Perth Wellington MPP Randy Pettapiece says many seniors face a 70 per cent increase in the medication deductibles thanks to the recent budget.
The provincial budget announced seniors above the low income threshold will see the Ontario Drug Benefit Program Deductible increase from $100. to $170.
Pettapiece adds the government also increased the low income eligibility thresholds from about $16,000. to just over $19,000. a year for singles, and up to $32,300 for couples.
He says the budget did not offer any boost in long term care beds, or physiotherapy.
“The government’s budget was nothing more than a set of tax increases,” said Pettapiece. “What are seniors getting out of it? Nothing new for long-term care beds. Nothing new for seniors’ physiotherapy.”
In response to Pettapiece’s question, the Minister Responsible for Seniors read off a list of programs including the Healthy Homes Renovation Tax Credit – a tax credit for seniors that the government cancelled in last week’s budget, and the Ontario Clean Energy Rebate – a program the government cancelled effective January 1, 2016.
“The minister was touting programs his government cancelled,” Pettapiece said. “It goes to show just how little seniors seem to matter to the Liberals.”
Pettapiece says seniors already complain that the prices for hydro and groceries are becoming unaffordable . He is very concerned that higher drug costs and higher gas taxes at home and at the pumps will result in even more seniors unable to afford the Liberal cost of living.
“For decades, Ontario seniors have worked hard to make our province great,” said Pettapiece. “But now – thanks to the Liberal budget – their retirement years are becoming completely unaffordable.” Today, Premier Kathleen Wynne suggested she is considering raising that low income threshold for the Drug Benefit program.
