The votes are in for a province-wide “citizen-led referendum” on healthcare privatization.
The Haliburton Highlands LTC Coalition and HC Referendum Planning Team have announced a total of 108 yes votes and 5,396 no votes were made in Haliburton County.
It was in response to the question: “do you want our public hospital services to be privatized to for-profit hospitals and clinics, yes or no?”
According to the coalition, voter turnout was around 24 per cent, with more ballots expected to roll in from smaller communities in the coming days.
“The message was clear that the majority of Ontarians do not support privatization of our health care system and for-profit private clinics,” said the coalition in a statement.
Voting took place online and in-person across the province on May 26 and 27, with some advance polls. They are being taken to Queen’s Park on May 31.
**Written by Rick Lowes and Martin Halek