Monday April 29 Progress Toronto began phoning thousands of people in Conservative-held ridings in Toronto to let them know about Premier Ford’s plans to gut public health and help them take action to put a stop to them.

As of Monday May 6, over 1,500 people had been patched through in Conservative-held ridings to speak to their MPP or leave a message and 8,400 people used our tools to send an email to their MPP. Click here to send your own message today.

Scroll down to hear the phone message and find out more.

The Problem

Thursday April 18 news broke that Premier Doug Ford and the Ministry of Health plan to gut public health across the province and singled out Toronto for the harshest treatment of all.

According to City Officials these cuts could mean the end of over 600 student meal programs serving more than 210,000 meals to hungry kids each day, overdose prevention programs, daycare safety inspections, restaurant inspections, clinics that prevent the spread of diseases like measles and hepatitis, sexual health clinics, and emergency response to public health threats like SARS and H1N1 - to name just a few programs.
See the full round up here.

The Action

Progress Toronto quickly launched an email petition, helping thousands of people send a message directly to their MPP, the Health Minister, and Premier Ford. Over 8,400 people have sent an email using our tool.

Monday April 29 Progress Toronto began phoning thousands of people in Conservative-held ridings in Toronto to let them know about these cuts and help them take action to stop them.

Conservative MPPs are best positioned to help stop these cuts since they are part of Ford’s government. They care when they hear from their local residents (i.e. voters). There are 11 Conservative-held ridings in Toronto.

As of Monday May 6, over 1,500 people had been patched through in Conservative-held ridings to speak to their MPP or leave a message. The calls continue this week.

Below is a sample of the message Progress Toronto used to phone people who live in Conservative-held ridings in Toronto. This is a sample message that we put together to post here. It is what we used for the riding of Eglinton Lawrence (MPP Robin Martin). This call sample is for those who press 1 twice.

Help us pay for the tools we use to stand up for our city. Chip in just $5 today. It all adds up and your support will go a long way in helping us defend Toronto from Ford: progresstoronto.ca/donate

On the call, we explain the cuts to public health and ask people to press 1 if they are opposed. Those who press 1 are then encouraged to press 1 again to help stop the cuts by being patched through to their Member of Provincial Parliament's (MPP's) office where they can leave a message or speak to them directly. This call is a sample of what someone would hear in Eglinton Lawrence if they pressed 1 each time and chose to be patched through. If people did not answer their phones, we left them a voicemail message with the name of their MPP and asked them to take action on our website.

Call your MPP

Want to call your MPP but not sure who they are? Email us at info@progresstoronto.ca and we will help you!

If you live in a conservative riding in Toronto, scroll down to find your MPP’s phone number:

  • Etobicoke North - Premier Doug Ford: 416-745-2859

  • Etobicoke Centre- MPP Kinga Surma: 416-234-2800

  • Etobicoke Lakeshore - MPP Christine Hogarth: 416-259-2249

  • York Centre - MPP Roman Baber: 416-630-0080

  • Eglinton Lawrence - MPP Robin Martin: 416-781-2395

  • Willowdale - MPP Stan Cho: 416-733-7878

  • Don Valley North - MPP Vincent Ke - 416-494-8778

  • Scarborough Centre - MPP Christina Mitas Maris: 416-615-2183

  • Scarborough Agincourt- MPP Aris Babikian: 416-297-6568

  • Scarborough North - Hon. Raymond Cho: 416-297-5040

  • Scarborough Rouge Park - MPP Vijay Thanigasalam: 416-283-8448

Or call the Minister of Health’s office: 416-327-4300


Text of the Live Answer Call

Hello, this is Erica from Progress Toronto with an important message and question for you about massive cuts to public health. We can be reached at 1 866 258 4103 or by email at info@progresstoronto.ca.

The Provincial Government announced huge cuts to Public Health that will put lives at risk in our city.

Toronto’s mayor is opposed to these cuts. These cuts could end meal programs serving 200,000 kids, daycare and restaurant inspections, emergency response to outbreaks like SARS, health inspections of long term care facilities for seniors, and more.

Public health services prevent hallway medicine and keep people out of hospitals, saving lives and ultimately saving health care costs.

How do you feel about these cuts to public health?
If you don’t like these cuts to public health Press 1
If you support the cuts to public health Press 2
If you’re not sure Press 3

Pressed 1:
With your help, we can stop these massive cuts to public health. Your Member of Provincial Parliament Robin Martin works closely with the Premier, who supports these cuts, and they need to hear from you. They have the power to help stop these health cuts.

Press 1 now if you’d like to be transferred to Robin Martin’s office.

You can leave them a message telling them that you live in their riding, that you want them to stop the massive cuts to Public Health and that we need the Province to continue to fund public health programs in Toronto. The city can’t afford any cuts to provincial health funding.

Pressed 1: ROUTING PROMPT
Thank you, you will now be transferred to Robin Martin’s office.

This is Erica from Progress Toronto and we can be reached at 1 866 258 4103 or by email at info@progresstoronto.ca.