Grinch, coal, and yellow ties mark protest at Fedeli’s office about hospital service cuts

‘Mr. Fedeli is the Grinch who stole healthcare from Ontarians,’ says Mike Turgeon, CUPE Local 139 president

A person dressed as the Grinch left a lump of coal at Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli’s constituency office, as health-care workers and supporters rallied against service cuts at the North Bay Regional Health Centre.

The coal—made of paper and painted black—was delivered during a CUPE 139 protest outside Fedeli’s Main Street East office this morning.

Dozens of protesters also wore yellow paper ties, a reference to Fedeli’s signature look, as they accused the province of underfunding the hospital and misleading the public about recent funding announcements.

See: Hospital layoffs to impact 40 positions

And: Layoffs will have no impact on services says hospital president

The rally follows last week’s announcement of $15 million in provincial funding for the hospital.

See: Ontario adds $15 million to support North Bay hospital

CUPE and other health-care advocates say the money was already anticipated in the hospital’s budget and does not prevent layoffs tied to a projected $5.6-million deficit.

CUPE Local 139 president Mike Turgeon says the funding announcement “changes nothing.”

“It doesn’t stop the 40 job cuts, it doesn’t shorten wait times, and it most definitely does not get the patients the care that they need,” Turgeon told media at the event.

“The 1.9 per cent at our fiscal advisory committee is what the hospital told us they were projecting as an increase this year, so they got exactly what they predicted, and they’re still falling into $5.6 million deficits.”

The hospital points to balancing its books regarding the pulling of 40 full- and part-time positions. Hospital leadership has stated that the changes will not impact services, but workers and advocates claim that staffing pressures are already being felt.

Turgeon says the protest is meant to send a message directly to the local MPP.

“We’re here today to get the message through to Mr. Fedeli and his friends at Queens Park that we’re not going away, we’re keeping this message alive,” he said. “We’re fighting for proper funding in our hospitals.”

Among those attending was Jeff Archambeault, a former hospital worker whose department was cut. He told BayToday that he worked at the hospital for a total of 16 years over two periods.

“Good people work there, but the way stuff’s being managed, from my perspective, could be done much differently and better,” Archambeault said. “People are stretched to the limits and beyond, and it just doesn’t make sense that we’re cutting.”

See: LETTER: Hospital cuts in North Bay could worsen care, says former worker

William Bell, a member organizer with the North Bay and District Health Coalition, says the situation in North Bay reflects a broader provincial problem.

“There’s a $5.6 million deficit in the hospital’s budget here,” Bell said, adding that “more than half of Ontario hospitals are also experiencing a deficit.” In parts of northeastern Ontario, Bell says, “about three-quarters of hospitals are in a deficit.”

Bell also says the uncertainty affects families and workers in smaller communities, noting his wife is an occupational therapist at the North Bay hospital and that job options are more limited locally than in larger cities.

The yellow ties worn by protesters were a statement, Turgeon told the crowd.

“We’re all here wearing our yellow ties showing him (MPP Fedeli) we don’t have a choice but to work through the cuts that he’s put on this hospital,” said Turgeon. “We’re demanding he get to work and find the funding to fund our hospital properly.”

Ontario Council of Hospital Unions president Michael Hurley says the government is misleading the public.

“He made an announcement last week that led the community to believe that the hospital’s financial problems were dealt with,” Hurley said. “But unfortunately, the hospital tells us that isn’t the case.”

As the rally wrapped up, the Grinch appeared with what Turgeon called a “present” for the minister.

“Since it is the Christmas season and in the spirit of giving, we have a present for Mr. Fedeli,” he said. “A giant lump of coal … because truly, Mr. Fedeli is the Grinch who stole healthcare from Ontarians.”

CUPE leaders say another rally is planned for Jan. 22, which will include a motorcade through North Bay and past Fedeli’s office.