(June 9, 2022)<\/p>\n
By: Shirley Roebuck, The Sarnia Journal<\/p>\n
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Bailey challenged on Tory claims about healthcare spending<\/strong><\/p>\n Sir:<\/strong>\u00a0Regarding the May 19 article, Healthcare dominated Sarnia-Lambton candidate debate.<\/p>\n MPP Bob Bailey inferred that the Sarnia Lambton Health Coalition and Ontario Health Coalition were lying about Doug Ford\u2019s and Bob Bailey\u2019s plans for public health care. Here is my rebuttal:<\/p>\n On Feb. 1 Health Minister Christine Elliot said \u201cindependent health facilities\u201d would be allowed to run private clinics to help the backlog of surgical and diagnostic cases. When the Coalition spoke out, the government back-pedalled, saying it wasn\u2019t true, but it\u2019s on video.<\/p>\n Increases in Bluewater Health\u2019s budget can mostly be attributed to extra COVID funding to deal with the pandemic.<\/p>\n Funding increases remain below the inflation rate, thus the terrible waits, sta\ufb00 burnout and resignations.<\/p>\n Bailey stated the government was building a new hospital in Wallaceburg. Money has been allotted for a new boiler system and renovations for patient clinics, but I\u2019m as unsure of funding for a new Emergency Room as I am of Mr. Bailey\u2019s comments about the SLHC statements \u201cbeing further from the truth.\u201d<\/p>\n He also stated the government is building a new super hospital in Windsor. It will have fewer beds than Windsor hospitals currently have, and the airport site has no public transit, making it inaccessible to anyone without a car or $30 for a one-way taxi ride.<\/p>\n Bailey stated: \u201cWe wouldn\u2019t be spending that kind of money if we were going to privatize it, so I\u2019d like to put to rest that lie\u2026\u201d The Fiscal Accountability O\ufb03ce does not agree with the government budget\u2019s numbers, noting it would have to cut $8.2 billion from health care to balance the budget.<\/p>\n Calling people names is often a sign of weakness or the lack of a truth-based argument. The truth is Ontario has underfunded the public healthcare system for over 25 years. The Conservatives are over half way in granting new 30-year licenses to for-profit LTC homes. The truth is the Conservatives have allowed almost total privatization of Home care, which has imploded. The truth is Mr. Bailey and Mr. Ford have no plan to sta\ufb00 hospitals or LTC homes. Respectfully,<\/p>\n