Ontario's premier offered no new funding announcements, instead choosing to use a visit to London to tout her government's pharmacare program.
Kathleen Wynne, along with Deputy Premier Deb Matthews, spoke to a handful of students and dignitaries at a breakfast at Western University on Friday morning. Her remarks centred around OHIP+, which as of January 1, 2018 will cover the cost of prescription medication for Ontarians under the age of 25. The plan to provide free drug coverage for anyone 24 or younger was previously announced as part of the 2017 budget.
"Four-million young people and children will be able to have free access to medicines. We know this is the kind of support that families need," said Wynne. "It's a huge leap forward towards a national pharmacare plan, a general universal pharmacare plan which we know is necessary across the country but Ontario is stepping up and taking a lead because we know it is so important."
Wynne did not take kindly to suggestions her real reason for visiting the city was to get a head start on campaigning ahead of next year's provincial election.
"This is about making sure we talk to people around the province about what's in our budget," said Wynne. "We can't assume that everyone knows, starting January that their kids and their young people will be able to get free medication. It's really an important thing for people to understand and be able to ask us about. I'll be talking about this for a long time into the coming months because not everyone knows that this is coming."
The premier was also questioned about future funding for London's controversial bus rapid transit (BRT) system. Specifically, she was asked whether the money would still be there for the city as the debate over routes continues.
"There have been long discussions on some projects in Toronto, there have been long discussions on projects in Hamilton. I think that communities have to work this out and we are there to work in partnership with them," said Wynne.
As for whether or not London would see the kind of provincial investment in its BRT system that Kitchener/Waterloo received for its light rail system, Wynne only noted the cash that's been earmarked for transportation across the province.
"What we want to support is the right transportation infrastructure in all of our communities around the province, which is why we've got 190-billion over 13 years that we are investing, we are already into that investment. But in this budget there was $30-billion more for investment in transportation and infrastructure around the province," said Wynne. "We will work with communities."
With a total price tag of $560-million, London's BRT dreams rely heavily on funding from both the federal and provincial level. It's hoped the province will kick in $215-million.
Wynne is spending the remainder of the day in Sarnia-Lambton.
