NDP Leader Andrea Horwath is dismissing the idea of working with the Liberals in the event a PC minority government is voted into power on Thursday.
Speaking during a campaign stop outside the office of London North Centre NDP candidate Terence Kernaghan on Monday, Horwath said she has no interest in working with a party or a leader that wants to cut public services or sell off public assets.
"I am just as disappointed as everyone else when it comes to the privatization and cuts that Kathleen Wynne has made," said Horwath. "I will not work with anybody that does that and so that rules out both the Conservatives and the Liberals."
Pressed on whether she would reconsider if Wynne was to step aside as leader, Horwath simply stated she wouldn't "disrespect and presuppose the decision of Ontario voters" ahead of Thursday's vote.
Despite the wet weather, over 100 NDP supporters gathered outside of Kernaghan's headquarters at 1050 Kipps Lane for Horwath's appearance. It was her first stop on a 24-hour, five-riding southwestern Ontario blitz.
NDP Leader Andrea Horwath
Horwath's busy Monday schedule is in stark contrast to that of Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford whose itinerary lists only a single public event.
"If Mr. Ford wants to hide in these last couple of days that is his decision to make," said Horwath. "I think people deserve to know not only who the people are that want to become premier, but be given more and more of an opportunity to get to know us and the respect of showing them a full platform."
Horwath also used the London visit to warn of PC cuts to health care. She claimed Ford's $6-billion in across-the-board cuts would lead to the loss of 600 front-line staff and 42 fewer beds at the London Health Sciences Centre.
As part of the NDP platform, 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.
Horwath will also be in St. Thomas, Woodstock, Sarnia, and Chatham on Monday. Wynne makes stops in Toronto, Newmarket and Midland, while Ford is in Scarborough.
