By Doug Allan
There is a lesson in the government take-over of the Niagara Health System (NHS) for hospital bosses.
Public health care advocate and CUPE representative Doug Allan
The NHS hospital bosses pushed and pushed the so-called “Hospital Improvement Plan” even when the local communities rose up in revolt. Even the Ontario Hospital Association (or at least its CEO) waded in to fight the plan’s critics.
The ultimate result? The government, facing an election and even more problems at the hospital (in the form of superbug outbreaks) turned tail and admitted the hospital had lost the confidence of the community. (Duh!)
First, the hospital CEO was removed by the hospital board in January, then the government announced in May it would allow a review of the Hospital Improvement Plan, and now the government is putting the hospital under a supervisor. Will the hospital board be next?
The government will push hospital leaders to do their bidding without complaint, but can those hospital leaders count on back up when the going gets tough? Perhaps not.
Apparently, hospital leaders DO have to pay attention to their community. Especially when an election is in the offing.
So much the better.
And, who knows? We may see more re-positioning on health care by the Liberals. At least, before the election.
Doug Allan is a research representative for the Canadian Union of Public Employees who works closely with the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions/CUPE, which represents 30,000 hospital workers across the province. He also produces and writes for ‘Leftwords: Defending Public Healthcare’, which you can find online by keying in that name.
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Niagara At Large 
There are some excellent articles on the Leftwards site.
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Deceit it is – Liebrals are not to be trusted – Vote them out or it will be – same old same old – don’t give them another chance to do as they like !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Can’t believe the people who are in charge are still thumbing their noses at the public by stacking the deck with their own people in the majority ! They continue to silently call the public “STUPID” by the new inovations they bring forth……since they are in charge and hold the cards , they are holding us hostage with the pretense of doing what’s best which is proven to be disastrous!! What they are continuing to do is criminal as I see it because death & mayhem have resulted on their watch!!!
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Just a question. Who does William Snyder suggest we vote for? Surely not the Mike Harris refried beans? With all the cuts/Walkerton?
Harris’ amalgamations cost cities and regional areas massive expenses. So, without all the exclamation marks, can William Snyder give me some really good considered advice? Much appreciated, honestly. Some really canny advice would be gratefully received. Andrea Horvath? A Green party candidate? Some fringe evangelical party? What?
Gail B
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Gail, I’m truly tired of seeing lefties blame Mike Harris for everything — including the weather.
While I’m sure you and thousands of others believe the evil Harris deliberately served poisoned water to Walkerton residents… it’s a myth.
Two losers too stupid to do their jobs were responsible.
To answer your question; if you don’t like the choices, you can do like me, and not vote at all.
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I really should let this go. But It’s hard to do so in the face of such intransigence. Really, Mr. Chappelle? Not vote at all? Is that a considered, thoughtful, very intelligent way to engage the democracy in which we still belong? What happens then, if you disgruntled folk just all take a pass on voting? Who heads our Federal, Provincial and Municipal governments, if people feel as you do? Please do reconsider your position. Surely you can agree with someone. Anyone?
Sincerely, Gail B
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