Healthcare Providers to Hold Forum on the Crisis in Health Outcomes for the Poor in Ontario

Toronto, Sept. 7, 2011 -Over 100 healthcare providers are registered to attend a forum on poverty and healthcare outcomes, which will be held at 25 Cecil Street, Toronto from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday September 10.

Organizations sponsoring the forum are the Ontario Nurses Association, Ontario Healthcare Providers Against Poverty, the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions, the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty, the Ontario Healthcare Coalition and many others.Poverty and malnutrition lead to higher child mortality rates and rates of chronic disease. Social assistance rates were cut by the Harris government and are now 55% below where they would have been without that cut. In addition, the Liberal government has cut the special diet allowance that provided money to people with chronic conditions to buy food.

Organizations sponsoring the forum believe that social assistance rates must be raised substantially and the special diet allowance restored.

For further information:

Patti Encinas, Ontario Council of Hospital Unions 905-807-3910

Lisa Schoeffield, Ontario Coalition Against Poverty 416-899-6445