Researcher and board member of Ontario Health Coalition Dough
Allan said that globalization of finance capital since late eighties and early
nineties has created havoc worldwide which accelerated privatization of public
sector. Private Capital has targeted Health sector in a very systematic way and
created a deliberated crisis so that hospitals and all related health facilities
could be handed over to corporate. Liberals and Tories both have collaborated to
create a mess in health sector, precisely in Ontario province of Canada.
He said that these changes started under social democrat’s
regime. Provincial and Federal governments are consistently working to withdraw
various medical facilities from public hospitals and shifting them to Private
For Profit Hospitals where users has to pay hefty fees to obtain these medical
facilities. The ruling class created a conscious atmosphere to defame workers
unions so that they could implement all those anti people policies to benefit
big corporates. He said, they tried to cut MRI and CT scan facilities from
Public hospitals but they had to restore same services when Ontario Health
Coalition and related unions resisted furiously against this move.
Dough Allan said, unfortunately Trade Union movement is not
as strong as it used to be in 60s, 70s, and 80s, the offence of the Capital has
to be confronted with strong Unions and Unions have to devise new strategies by
combining their efforts with community. Trade Union has to find ways to relate
its activities with the communities and create a broad mass support so that
general masses and working people could be educated about the danger of massive
privatization plan of the ruling elite.
Addressing the seminar, conducted under People’s Voice forum
in Brampton on February 15 Shamshad Elahee Shams explained the economic scenario
of Ontario which plays a vital role in Canadian economy. 38% population of
Canada (33.48 million) resides in Ontario. 6.55 million people out of 12.55
million Ontario’s population reside in GTA area only . Ontario produces 37%
($695 billion) of the total Canadian GDP of $1.893 trillion. GTA is witnessing
rapid growth of population which is over 9%, above from national population
growth of 5.7%, overall growth of Ontario is expanding at the rate of 5.9% every
year but Ontario is on the lowest in terms of what it gets in the name of
services. 0% rise in Health Budget in last three years is a testimonial of the
Government that they don’t want to carry social responsibility by the state.
Over 18500 bed were cut from its public hospitals since 1990s. Public Hospital
spending in Ontario is only $1372 in 2012 which is way less in comparison with
New Foundlander $2519. Overall Public Health care in Ontario has reached to its
dismal level, Ontario stand at eighth position in the list of Canadian list of
ten province, an average Ontarian gets $ 3963 whereas New Foudlander gets $5399.
Ontario is not getting what it deserves. He called upon people of Ontario to
fight for their basic human right since health is state subject. No mature civil
society can tolerate this passive attitude of government.
Community and communist leader Harinder Hundal explained in
details by giving example of recently built hospital in Brampton when Govt.
promised to give 600 bed hospital but ended up in 300+ beds only, cost of
hospital was way exceeded from its budget projection but the result was
disappointing. He announced that workers of Communist Party of Canada and other
like minded organizations, Indo Canadian Workers Association, Rationalist
Society of Ontario in particular will hold a demonstration on April 12 in
Brampton to draw people’s and Government attention that people of Brampton will
no longer tolerate austerity measures of ruling elite. We will teach them a
lesson as the Greek did in recent elections. 
Human right activist from Nepal, Govinda Shivakoti said there
will be no difference between a third world country and Canada if the education,
health and social welfare facilities are withdrawn. Canada became welfare state
by the hard work and sacrifices made by working class, this hard earn
achievement can not be compromised and accepted.
Political activist Harparminder Gadri gave his personal
accounts and experiences how he is billed for some blood tests which were
earlier covered with OHIP. Now people are made to pay for those facilities which
were available to them for free. He said, even the sun glasses were covered in
1960s by OHIP but now vision care is left at the mercy of private clinics where
people are forced to pay over $200 for their reading glasses. He said, Finance
capital is on high horses since the demise of USSR, they have created havoc in
every third world country. He cited examples from India where new economic
policies of various governments at the center systematically destroyed
government school system in order to pursue the interest of private school
system. They have almost dismantled government hospitals which were very reputed
in 1970s, 80s but health sector is left for private hospitals who are making
money by mindless killing of the masses. 
Shamshad Elahee Shams read out a memorandum also to be sent
to Health Minister of Canada Dr Eric Hoskins and Health Minister of Ontario;
Rona Ambrose, approved by attendees of the seminar. More than 37 people came to
the venue, Brampton Soccer Center Room No 2 when temperature was –40, lowest in
the month of February.
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