March 4 S.O.S. Cross Province Day of Action

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - March 4, 2013) -

Attention: Assignment Editor/Photo Editor

When: Monday, March 4

What: Cities and town across Ontario are joining in an "S.O.S" Day of Action. 17 communities will be taking part in the events and activities to highlight unprecedented hospital cuts and privatization across the province.

We are in the first year of a 5-year austerity budget plan. As we have moved into the final quarter of the fiscal year, massive hospital cuts are being revealed across the province. Despite the rhetoric of the Health Minister, these services are not being replaced in home and community care. In addition, unprecedented for-profit privatization of hospital clinical services is being revealed, despite claims and promises that these services would be protected as public and non-profit care.

Who: The Ontario Health Coalition in conjunction with local coalitions across Ontario.

Where:

Campbellford - Campbellford Memorial Hospital Red Ribbon Campaign - Keep us out of the red! All day event. Contact: Wanda Tucker 705-653-5850

Durham - 4:00-5:30 pm Speaker's Corner - Have Your Say! Taking place at Lakeridge Health, Oshawa at 1 Hospital Court, Simcoe St N (assemble near crosswalk), Contact: Trish McAuliffe 905-706-5806

Guelph - 7:00 pm Candlelight Evening of Action at the Guelph General Hospital at 115 Delhi Street in Guelph, Contact: Magee McGuire 519-767-0084

Kingston - 11:30 am "Keep our Hospitals Public" Campaign Launch of Plebiscite at LaSalle Mews outside John Gerretsen's constituency office, Princess and Bagot

6:30 pm kick-off rally and info session at the Kingston Frontenac Public Library in the Wilson Room, 130 Johnson St, Contact: Ross Sutherland 613-532-7846

Listowel - 7:00 pm Info-Session at the Listowel Agricultural Hall located at 5699 Line 86, Contact: Grace Harper 519-291-6155

London - 4 - 6 pm Rally outside Health Minister Deb Matthews' constituency office at 242 Piccadilly Street in London, Contact: Jeff Hanks 519-473-6191

Niagara - 2:30 pm Rally at the Welland Arena, 501 King Street. Contact: Sue Hotte 905-932-1646

Ottawa - 4-6 pm Rally at the Ottawa Hospital Civic Campus 1053 Carling Ave. Contact: Marlene Rivier 613-222-8392

Perth/Smiths Falls - 12:00 pm Day of Action at the Perth and Smiths Falls District Hospital, Smiths Falls site, Contact: soshealthcoalition@gmail.com

Peterborough - 11:00 am media conference, Contact: Roy Brady 705-745-2446

Petrolia - 12:00 pm Rally in Support of the Charlotte Eleanor Englehart Hospital to take place at the hospital, 450 Blanche Street, Contact: Helen Havlik 519-882-0357

Quinte West/Picton - 12:00 pm Rally at the Belleville General Hospital located 265 Dundas Street East, Contact: Michael McMahon 613-968-5550, and

12:00 pm Rally to protect the Trenton Memorial Hospital, taking place at the hospital at 242 King Street in Trenton, Contact: Sally Freeman 613-965-6769

St. Marys - 5:00 pm Rally at the St. Marys Memorial Hospital located 267 Queen West, Contact: Gayle Beattie 519-284-8072

Sudbury - 11:00 am Rally and Open Mic on the sidewalk by the hospital on Ramsay Lake Road. Contact Anne Marie MacInnis 705-698-7655

Toronto - 11:00 am on Saturday March 2 - Rally with visuals on hospital row (University Ave between Gerrard St W and Elm St), Contact: Nathalie Sheppard 647-231-5102

Windsor - 4-5 pm Rally in front of Windsor Regional Hospital Metropolitan Campus (Tecumseh Road), Contact: Katha Fortier 519-259-8100