Last week, protestors descended on the Legislature from all corners of the province showing their dissatisfaction over a McGuinty government that has no plan to address hospital deficits and protect patients' services. Without a plan there is a risk that outpatient services will be reduced, beds closed and nurses laid off and emergency rooms closed throughout Ontario, including our own hospitals in Alliston, Collingwood, Barrie and Markdale.
PC Health Critic Elizabeth Witmer raised the issue in the House last week during debate on our PC Opposition Day motion that called on the McGuinty government to develop a plan to address growing hospital volumes, protect patient services, prevent nurses from being fired and address growing hospital deficits.
In 2003 Mr. McGuinty promised he was going to unclog the emergency rooms and revolutionize long-term care. He said he was going to protect patient services and improve access to care. Well, since 2003 we have seen the exact opposite.
Long-term-care beds for the more than 25,000 people who need them have not been built. Instead, those people linger on waiting lists. Some of them languish in hospitals. In fact, 20 per cent of the beds in hospitals are occupied by alternative-level-of-care patients.
It's disturbing that opposition members and people from across Ontario were forced to rally by the thousands to hold this government's feet to the fire and to ensure that residents are able to access the healthcare that they pay for.
Of course, we know the history of Mr. McGuinty promising not to bring in any new taxes and then bringing in the so-called health tax. Given that the government sticks its hand in our pockets at this time of year, every year, to pay for the health tax, people want to know where those services are and why those same services are either under threats of closure or, in some cases, have already been shut down.
On energy policy the picture is equally as bleak. The Green Energy Act (Bill 150) has wound its way through the committee process and is now before the House for its final reading. I have written extensively on this topic and as the implications of this Act are so enormous, I feel compelled to keep you up to date on it.
Just weeks ago the Progressive Conservative Caucus commissioned an independent study from London Economics International, a highly respected, independent firm, specializing in electricity analysis. Their findings only served to confirm our worst fears about Bill 150.
One of the key findings in the report is that Bill 150 will cost Ontario households $1,200 extra each year once fully implemented. And that doesn't include the effect of Mr. McGuinty's new sales tax.
The report also proved what a load of hogwash the government's assertion that the Bill will create 50,000 new "green" jobs really is. Put simply, London Economics said, "No support has been provided for these estimates." It noted how there are only 46,500 people who are currently employed in the combined electricity, natural gas and water/sewage utilities in the province. How the government would more than double that is beyond any of us.
The report went on to state that, "Furthermore, there are the economic implications of higher energy costs from the Green Energy Act, which has the potential to negatively affect employment."
In other words, the Liberals totally made it up because they thought it sounded great. But hey, at least when it comes to governing this government has been consistent in making it up as they go along.
