Sudbury MPP Jamie West joined Andrea Horwath and the NDP to force the legislative assembly to vote on Doug Ford’s announced cuts to Ontario’s public health units on Monday.
West spoke in support of Horwath’s motion calling on the Conservatives to reverse their cuts to public health, and said the work of Sudbury’s own public health unit is essential to families in Sudbury and the areas it serves.
“Our public health unit saves lives,” said West. “Public Health Sudbury and Districts provides a variety of services that help the young and old, and everyone in between. They run family health clinics, parenting classes, workplace health programs, fall prevention programs for seniors, and so much more.
“Their programs work on prevention and education, and by doing so in a way that responds to the unique needs of our community. This government’s cruel and callous cuts jeopardize all of this vital work.”
The Ford Conservatives' cuts include reducing the number of public health units in Ontario to 10, down from 35. West said that Public Health Sudbury and Districts could face a massive funding cut, or be eliminated altogether.
West said that Sudbury is one of two northern cities that are part of the Large Urban Mayors Caucus of Ontario (LUMCO) that recently spoke out against Ford’s cuts.
“The Ford government is cutting without any consultation with our municipalities, that are going to be left to foot the bill,” said West.
“The Conservatives wants to pass down the cost of their cuts to services in cities like Sudbury through property taxes.
“Ontarians learned from events like SARS and the Walkerton water tragedy that public health units are essential for keeping us safe and healthy. We can’t afford to let this government take that away from us.”
