Mike Brown hits the war path against 'Slick Ernie'

A surprise decision by Premier Ernie Eves yesterday to end the current session of the Ontario Legislature has put Algoma-Manitoulin MPP Mike Brown on the war path.

Eves's decision to, for the first time in Ontario history, bring down a budget while the Legislature isn't in session, has led to speculation that the premier is playing pre-election politics.

Over the past 24 hours, Brown, a Liberal, has issued no fewer than three news releases.

The full text of all three documents follows:

****************************************************************** Slick Ernie Eves goes to Hollywood but can't be trusted: Brown

SAULT STE. MARIE - Mike Brown, today said the document released by Ernie Eves on March 27th will not be a budget and the information contained within it cannot be trusted to be accurate.

"This is not a budget. It is a taxpayer-funded Hollywood directed infomercial," said Mike Brown.

"The Progressive Conservative Party should be paying for this photo opportunity, not the people of the province."

Academics and senior Parliamentarians are decrying the Harris-Eves government for subverting democracy.

"One of the most important jobs of Parliament is to hold the government of the day accountable for how it spends the taxpayer's money."

"This abuse of taxpayer's dollars and democracy shows Ernie Eves' contempt for the people of Ontario."

"Eves is afraid to introduce a real budget because he knows he can't cut billions in corporate taxes, give half a billion to private schools, and invest in our schools and hospitals without running a deficit," said Brown.

****************************************************************** Northern Ontario health care needs secure funding: Brown

Queen's Park - - Liberal Seniors Critic and Algoma-Manitoulin MPP Mike Brown said today that the Ontario health care system is in shambles because of mismanagement by the Harris-Eves Tory government.

"Everywhere we turn, in every community, hospitals are making cutbacks, families are without doctors and people are genuinely concerned that their government is not protecting their health," Brown said.

Brown noted that hospitals in Algoma-Manitoulin are facing funding shortages that could result in fewer beds, fewer nurses, and even fewer health services in our Northern communities.

"The Manitoulin Health Centre and The Sault and Area Hospitals, both multi-site hospitals, are facing significant funding shortfalls. This government continues to use a one-size-fits-all, it works in Toronto it has to work up there approach to dealing with Northern Health-Care funding and that won't work," said Brown.

"Patients are waiting too long for surgeries. Families are waiting too long to get in to see a doctor or specialist. Our hospitals are buckling under the stress of constant under-funding and Ontarians have lost faith in the Tory government to provide quality health-care," said Brown.

Brown is calling on the government to provide the multi-year funding that the Minister has promised to hospitals over and over again, instead of spending millions on health care ads.

******************************************************************* MPP Brown and Dubreuilville residents disappointed that Ernie Eves delays return to Queen's Park

Dubreuilville - Algoma-Manitoulin MPP Mike Brown today said that he is extremely disappointed that the legislature will not be returning until April 30th.

Today Premier Ernie Eves cancelled without notice the scheduled beginning of the spring session of the Legislature.

The Legislature has not met since early December but was scheduled to begin sitting on March 17th.

"His Majesty Ernie is displaying a slick arrogance that should offend every democratic bone in every Ontarian," said MPP Brown.

For weeks now the community of Dubreuilville has anxiously awaited the promised response to the Ernie Eves electricity crisis that threatens the viability of the community and its major employer Dubreuil Forest Products.

"It is outrageous that the government will not be called before the legislature to account for its electricity policy.

The people of Ontario, the people of the North, and the people of Algoma-Manitoulin should expect no less than the government to be held to account," said Brown.

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