The province-wide results are in, after the Wallaceburg-Walpole Island Health Coalition and the Ontario Health Coalition wrapped up their referendum on hospital cuts and proper hospital funding.
At voting stations set up across Ontario, including Wallaceburg, people were asked to choose whether they agreed with the following statement:
“Ontario’s government must stop the cuts to our community hospitals and restore services, funding and staff to meet our communities’ needs for care.”
Results of the provincial vote:
– Yes: 91,781
– No: 308
Total: 92,120
This represents a 99.6%, in favour of stopping hospital cuts and restoration of services, funding and staff to Ontario’s community hospitals.
The same questions was asked in the Wallaceburg and Walpole Island area.
Results of the Wallaceburg-Walpole Island Health Coalition vote:
– Yes: 3033
– No: 6
– Spoiled: 0
In addition, the Wallaceburg-Walpole Island Health Coalition asked people to vote on the following statement: “Ontario’s government must stop the closure of Sydenham District Hospital’s Emergency Department and restore funding, services and staff to meet our communities’ needs for care.”
Results of the local vote to stop the closure of the hospital:
– Yes: 3032
– No: 0
– Spoiled: 0
The votes from Wallaceburg, Walpole Island and the surrounding rural catchment area will be combined with votes from communities all over Ontario, and delivered to Premier Kathleen Wynne at Queen’s Park on May 31.
“The Wallaceburg-Walpole Island Health Coalition hopes that the provincial government considers voters’ opinions on health care, and adjust its’ health policies to better serve Ontarians, by stopping hospital cuts and restoring proper funding and staffing to our community hospitals,” local health coalition officials stated.
– File photo
