Sackville and area residents will express their opposition to recent healthcare changes at a rally planned for 5 p.m. Thursday.
They’ll gather in front of the Town Hall in Sackville, carrying hearts and signing a petition.
Hundreds are expected to attend to put pressure on the provincial government to reverse recent healthcare changes which will see the emergency room at Sackville Hospital closed overnight and day surgeries cancelled.
Organizers are planning to hand out Valentines Hearts for messages that will be sent to Premier Blaine Higgs, the health minister and the CEO of Horizon Health Network.
A petition with thousands of signatures already will be available to sign.
Green MLA for Memramcook-Tantramar Megan Mitton says residents in Sackville and surrounding areas are affected by these changes.
“People from Sackville are especially impacted, but there are people from Port Elgin to Memramcook who rely on these services. Even people outside of that area. People in Shediac and even people in Moncton coming down to Sackville either for day surgery or for other services. This has a wide-reaching impact,” said Mitton.
Mitton says she has been on the phone and sending emails to bring together community members. She also plans to take the paper petition and present it to the Legislature when it starts back up on March 10th.
“I did not know this was the government’s plan and I don’t agree with this plan. It is being presented as if this is the only option available and that’s just not true. Doctors, community members who support our hospital, were not consulted and that is just unacceptable,” Mitton said.
