Ontario Registered Nurses Urge Voters to Choose Care, Not Cuts in New Radio Ads
TORONTO, May 21, 2014 /CNW/ - Ontario nurses deeply concerned about threats to health care emerging during this election are urging voters to "choose care, not cuts" in a new radio ad campaign launching today.
Ontario Nurses' Association (ONA) President Linda Haslam-Stroud, RN likens ONA's 60,000 registered nurses and allied health professionals to a sleeping giant, galvanized by threats to health care and nurses posed by PC Leader Tim Hudak's campaign platform.
"ONA is a non-partisan organization," she says, "and while Ontario voters are talking about the issues, nurses believe there are few issues more urgent than the need for more nurses in our hospitals, long-term care facilities and communities.
"The dangerous proposals of PC Leader Tim Hudak – including cutting nurses' pensions, freezing wages and increasing workloads – risk our patients' health and risk driving much-needed nurses out of the province. Ontario nurses are taking action," she said.
The radio ads launching today urge Ontarians to consider the impact that Tim Hudak's plans will have on their families' health. Over the coming weeks, nurses in communities across Ontario will be taking local action to urge voters to care about their health care, not cuts. You can listen to the two ads, airing in rotation, at www.ona.org/morenurses.
Over the next few weeks, many nurses will be leafleting in their communities, talking about risks to patient care and the need for more registered nurses in Ontario. ONA will also update a dedicated website later this week (www.morenurses.ca) to complement the radio ads and other campaign materials.
"Nothing is more important than our health and our health care system," says Haslam-Stroud. "As nurses, we are a pivotal part of the system and we advocate for our patients. This is an election in which voters need to hear the voices of nurses."
ONA is the union representing 60,000 front-line registered nurses and allied health professionals as well as more than 14,000 nursing student affiliates providing care in Ontario hospitals, long-term care facilities, public health, the community, industry and clinics.
Visit us at: www.ona.org; www.morenurses.ca; Facebook.com/OntarioNurses; Twitter.com/OntarioNurses
SOURCE: Ontario Nurses' Association
For further information: Ontario Nurses' Association: Sheree Bond, (416) 964-1979 ext.2430; cell: (416) 986-8240; [email protected]; Melanie Levenson, (416) 964-1979, ext. 2369; [email protected]
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