Schreiner addresses rural health care priorities in visit to Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound with Municipal Councillor & candidate Joel Loughead

January 31, 2025

CHESLEY/HANOVER — Mike Schreiner visited several communities in Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound with municipal councillor and local candidate, Joel Loughead to draw attention to rural Ontario’s health care crisis.

Schreiner and Loughead met with Ontario Health Coalition and Chesley Hospital Action Committee representatives at Chesley Hospital to learn how staffing shortages contributed to the hospital’s heartbreaking decision to close its ER department. The Ontario Greens are committed to keeping rural health care services open and accessible by increasing provincial hospital funding and hiring more doctors, nurses and frontline workers.

“The incredible work and advocacy of the OHC and Chesley Hospital Action Committee is a stark reminder that small rural hospitals are a lifeline for our communities, ” Loughead said.  “More needs to be done to make sure that our families will have access to life-saving care when they need it the most.”

“The current state of access to health care in rural communities like Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound is inexcusable,” said Schreiner. “While Doug Ford is busy wasting billions in the GTA on highways, tunnels and ripping up bike lanes, rural hospitals continue to close and people are forced to line up around the block just to sign up for primary care.”

According to the Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA), rural Ontarians are losing primary care providers at a rate of 12% per year – that’s four times faster than people in urban centres.

“Ontario Greens are running strong, independent, local champions who understand their local communities and are committed to giving rural communities the resources they need to take better care of the people we love,” said Schreiner.

Following their meeting with the OHC, Loughhead and Schreiner took time to hear directly from voters and canvass local neighbourhoods. Next, Schreiner will be in Kitchener Centre for “Super Saturday” with deputy leader Aislinn Clancy as her re-election campaign continues to build momentum.

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