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QUEEN'S PARK – Official Opposition Health Critic France Gélinas (Nickel Belt) issued a statement after damning reports revealed a quadrupling of Ontario's spending on private nursing agencies since the COVID-19 pandemic hit the province in 2020:
"We must end the exploitation of our hospitals and long-term care facilities by private, for-profit nursing agencies. Relying on such agencies was never a viable solution for our healthcare system. They are draining public resources, leading to increased ER closures across Ontario and seriously jeopardizing the quality of patient care. This situation is unsustainable. If Ford doesn't stabilize the healthcare workforce by simply repealing Bill 124, we will see the end of our beloved public healthcare system as we know it.
Ford's Conservatives must stop issuing more licenses to for-profit owners who have shown a track record of prioritizing private profits over the well-being of Ontario's seniors. During a time when we urgently need more beds and increased capacity for seniors' care, the government is letting private companies abandon our loved ones for financial gains.
The consequences of allowing for-profit corporations, accountable to shareholders, to oversee senior care have been disastrous. Ford’s Conservatives need to stop redirecting public dollars into private pockets. It's time to prioritize our communities' well-being and invest in an adequate public healthcare system that puts patients first.”
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