Election Candidate Responses on Health

The deadline at Elections Ontario has now passed to apply to be a Candidate in the upcoming Provincial Election and there are six candidates. I asked all six four questions with the first question being “What are your Policies to improve the Province’s Health System?” All six responded. There is a limit of 250 words per response – some used all 250 while others were more succinct. It’s clearly a question of interest since each candidate (or party) has something to say. Note that for official information on eligibility to vote and voting locations (when known), see the official site of Elections Ontario – advanced voting starts May 19. (See Resources below).

The sequence of responses below will vary with each question – this first one is in last name alphabetical order.

Joshua Chalhoub – New Blue Party

Joshua Chalhoub
Joshua Chalhoub

Ontario’s healthcare system is in a state of crisis, with a growing population, the need for physicians and medical resources is staggering. Healthcare in rural parts of Ontario has been exacerbated by an ageing population, influx of new residents relocating due to climbing housing prices in urban cities and a shortage of affordable housing. There are inequalities in how provincial funding is being distributed which has rendered access to care extremely scarce. Provincial healthcare budget cuts have left rural hospitals compromised, struggling to meet the increased demand. Every Ontarian deserves dignity and respect in accessing medical care regardless of where they live. It is not acceptable that patients should be travelling across wide landscapes to seek medical care. Inability to access local medical care means unavoidable higher rates of premature deaths coupled with compromised treatment and in some regions, no local healthcare providers at all.

Healthcare budgets must be consistently maintained, and increased to reflect demographics, population and socioeconomic needs within those communities. We are not seeing health equity in many rural parts of Ontario due to the lack of leadership and innovation. Building a better healthcare system means reaching out to residents, community-based organizations and municipalities to devise region specific infrastructure that leaves no community behind.

Addressing the inequalities requires the creation of regional committees to develop sustainable plans to deliver accessible health care. Rehiring terminated nurses, and providing incentives for new doctors is prudent. Government must build relationships with local communities and health care professionals to bridge the gap.

Lisa Francis – Green Party

Lisa Francis
Lisa Francis

The Ontario Greens’ vision for Ontario is one that cares for its people and the planet we live on.

We will prioritise prevention in our healthcare system, create a robust system of primary care, invest in healthcare workers, support strong hospitals, protect public health, fulfill remote and rural healthcare needs, and build a more equitable healthcare system. Ontario Greens’ support a publicly funded, publicly delivered healthcare system and oppose further privatisation of care. Our vision puts the dignity of people ahead of private profits or government red tape.

We will increase primary care options with community health centres and nurse-practitioner-led clinics for 24/7 access to non-urgent care.

We will establish a nurse-led task force to make recommendations on matters related to the recruitment, retention, and safety of nurses.

We will immediately repeal Bill 124 and the problematic sections of Bill 106 and until then, we will provide a minimum hourly wage of $35 to registered practical nurses and $25 to personal support workers.

We will increase year-over-year hospital base operating funding to a minimum of 5%, and work with the federal government to provide surge funding to address the backlog of surgeries.

Vanessa Head – Ontario Party

Vanessa Head
Vanessa Head

An Ontario Party government will :

  • Permit non-profit organizations and private corporations to build, own, and manage hospitals and will permit citizens to hold supplemental, private medical insurance.
  • Provide funding for greater public hospital bed capacity and the hiring of thousands of more healthcare workers.
  • Streamline the process for accreditation of foreign-trained healthcare professionals who have been trained in jurisdictions with similar accreditation standards as Canada.
  • Open up more spots in Canadian medical schools, which have become notoriously challenging to gain entry. Many smart, young prospective Canadian medical students are travelling to schools in Ireland, the Caribbean and elsewhere, and then finding jobs in the USA. Time to keep these smart students at home.
  • Explore broadening the role of nurse practitioners and the creation of other, new healthcare provider roles.
  • Protect and assist private and charitable organizations providing alternatives to established medical providers when caring for individuals and families in crisis situations (e.g., Crisis Pregnancy Care Centres; Covid Care Alliance).

Jeff Kawzenuk – Liberal Party

Jeff Kawzenuk
Jeff Kawzenuk
  • We will train/hire 100,000 nurses, doctors, and other health care workers.
  • Invest $1 Billion to clear the surgical backlog.
  • We will ensure everybody has access to a doctor or nurse within 24 hrs. Also, we will grow the number of hospital beds by 20%.
  • $3 billion to train 3,000 new mental health and addictions professionals, including 1,000 mental health professionals for children.
  • We will empower pharmacists to provide more basic services.
  • We will repeal Bill 124.

Kim McArthur-Jackson – New Democratic Party

Kim McArthur-Jackson
Kim McArthur-Jackson

The Ontario NDP has a practical, doable plan to rebuild and strengthen health care in Ontario. We’re committed to making investments in critical services. We’ll make sure health care workers get the pay they deserve and launch a campaign to recruit, retain and return nurses and other health care workers to our hospitals and public health units, including areas like rural and northern communities.

As your elected MPP, together with the Ontario NDP as a team:

  • We will continue our commitment to Universal, Publicly Funded Mental Health Care;
  • We will reduce the waitlist for children’s mental health to 30 days;
  • We will provide an immediate eight per cent funding boost for frontline mental health and addiction agencies and provide ongoing sustainable funding, and introduce targeted hospital funding to increase the number of Tier 5 treatment beds for people with complex needs;
  • We’ll identify and publicize the number of delayed procedures and publish regular progress reports;
  • We’ll expand operating room hours over the evenings and weekends to increase hospital capacity, engage in a health care worker hiring blitz, and create a centralized referral system. We’ll make sure this gets done without privatizing our health care system;
  • We will provide dental care to every Ontarian;
  • We will take immediate action to begin hiring 10,000 PSWs;
  • We will give PSWs a raise of at least $5 above pre-pandemic levels;
  • We will take immediate action to begin hiring 30,000 nurses;

To find out all of the important details please see our plan here

David Piccini – PC Party

David Piccini
David Piccini

We know our health care system matters. Delivering the best possible patient centred care for Ontarians remains a priority of our PC Government.

Our plan to protect our progress and our track record on investments in healthcare is a key pillar of this election. When we were first elected, our healthcare system was broken. And we made real investments to fix it.

I am proud to have been able to deliver on massive investments for our community to strengthen our local health care systems.

From increased base funding for all local hospitals to a redeveloped Bowmanville Hospital; we have invested more in health care than any government in Ontario’s history.

Here is my record:

Increased funding for our local hospitals;

and so much more…

The next question is:

  • How will you make Housing more affordable? Answers will be published May 17

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16 Comments
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Eleanor
2 years ago

it is not more Longterm beds that are needed! We need more caregivers to give care in the homes of the elderly, where many prefer to live! These people would not be isolated in their rooms as happened during Covid with no family contact! They could be looked after by caregivers & at least be able to see their friends & family’s during that period! This option would not be as costly as building more Longterm residences!

JimT
2 years ago

It’s not “healthcare” it’s “illness care”.

Genuine “healthcare” would be directed toward prevention, nutrition, diet, activity etc.

Matt
2 years ago

Piccini’s PC response does a whole lot of patting themselves on the back for what they claim to have done over the past four years and pretty short on the details of their plan for the next four.

Do they just not have one or do they doubt the popularity of the plan they’ve got?

Kathleen
2 years ago

Over the years, PC’s and Libs have done equal damage to our Provincial Healthcare system. I will never understand why CEO’s of Hospitals get paid a gluttonous salary, while the ‘boots on the ground’ get a meager salary.
I agree that it is my duty as a citizen to vote. But maybe this year, I’ll change things up. Cause the Big 2 haven’t gotten it right. Ever.

Bryan
Reply to  Kathleen
2 years ago

Voting is important, but more is needed.
The candidates need to “feel the anger” face to face, by phone, by text, by email, by letter. They need to be engaged…confronted…by the electorate. Call BS on their pat party lines, speeches and fluffy answers.

Heed the wise saying: you get good government in direct proportion to your effort and participation.

Beachwalker
2 years ago

I see the Green Party wants to “Prioritise prevention”. Does that mean they will fund acupuncture, chiropractic care, dietitians and vitamins?

JimT
Reply to  Beachwalker
2 years ago

Acupuncture and chiropractic have nothing to do with prevention.

Nutrition and supplements are a sorely neglected area with a high potential for improving our lives in many different ways.

Beachwalker
Reply to  JimT
2 years ago

You are misinformed. Both acupuncture and chiropractic care can keep people with certain conditions out of the physicians office and off medications. I know. I am one of those people.

Rob
Reply to  Beachwalker
2 years ago

Beach – I was going to say something similar. Acupuncture, chiropractic, massage, physio/athletic therapy, etc…are all preventative modalities in addition to treatment for specific ailments.

Mrs. J.
2 years ago

Just wondering if it is a glitch, but why is the Green Party’s response about HOUSING and not HEALTH?

John Draper
Reply to  Mrs. J.
2 years ago

You are right. That is/was a glitch. I have now replaced the text with the correct text. My apologies.

Dunkirk
2 years ago

Thanks for asking the important questions John.-I am an undecided voter with no present political affiliation–
We pay two ways for our Provincial Health Care system: taxes and more conspicuously, wait times.
What I know is that if my dog needs an MRI, he can get one this weekend. If I need one….well… dial 1-800-sorry-we’re-busy…
With that said–we do have a two tier system and if I have a heart attack watching the Leafs game this evening, I have a choice of visiting NHH or making the drive up to the Cleveland Clinic or MedCan with my American Express card…
These seem to be the hypocrisies that are perpetuated in health care in Ontario that go unmentioned by all parties.

What seems to be overshadowed by the pandemic challenges and perhaps missed by our candidates, is the rise in local opioid tragedies. There was a point where they exceeded our Covid fatalities. I think our next MPP really needs to be a local advocate for his/her voters at Queens Park on local health care and not just a vessel that drops off cheques on Friday afternoons.

I need to learn more about why the gov’t passed Bill 124. I noted only one candidate referred to it.

Margaret
Reply to  Dunkirk
2 years ago

Two candidates referred to Bill 124 Green Party and Liberal, I too am interested in who passed it.

Rational
Reply to  Margaret
2 years ago

“In 2019, the Ford government introduced and passed Bill 124, wage-suppression legislation negatively impacting registered nurses, nurse practitioners, and health-care professionals. This Bill limits wage increases to a maximum of one per cent total compensation for three years”.

ben
Reply to  Margaret
2 years ago

It is a given that the NDP opposes Bill 124, and voted against it. In fact the only Party to be campaigning against it since its adoption.

Jayne Finn
Reply to  Dunkirk
2 years ago

Two parties referred to Bill 124: Green & Liberal.