OPSEU/SEFPO President JP Hornick and members working at Public Health Ontario (PHO) Labs were at Queen’s Park this week to sound the alarm about the potential closure of six (6) out of 11 PHO labs in Ontario, and the risk it poses for all Ontarians – especially rural families and communities.
In the morning, JP Hornick and Casey McGuire (a PHO Lab worker and OPSEU/SEFPO Blood Services and Diagnostics sector executive member) were joined by MPPs Jamie West and Monique Taylor to raise their serious concerns about the potential closures.
Later, MPPs West and Taylor asked a question about the future of the labs during question period in the legislature. Instead of acknowledging the concerns of these workers and their communities, the Minister of Health chose to re-read a previous statement she had made about water testing in the province.
Earlier this spring, workers at the affected lab sites and members of their communities launched a petition campaign to stop the closures. This week approximately 9,000 signatures were delivered to Queen’s Park but more continue to come in. The delivery this week coincided with National Medical Laboratory Week, where we recognize the important role these professionals play in promoting the health and safety of everyone in Ontario.
“During the pandemic these workers were hailed as heroes. Now, instead of being celebrated they find themselves on the chopping block. It is unconscionable,” said JP Hornick. “Make no mistake, lives are at risk. To meet demand and keep our communities safe, we need to expand public health lab testing capacity – not cut it.”
OPSEU/SEFPO is calling on the Ford Government to stop the closure of the six labs and invest in the public health infrastructure needed to keep Ontarians safe and healthy.
News coverage
- Global News – ‘Dangerous’: Ontario lab closures would put lives at risk, workers warn
- The Trillium – Possible closure of public health labs ‘short-sighted and dangerous’: opposition parties, unions
- Durham Radio News – Union, advocates and opposition politicians raise concerns about proposed closure of six Public Health Ontario labs