Fedeli slams cuts to northern health care

NEWS RELEASE

VIC FEDELI, NIPISSING MPP 

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QUEEN’S PARK – Health care cuts imposed across Northern Ontario by the Wynne Government need to be stopped in their tracks, Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli demanded today.

During today’s Question Period, the Ontario PC Caucus highlighted the impacts of the devastating Liberal cuts, scandal, waste and mismanagement within the health care sector and called for Health Minister Eric Hoskins’ removal from his Cabinet post.

Fedeli noted the North Bay Regional Health Centre has borne the brunt of the impact, with more than $50 million cut over the last 3 years, resulting in cuts to nursing, emergency, cleaning, cataract surgery, psychiatric care, and forensic units.

“Specifically, this Liberal government has fired 350 full-time staff, including 100 nurses. They’ve cut 60 hospital beds at our 5-year old facility; a facility the community fundraised for,” Fedeli said.

“Now, rumours are swirling that the hospital’s cancer clinic will be closed by the end of the year. Speaker, can the Premier tell the people of Nipissing that our cancer clinic will not close?”

Fedeli also outlined other Liberal health cuts across the North including:

• Sault Ste. Marie: Sault Hospital funding cut by $10 million and 108 hospital staff cut
• Greater Sudbury’s Health Sciences North: 102 positions eliminated and 64 beds closed
• Timmins and District Hospital: 78 hospital jobs cut
• Thunder Bay’s Lakehead Psychiatric Hospital: 28 beds closed
• Temiskaming Hospital: 15 jobs cut, including 9 nurses

“This government’s waste, mismanagement, and scandal have hurt Northern families,” said Fedeli.  “Will the Premier tell us today, does she support these cuts to health care, or will she shuffle out the Minister of Health?”

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