Grey Bruce Health Coalition | Exeter Lakeshore Times Advance

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On May 26 and 27, more than 1,000 voting stations will be open across Ontario as part of a province-wide healthcare referendum.

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Since the beginning of April, the recently formed Grey Bruce Health Coalition (GBHC) has been working to organize this grassroots referendum in communities throughout Grey and Bruce counties.

At 41 different locations from Tobermory to Kincardine, Port Elgin to Holstein and Owen Sound to Thornbury, polls will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both days. Polls will be staffed by local volunteers and are open to residents 16 years of age and older. Voters will be asked to pledge that they will not vote twice in this poll.

The Ontario Health Coalition referendum question is straightforward – Do you want our public hospital services to be privatized to for-profit hospitals and clinics? “Yes” or “No.” Those who prefer to vote online are able to do so at PublicHospitalVote.ca.

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To operate the polls efficiently and effectively on the days of the vote, the coalition is still in need of many volunteers. Those interested in volunteering are asked to contact GBHC co-chairs Brenda Scott (519-375-5812) or Norah Beatty (519-477-3513).

Volunteers are still needed in Ayton, Chippewas of Saugeen, Dundalk, Durham, Elmwood, Eugenia, Hanover, Holstein, Kincardine, Lucknow, Neustadt, Paisley, Port Elgin, Owen Sound, Ripley, Rockford, Southampton, Tara, Thornbury, Tiverton and Walkerton.

Once the polls close on May 27, the sealed ballot boxes will be transported to a central location for counting. The counting will take place on May 28 under the direction of independent members of the community. Scrutineers and members of the media will be able to watch the count if they choose.

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Given the size of the region, counting will take place in two different locations. Ballots from Meaford, Thornbury, Clarksburg, Owen Sound, Rockford and Eugenia will be done at 107 Kiowana Beach Rd., Meaford. The contact person for this count is Beatty.

Ballots from the rest of Grey-Bruce will be counted in Chesley (specific location to be confirmed). The contact person for this count is Scott.

The local results for Grey-Bruce (a combined total for paper ballots and online votes) is to be released on May 29.

On May 31, all of the ballots collected in the province will be delivered to Queen’s Park where Ontario Health Coalition leadership is to conduct a press conference.