Bruce Grey Owen Sound's member of provincial parliament continues his outcry against the Provincial Liberals plan to reduce access to seniors drugs.
MPP Bill Walker held a news conference at Queen's Park today to call on the Wynne Government to halt proposed changes to seniors drug benefits.
He says most seniors live on a fixed income in medically underserviced rural areas.
Walker says the planned changes would nearly double the cost of senior's prescription drugs, which could lead to poor health over time, and high health care costs for the province.
The PC Critic for Seniors and Long Term Care also says the government must make access to nursing home beds a top priority.
He says it has reached a crisis situation, with 24,000 seniors on waiting list for a nursing bed. He suggests that is expected to double in six years.
He adds the provinces long term care homes are aging, crumbling and outdated.
“After 13 long years in power, and despite me challenging the Minister, this government has still not issued an action plan to say when and where they will build the needed beds to house our province’s most vulnerable people and when,” he added.
MPP Walker said seniors’ care in Ontario is under threat of being rationed by the Liberal government, citing recent cuts to their physiotherapy services.
“It’s a deplorable and indefensible record. And frankly, it shows very little respect for our valued seniors,” concluded MPP Walker. “Our senior citizens deserve respect and much better care than they’re getting under this Liberal government. We call on the Wynne Liberals to halt the drug cost increases, return funding for physiotherapy services and take action on creating beds today!”
