Kingston votes 96 percent against hospital privatization

Almost 10,000 voters turn out for referendum.

by SGNews Staff

In what was called "a great day for local democracy", 9,855 Kingston and area residents turned out to vote April 13 in a community referendum organized by the Kingston Health Coalition on whether the region 's new hospital should be public and non-profit or P3 and for-profit.  Ninety-six percent voted in favour of a public non-profit new hospital.

Total votes cast were 9,885 with 9,492 voting in favour of the proposition that "the new Kingston hospital should be publicly funded with 100 percent non-profit ownership, operation, administration and maintenance."

There were 250 ballots against and 143 spoilt ballots.

"It was a great day for Kingston and area residents and for local democracy," said Ross Sutherland, chair of the Kingston Health Coalition.  "Almost 10,000 people braved the cold, rain and wind to vote at 55 polling stations staffed by 180 volunteers to keep their new hospital public and non-profit."

"Voters were knowledgeable about P3 hospitals and wanted to government to pay attention to the community's desire for a public non-profit hospital without the expensive private financing and long-term contracts with for-profit multinationals.  Many of the voters thanked the volunteers for giving them a voice on this important decision.  The results are clear:  Kingston and area residents want the government to drop the long term for-profit financing, maintenance and facility management contracts from the new hospital plans."

The health coalition, said Sutherland, will use the referendum results to "increase the pressure on the government to make the financially responsible decision, the decision that improves health care and the one that respects the wishes of Kingston and area residents."

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