QUEEN'S PARK - This morning during question period, Official Opposition NDP Health Critic France Gélinas (Nickel Belt), asked the Premier why his government continues to withhold investments in healthcare. A recent report from the Financial Accountability Office (FAO) shed light on the Ford government's financial mismanagement of Ontario's healthcare system:
"Once again, the FAO report reveals the undeniable truth - the Ford Conservatives simply cannot get the job done when it comes to safeguarding the health of Ontarians," said Gélinas. "They are sitting on a substantial contingency fund while attempting to privatize our public healthcare system instead of responsibly utilizing taxpayer dollars to protect the health of sick Ontarians.
During the first three months of this year, the Conservatives spent $1 billion less on health care than they budgeted. While emergency rooms continue to close, two million Ontarians do not have access to primary care, and a thousand children are on a waitlist for surgeries. What will it take for this government to go from words to action, stop sitting on the money allocated to health care and get people the care they need?"
In response to the Ford Conservatives’ claims that the FAO reports are mere fairy tales, Gélinas pointed to ER closures across the province.
"ER closures and healthcare workers can attest to the accuracy of the FAO report. It depicts the harsh reality of the Ford government's mistreatment of sick and injured Ontarians across this province. The Ford Conservatives claim they have a plan, but it seems to be centered around the privatization of healthcare."