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Fountain Pen

EMAIL DRAFT

We know that sometimes thinking of what to write can be the most time consuming part of sending an email or letter so we crafted a draft letter that you can simply copy and paste, or amend and personalize as you wish.

Example Letter

[Your Name]
[Address]
[City, Province, Postal Code]
[Email or Phone — optional]

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[Date]

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Dear [MPP/MP Name],

I am writing as a concerned constituent deeply moved by the tragic death of 16-year-old Finlay van der Werken, who waited more than eight hours in an Ontario emergency room—despite being triaged as a CTAS Level 2 patient—before being seen by a physician. Tragically, by then it was too late.

This heartbreaking event highlights a broader, systemic crisis: in 2022-23, Ontario saw 1.2 million pediatric emergency visits, nearly 20 percent of all ER visits, and the average stay for admitted pediatric patients in ER is a staggering 19.2 hours, with only 27% admitted within the recommended 8-hour target. Alarmingly, about 85% of pediatric ER visits occur in general emergency departments that are often not adequately prepared for children.

Right now, Ontario lacks any legal protections specific to pediatric care in ERs, there is no legislated wait-time standards, no mandated pediatric nurse-to-patient or physician-to-patient ratios, no independent oversight, and no mandatory public reviews after pediatric ER deaths.

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Finlay’s Law which is advocated through the petition started by his mother Hazel—calls on Ontario’s government to correct these gaps by:

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  1. Setting enforceable maximum ER wait times for children under 18 (e.g., physician assessment within 2 hours, admission within 8 hours).

  2. Mandating safe pediatric staffing ratios in ERs.

  3. Establishing independent oversight to audit hospitals, investigate pediatric ER deaths, and enforce compliance.

  4. Mandating public and independent reviews of all pediatric deaths occurring in ER waiting areas.

  5. Providing funding for improved pediatric emergency readiness—staff, training, infrastructure 

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These are not just policy suggestions, they are life-saving measures, designed to ensure no child suffers the devastating fate Finlay endured.

I strongly urge you to support the introduction and expedited passage of Finlay’s Law. Please advocate for concrete legislative action, and press the relevant Ministers to prioritize this reform, so that no other family experiences such a preventable loss.

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Thank you for your time and consideration. I respectfully ask for a response outlining the steps you will take to advance this critical change.

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Sincerely,
[Your Name]

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