NDP candidates across the region are taking aim at Doug Ford, warning the PC leader would leave the province's health care system on life support.
Speaking across the street from the St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital Friday, London West NDP candidate Peggy Sattler claimed Ford will cut over $6-billion in spending which would lead to the loss of frontline staff and services at the hospital.
"Doug Ford's cuts would mean six fewer beds in this hospital. Thirty-four people who work in this community would lose their jobs. That's 34 health care workers fired in St. Thomas. We cannot let that happen," said Sattler. “There’s no way to cut $6 billion across the board without shutting down hospitals and firing health care workers."
Sattler was joined by Elgin-Middlesex-London NDP candidate Amanda Stratton. Similar messages are being spread by other NDP candidates at other hospitals across Ontario, including Strathroy and Woodstock.
According to the NDP, under a Progressive Conservative government, the Strathroy Middlesex General Hospital would lose 12 health care workers and two beds, while the Woodstock General would see 24 frontline positions and ten beds cut.
"Health care and education make up half of the provincial budget. [Ford] says he is going to cut 4% across the board from provincial revenues. That is going to mean cuts to health care and education," said Sattler.
As part of the NDP platform, party leader Andrea Horwath has promised to increase hospital funding by 5.3%, immediately add 2,000 new hospital beds, create 40,000 new long-term care spaces over ten years, and invest $19 billion for new health care facilities and expansions.
Ford has pledged to cut hospital wait times by adding 15,000 new long-term care beds within five years and 30,000 over ten years. He has also said a PC government would invest $1.9-billion over ten years into mental health and addiction services, housing supports, and dental care for low-income seniors.
Sattler also fired back at Ford for comments he made in London Thursday referring to NDP candidates as "radical" and "unfit to govern"
"I would question Doug Ford's choice of candidates. There are potentially 29 candidates who are implicated in the 407 data breach. There are a number of candidates who are very controversial like Andrew Lawton who was hand-picked by Doug Ford and appointed to run in London West," said Sattler. "I am very proud of the caliber of candidates who are running for the NDP."
With less than a week left until the June 7 vote, Horwath is spending Friday campaigning in the Toronto area, St. Catharines, and Welland. Ford has stops planned in Thunder Bay, Sault Ste. Marie and Kapuskasing. Liberal Leader Kathleen Wynne has events in Hamilton, Waterloo, and Mississauga.
