• Place an order, or for other inquiries:
  • 416-923-3567 ext. 3325
  • content@newsmediacanada.ca
  • Home
  • Why CommunityWire
  • How It Works
  • Services & Rates
✕

Durham Region vaccine rollout must not be contracted out to for-profit provider

4 June 2021
Categories
  • Finance and Business
  • Health and Safety
  • Media Release
Tags
  • Canadian Union of Public Employees
https://cupe.ca/

DURHAM REGION, ON –/COMMUNITYWIRE/– The Ontario government’s plan to privatize vaccine delivery will undermine the ongoing publicly delivered vaccine rollout in Durham Region, according to the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 1764.

The Local represents 350 paramedics employed by the Regional Municipality of Durham, who are administering vaccines through in-home services and mobile vaccination clinics.

Kristie Osmond-Jones, president of CUPE Local 1764, said there is no need for the provincial government to interfere with vaccine rollout in Durham and privatize a public service.

“What is the purpose of bringing in a private for-profit company to administer vaccines? Why should public tax dollars go towards executive pay and corporate profits? The municipal government is capable of providing this service without interference from the province,” Osmond-Jones said.

The Ontario government has begun the process of contracting out vaccine provision across the province to Medavie Health Services, a for-profit corporation.

Medavie has recently posted job openings for certified paramedics in Toronto, Peel and Durham Regions “to assist with mobile vaccination clinics in the province of Ontario.”

However, Medavie is not a licenced ambulance service and therefore, its employees cannot be described as paramedics in the performance of this work.

“The provincial legislation stipulates that paramedic services need to be publicly-delivered through regional municipal governments,” said Osmond-Jones. “To bring in an unlicensed provider raises concerns about quality of service, workplace safety, and administration of services.”

Osmond-Jones said the people of Durham must fight this privatization scheme to maintain quality of services and receive value for their tax dollars.

“We know through experience that privatization of health services results in inferior quality. The higher death rates in for-profit long-term care homes during the pandemic served yet another painful reminder of this fact. Are we seriously considering going down the same route again?” she said.

-30-

For more information, please contact:

Zaid Noorsumar, CUPE Communications, 647-995-9859, znoorsumar@cupe.ca

Kristie Osmond-Jones, President of CUPE Local 1764, 905-441-4407, president@cupe1764.ca

Share

Submit Your News

EVENTS CALENDAR

  • MEDIA ADVISORY: Violence surging during pandemic against hospital nurses, PSWs and other staff who are hit, sexually assaulted, racially attacked, verbally harassed: poll
    27 July 2022
  • MEDIA ADVISORY: Violence surging during pandemic against hospital nurses, PSWs and other staff who are hit, sexually assaulted, racially attacked, verbally harassed: poll
    27 July 2022
  • MEDIA ADVISORY: Thunder Bay, Kenora, Sault and other northern Ontario RPNs, PSWs and other hospital staff among those dealing with surge pandemic violence
    25 July 2022

RECENT RELEASES

  • Opération Gareautrain lance une nouvelle campagne animée sur la sécurité ferroviaire à l’intention des jeunes Canadiens
    10 August 2022
  • Operation Lifesaver Launches New Animated Rail-Safety Campaign for Young Canadians
    10 August 2022
  • Undervaluing workers now will lead to havoc in September, CUPE warns Brock
    10 August 2022
  • Les travailleurs et travailleuses de l’éducation présentent des revendications de négociation pour la réussite des élèves et de bons emplois
    2 August 2022
  • Education workers present bargaining proposals for student success & good jobs
    2 August 2022

CATEGORIES

Be seen where the audience is looking
News Media Canada
37 Front Street East, Suite 200
Toronto, Ontario M5E 1B3

416-923-3567 or toll-free 1-877-305-2262
content@newsmediacanada.ca

© Copyright 2020 News Media Canada. All rights reserved.