Nickel Belt MPP and NDP health critic France Gélinas released a statement Friday after the Ford government announced it will undertake a realignment in health care.
“We’ll have more to say about these changes when more details emerge, but it’s safe to say we have real concerns about the nature of this ‘realignment'," said Gélinas in her statement.
The Nickel Belt MPP says that since taking office, the Ford Conservatives have been warning Ontarians that deep cuts are coming to the services that matter most.
"It’s reasonable for families to be concerned that this restructuring will be the beginning of staff, budget, and program cuts throughout our health and long-term care systems," Gélinas said.
"Mr. Ford’s government has already cut funding to mental health services by $330 million per year. Now, it’s being rolled in with other responsibilities, including French language services. That makes us worried that these critical services are being put on the back-burner. People are reminded of the last time a Conservative government in Ontario undertook a realignment of health care: they let 6,000 nurses go, and closed 28 hospitals and over 7,000 hospital beds."
Gélinas says that the NDP will continue to advocate for real investment in Ontario's health care system because patients and families need shorter waits and an end to hallway medicine – not cuts that make things go from bad to worse.
