In a press conference earlier this afternoon, NDP candidate James Gordon laid out a plan to reinvest seven billion dollars in Ontario’s health care system, while re-prioritizing patients and front-line care.
“The truth is, that the Liberals will boast about money they’ve put into the system. But that money isn’t reaching front-line care, and it’s not reaching patients,” said Gordon. “As the MPP for Guelph, I’ll represent your priorities, and strengthen transparency and enforce accountability in health care.”
Gordon explained that since 2005, waitlists for long-term care in Ontario have tripled. The NDP would invest 320 million dollars into long-term care over four years.
David Williams, a Guelph resident affected by health care cutbacks, explained that cuts to local care have meant dramatic decreases to patient care, and to the income of residents who work in the system.
“Remember that dollars for therapy equate directly to client care,” Williams said. “These cutbacks cut to the bone and muscle of community health. Front-line services should never be turned off like a tap.”
Williams met Gordon during the course of the campaign.
The NDP candidate for Wellington-Halton Hills, Dale Hamilton, also spoke.
“I’ve spent too much time, waiting in this emergency room with both my kids,” Hamilton said. “As a single mom, that means loading them both into the car and waiting for way too long.”
Hamilton, who has worked as a Personal Support Worker, or PSW, has found that cutbacks mean that workers are increasingly volunteering their time to care for clients - services that used to be provided through the health care system.
“The cuts have been so significant to one of my clients, that we are volunteering, so that she can have the dignity to stay home and not be institutionalized,” said Hamilton.
The NDP plan will pay for re-investment in health care by re-allocating money currently given away in corporate tax cuts, CEO salaries, and consulting fees. A focus on prevention and healthy living will also save money within the system.