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Drummond report tomorrow: what is the real end game?

The Drummond report on public services is coming out tomorrow (Wednesday) between 2:25 pm and 3 pm, reportedly.

Drummond has said that many of his proposals will not be supported by the government.  So some of the proposals are non-starters right from the get go.  But they may provide cover for the Liberal government when they come in with their own package of cuts.

Drummond is being used to set the government up as the voice of "moderation" I reckon.

Incredibly, Mop and Pail columnist Andre Picard suggests that the objections to these proposals from some (like the Ontario Health Coalition) are based on "mock outrage".  Does Picard actually believe the outrage is mock?  No doubt his comment pleased Picard's editors' at the Globe, but it is far from the truth.

It is not 'mock outrage' that is driving the Ontario Health Coalition (OHC) and others to work so hard to respond to Drummond.  It is real fear about the future of public healthcare.  The OHC is setting up two major public discussions of the Drummond report. If you are a supporter of public health care and can attend, please do:


WEBINAR This Coming Saturday February 18 at 2 pm FREE
A Webinar is an interactive live briefing via the internet. If you go to the webinar website at 2 pm on Saturday, you can see and hear the briefing live, and send in questions. This is how it works: You need to register now. A confirmation will be emailed to you telling you how to join the meeting on Saturday. When you click on "Join the Meeting" in your confirmation email on Saturday at 2 pm, you will be linked in to see the live briefing. If you have speakers and a sound card in your computer you will hear the audio at the same time. If you do not have speakers you need to dial in by telephone at the same time as you are watching via internet to hear the sound. The dial in # will be sent to you in the confirmation email that you receive when you register. You can send in your questions as you are watching and we will answer them in the briefing session. The session will run from 2 pm - 3 pm. To register go to: https://www.livemeeting.com/lrs/8000055450/Registration.aspx?pageName=t7v15632xxx6205k

EMERGENCY ASSEMBLY Saturday February 25 at 11 am at The Church of the Holy Trinity, 10 Trinity Square (Behind the Eaton Centre, by Indigo Books) FREE
All local health coalitions are asked to please send at least one or two reps. All OHC members and supporters are welcome. 
Registration is required. We have timed the Assembly to allow for flights and drives into Toronto that morning. We have booked a block of rooms at the Bond Place Hotel, right downtown at Dundas and Yonge Streets, 1 block from the church where the Assembly is being held for the Friday and Saturday nights for those who need them. The rate is $89 per night. Call 1-800-268-9390  and cite "Ontario Health Coalition". If local coalitions need subsidies, please contact Megan Cobean at the OHC office 416-441-2502. 

Agenda: 11 - 11:30 am Registration; 11:30 am - 12:30 pm Briefing and Update; 12:30 - 1 pm Lunch (we will provide it); 1 - 3 pm Discuss and Adopt Action Plan to Respond to Drummond and the McGuinty Cuts.

REGISTRATION FOR THE WEBINAR SATURDAY FEBRUARY 18, 2012 go to

https://www.livemeeting.com/lrs/8000055450/Registration.aspx?pageName=t7v15632xxx6205k
 
REGISTRATION FOR THE ASSEMBLY SATURDAY FEBRUARY 25, 2012
Please fill in this form and return it to ohc@sympatico.ca as soon as possible. Please do send this in asap. We need to know how many are coming to provide lunches.
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