The Northern Nine (N9) are very pleased to announce that the lawsuit initiated by the MIC's Group of Health Services, Anson General Hospital and Bruce Peterkin on March 6, 2013, has been dropped. ( Name retracted)
The N9 were exonerated on Friday, August 2, 2103, with the announcement by their lawyers, Stockwood's of Toronto, via the Osler Law Firm, of Toronto, the plaintiffs' firm, that a ?Notice of Discontinuance', had been issued. The ordeal ended with the statement from the plaintiffs indicating that they ?wholly discontinue this action'.
From day one, the N9 stood their ground, affirming their innocence and concerns about healthcare services, the management and governance at Anson General Hospital in Iroquois Falls. They didn't give up over this five-month period, nor will they give up on health care going forward!
They believed that, freedom of speech is a fundamental, democratic right. Section 2(b) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom, states ?freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression including freedom of the press and other media of communication'.
The N9, and other local health care advocates, remain committed to work on behalf of concerned citizens of Iroquois Falls. They want to be sure no one else working at the AGH will need to resign because of the working environment; face being fired without cause; end the practice appointing staff; stop Board members from being squeezed out for asking too many questions and end the exodus of doctors and senior staff.
Very clearly, this was a SLAPP lawsuit, 'Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation'. It was an attempt to silence the criticism of our community's concerns of the management, governance and health care services. However, this prompted the NE LHIN to initiate a review by KPMG, and the MOHLTC to launch a Ministerial investigation by Ron Gagnon. We appreciated Deb Matthew's, the Minister of Health's, announcement of a supervisor taking over the management and governance of AGH, in her statement she affirmed “Recent concerns about the quality of the hospital governance and management have raised serious doubts about the ability of the AGH Board to properly govern the hospital's affairs”.
It is believed the new Supervisor will need to take many steps in order for AGH to regain the confidence of the citizens of Iroquois Falls; the least of which will be a new Board of Directors and Senior Management. It is hoped; the new Supervisor will work closely with this community and establish an open and transparent operation at the Hospital.
The N9 wish to express their appreciation to a long list of people who gave them the strength to stand up for their convictions:
• First, the many citizens of Iroquois Falls who supported the yard / bake sale, and those who made financial donations toward the legal defence fund. It is an understatement to say we truly appreciate your support and contributions.
• Eveline Bourassa whose fund raising efforts and commitment to bring the community together to fight for our health care services cannot be matched.
• Those community members who participated in the rallies on February 6th, March 5th , and July 2nd, your voices didn't go unheard.
• All current and former residents who have joined our letter writing and advocacy campaigns. It is right to want to protect health care in our community.
• Special thanks to Mr. Ray Corcoran for tabling the motion to defer the amalgamationvote.
• Natalie Mehra, Director, Ontario Health Coalition who came to Iroquois Falls on April 25th to share her organization's knowledge and experience about what is happening with health care services in Rural and Northern Ontario.
• And last, but not least, Mr. John Vanthof, our MPP Cochrane Timiskaming who has been with us at the rallies and who stood up for us at Queen's Park, you understood our pain.
This vindication arrived slowly, but is very encouraging, as we look forward to the public release of the two reports and recommendations, by the MOHLTC & the NE LHIN.
This community wants to work collectively to shape the future of health care services and be sure that never again will taxpayers fund a lawsuit which is meant to harm people who were trying to make things right.
