbol from Greek mythology Friday in Espanola to drive home its campaign about the perils of privatization in health care.
Despite inclement weather, the 15-foot wooden Trojan horse still carried its message outside the Espanola Hospital.
Despite inclement weather, the 15-foot wooden Trojan horse still carried its message warning of private care outside the Espanola Hospital. (Photo from video)
"Doug Ford has said privatization will be a gift to alleviate the crisis that we’re having in the health care system and we’re really saying it’s destroying the health care system," said Kevin Cook of CUPE’s Ontario Council of Hospital Unions.
"It’s not going to help."
The province-wide campaign uses the Trojan horse symbol to warn about what it calls a false promise from the government.
The governing Conservatives have said privatized surgeries is a solution to long wait times. But the union said privatization redirects money and staff from public health care, and wait times get longer due to staffing shortages.
NDP Health Critic France Gelinas said it’s a reality she sees all too often and she said it’s one of the factors behind recent service closures.
"This has been trialed in many, many countries," Gelinas said.
"Australia tried it, the UK tried it. It’s always the same: the rich gain fantastic access. The rest of us will all suffer because the number of nurses, the number of surgeons, the number of specialists are limited."
- Download the CTV News app now
- Get local breaking news alerts
- Daily newsletter with the top local stories emailed to your inbox
In a statement to CTV News, a spokesperson for the minister of health had this to say:
"Ontario is proud to have one of the largest publicly funded health-care systems in the world, and under the leadership of Premier Ford, our government has made record investments in our publicly funded health-care system to connect more people to the care they need when they need it.
"The actions our government is taking have led Ontario to achieve some of the shortest wait times in Canada."
The union’s Trojan horse and its message will be stopping in five northern communities next week. The campaign will continue until the end of November.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Downtown Vancouver stabbing suspect dead after being shot by police
A suspect is dead after being shot by police in a Vancouver convenience store after two people were injured in a stabbing Wednesday morning, according to authorities.
2 Canadians confirmed dead in Poland, as consular officials gather information
Two Canadians have died following an incident in Poland, CTV News has learned.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford calls Donald Trump 'funny guy' in Fox News interview
Ontario Premier Doug Ford called U.S. president-elect Donald Trump a 'funny guy' on Wednesday in an interview with Fox News for his comment that Canada should become the United States's 51st state.
Toddler fatally shot after his 7-year-old brother finds a gun in the family's truck
A two-year-old boy was fatally shot when his seven-year-old brother found a gun in the glovebox of the family's truck in Southern California, authorities said.
DEVELOPING As police search for suspect, disturbing video surfaces after U.S. health-care CEO gunned down in New York
UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was killed Wednesday morning in what investigators suspect was a targeted shooting outside a Manhattan hotel where the health insurer was holding an investor conference.
Millions in Cuba remain in dark after nationwide blackout
Cuba said it was generating only enough electricity to cover about 1/6th of peak demand late on Wednesday, hours after its national grid collapsed leaving millions without power.
'Utterly absurd': Freeland rebuffs Poilievre's offer of two hours to present fall economic statement
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland has rebuffed Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's offer to give up two hours of scheduled opposition time next Monday to present the awaited fall economic statement as 'utterly absurd.'
Canada Post stores continue to operate during strike — but why?
As many postal workers continue to strike across the country, some Canadians have been puzzled by the fact some Canada Post offices and retail outlets remain open.
Mattel sued over 'Wicked' dolls with porn website link
Mattel was sued this week by a South Carolina mother for mistakenly putting a link to an adult film site on the packaging for its dolls tied to the movie 'Wicked.'