ONA Calls for the Resignations of Chair and Vice-Chair of Hastings and Prince Edward Board of Health for the Health of the Community

BELLEVILLE, ON., September 27, 2023 – With the sudden resignations of Kate MacNaughton and John Hirsch – two Hastings and Prince Edward (HPE) counties Board of Health members – the Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) is calling for the immediate resignations of Board Chair Jan O’Neill and Vice-Chair Michael Kotsovos.

MacNaughton and Hirsch cited a lack of transparency at the Board of Health – the employer of the striking workers – as the reason for their resignation.

“The community should be extremely concerned about the apparent mismanagement of their public health unit and its ongoing failure to provide a fair contract to its front-line staff, some of whom have been on strike for nearly six weeks,” said ONA President Erin Ariss, RN. “ONA is calling on Board Chair Jan O’Neill and Vice-Chair Michael Kotsovos to take responsibility and resign immediately. If, as reported, important details are being withheld from other Board members, preventing them from making informed decisions about negotiations with health unit staff, then the Chair and Vice-Chair must resign,” demands Ariss.

The union is asking Medical Officer of Health and health unit CEO Dr. Ethan Toumishey to step in to ensure that more than 200,000 residents receive the care they need, including life-saving vaccinations for COVID-19, which is ramping up in the communities. “Dr. Toumishey must step in to ensure striking workers receive a fair deal allowing them to get back to serving their communities. Under the watch of the current Chair and Vice-Chair, the health unit has done nothing to resolve the issues needed to bring nurses back to work, including budgeting appropriately for fair wages.”

“Our nurses have more than earned and deserve respect from this employer and this community, not only for their knowledge, education and skills, but their dedication to preventing illness and outbreaks among the 200,000 Ontarians who live in Hastings and Prince Edward Counties. A new, fair deal must be offered to nurses, now,” notes Ariss.

-30-