With election day fast approaching, Ontario hospital unions are ramping up their efforts to make healthcare a top priority for voters. On Tuesday, they staged a public demonstration, wheeling out hospital beds onto the front lawn of Durham Hospital, urging Ontarians to pay attention to the crisis in the healthcare system.

“Right here in Ontario, we have 250,000 people waiting for surgery. Can you imagine waiting, only to see the list keep growing?” said Sharon Richer from the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions.

The union’s “stretcher tour” made stops in Durham and Walkerton, two communities hit hard by healthcare challenges.

In January, Walkerton made national headlines when over 1,000 people lined up in a snowstorm for a rare opportunity to get a family doctor.

Meanwhile, Durham Hospital has seen significant cuts. In March, its emergency department hours were slashed to 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Then in June, all 10 inpatient beds were relocated to other hospitals, a decision made without consulting the community.

“There were no community consultations, no local representatives involved. The decision was just made, and even elected officials weren’t informed until after the fact,” said Brenda Scott, Co-Chair of the Grey-Bruce Health Coalition.

Scott also questioned the role of the Minister of Health, arguing that major decisions about hospital resources shouldn’t be made without public input.

With Ontario’s healthcare system under strain, unions are pushing for urgent reforms, hoping voters will demand accountability and action at the polls.