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Question:

How do you draw attention to the reality that, as a result of rapid population growth, community hospitals in the GTA/905 regions surrounding Toronto suffer from chronic underfunding?

Answer:

You refine GTA/905 positioning and key messages and create a new visual identity for the Alliance.  This includes developing a website that gives visitors a place to voice their opinions; publishing a “State of the Hospitals Report” which highlights the chronic underfunding in the region; developing grass roots campaigns to garner media attention; arranging all-candidates meetings during provincial elections; and providing ongoing public, media, and government relations.

Result:

As a result of this campaign, the provincial government has acknowledged that hospitals in the GTA/905 region are underfunded on a per capita basis. The government has begun to address the issue with the announcement of $30 million in 2006 and an additional $120 million over three years in the 2008 provincial budget to assist hospitals in rapidly growing regions of the province. Additionally, many polls show that the Alliance’s key messages are getting through. Specifically, the numbers showed that less than one-third of those polled believe their hospitals are treated fairly compared to other regions, and more than one-half of people in the region agree that the quality of hospital care in the GTA/905 has declined because of under-funding.