Ontario Health Coalition sign, May 30, 2023. (Photo by Maureen Revait) Ontario Health Coalition sign, May 30, 2023. (Photo by Maureen Revait)
Windsor

UPDATE: Over 5,000 in Windsor-Essex vote no to privatized health care

Over 5,000 people voted in Windsor and Essex County in the Ontario Health Coalition's referendum on privatized health care in the province.

The group asked Ontario residents if they want public hospital services to be performed at private clinics.

In Windsor and Essex County, 60 people voted yes and 5,220 people voted no. Voting was available online and at some businesses throughout Windsor.

"When the number of ballots, the number of people opposed to privatization, when that is presented to the government, politicians need to hear what their constituents have to say," said Patrick Hannon, Windsor Essex Health Coalition co-chair.

The coalition has been raising concerns about privatization after the province passed legislation to fund some surgical procedures like cataract surgeries at private clinics throughout the province.

Provincial results were announced Wednesday afternoon at Queen's Park. A resounding 98.2 per cent of the 386,068 ballots cast were against privatized health care. Only 7,001 voted yes.

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