Media Advisory: Health Care Advocates from Across Ontario Convene to Combat Health Cuts and Privatization

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Nov. 20, 2015) - From all corners of the province, health care advocates will gather to share their stories about devastating health care cuts that are happening in their communities and to strategize for the upcoming year - namely to develop a strategy for progressive reform in Ontario's health care system. The Ontario Health Coalition - Ontario's largest and broadest public interest group working to protect and improve public health care in Ontario - is holding its Annual Assembly and Conference. On Saturday, local groups are bringing their reports and forging a strategy and on Sunday we have an excellent lineup of speakers for the conference on progressive reform.

What

Ontario Health Coalition Annual Assembly and Conference.

When & Where

Assembly: Saturday November 21, 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Church of the Holy Trinity, 10 Trinity Sqr. (beside Eaton Centre off of James St.), Toronto

Conference: Sunday November 22, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Metro Hall, Rooms 308/309, 55 John St., Toronto

Speakers at Sunday's Conference Include

Harry Leslie Smith - 92 year-old activist, a YouTube sensation for his impassioned speech on austerity and saving health care for all at last fall's British Labour Party conference • Miriam Laugesen Ph.D. - associate professor at Columbia University, expert on democratic reform in hospitals and the New Zealand system of elected hospital boards • Herb John - president of the National Pensioners Federation, who has worked in his community to elect a hospital board to save his local hospital • Amani Oakley LLB - senior partner at Oakley and Oakley with a focus on medical issues • Natalie Mehra - OHC executive director, writer, long-standing activist and health care expert • Dr. Ray Dawes - family doctor, former chair of the Ontario Medical Association section on rural health • Shirley Roebuck R.N. - chair of the Chatham-Kent and Sarnia-Lambton Health Coalitions, advocate for small and rural hospitals • Jacqueline Choiniere, Ph.D., R.N. - association professor at York University's Faculty of Health, co-theme lead in an international study on Re-imagining Long-Term Residential Care • Alex Himelfarb - Former clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet.