Michele says NDP will fix health care in the Sault

Ontario NDP government has solid plan to reduce wait-times, remove caps on surgeries and add 600 new beds in the Sault by 2021, says McCleave-Kennedy

Photo supplied by Michele McCleave-Kennedy

NEWS RELEASE
NDP CANDIDATE MICHELE MCCLEAVE-KENNEDY
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Ontario NDP Candidate Michele McCleave-Kennedy said too many Sault families still don’t have access to health care that they can count on close to home, and it’s time for change for the better.

“The Sault has dedicated and talented health care professionals but there are too many barriers to accessing their services. Wait lists are long and front-line caregivers are run off their feet as they do their best to provide care for our loved ones. Families are still forced to leave home and go south for vital procedures and care – it doesn’t have to be this way. It’s time Sault families had a premier working for our health care system, not against it, and a plan that will bring change for the better to northern health care.”

McCleave-Kennedy said that health care in Ontario hasn’t recovered since the last time the Conservatives were in office when they fired 6,000 nurses and slashed 7,000 hospital beds. The Wynne government has left Ontario’s hospitals in crisis.

“The Liberals had 15 years to repair the damage the Conservatives did to northern health care, but they’ve only made it worse. Now, Doug Ford’s shown that he’ll do even more damage to hospitals and health care with $6 billion in cuts across the board– that could mean firing 28,000 nurses,” she said.

Andrea Horwath's Change for the Better platform lists a number of steps to fix northern health care. We’ll invest $1.2 billion in Ontario hospitals immediately to end hallway medicine right now, and put $19 billion toward repairing, upgrading, and building health care facilities across Ontario.

We’ll shorten wait times for procedures by ending arbitrary caps on surgeries, and end years-long waits for long-term care for our seniors by adding 600 new beds here in Sault Ste. Marie by 2021.

“Sault families shouldn’t have to settle for a Wynne Liberal government that cut services or a Ford Conservative government that will cut even more. It’s time to restore hope and bring a change for the better to northern health care,” said McCleave-Kennedy.

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