Defend Public Healthcare

The PCs have developed two papers on health care policy, one dated September 2012 and another (which “builds on that foundation”) dated February 2013.  Here are some key excerpts, with some commentary, starting with the 2012 paper, “ Patient CentredHealth Care ”. Terminate the LHINs and CCACs and turn their powers over to 30-40 “hospital hubs”:   “Build off of the existing high performing health infrastructure in 30 to 40 Ontario hospitals to create health hubs. Hubs will organize, plan and commission services for the patients in their respective regions.”  “The health hub is a simple concept. Hubs take over the LHINs’ job of local health care planning, funding and performance. They also take on the CCACs’ job of connecting people with government funded home and community care and long-term care. Most importantly, they will be required to integrate acute care with primary care, home and community care and long-term care into a seamless partnership.” Comment: This will give

Is Tim Hudak a radical right winger, bent on fundamentally changing Ontario society? Below are excerpts from the Progressive Conservative policy paper, “ A New Deal for the Public Sector ”.  It contains some very radical ideas that go far beyond even what former PC premier Mike Harris implemented.    Cut public spending:  “To balance the budget, government spending must be cut. Just slowing the rate at which spending increases will leave a balanced  budget as a distant hope, not a real goal. Ontario does not have the luxury of time to address the problem.” Comment:  Even the Mike Harris PC government increased public sector spending in its first term (by their account, 6.2%), and by much more in their second term (14%).  Ontario already has the lowest public sector spending per person of any province in Canada. Ontario Budget 2014   A two year wage freeze : “Our first step to balance the budget will be a two year wage freeze for the entire public sector, no except

The Ontario public sector spends less than almost all other provinces on health care.  And it's falling further behind.   Over the most recent four years per capita spending increased 9.7% across Canada, but only 5.2% in Ontario.  With this, the  Ontario public sector spends less per person than any other province except Quebec.  Ontario and Canadian per capita public sector health care spending in current dollars Ontario public sector spending equaled $3,952 per person in 2013, but the all-Canada average was 6.3% (or $248) higher, at $4,200 per person, according to a new report from the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI).  Heading for the bottom: Quebec, alone, does spend slightly   less than Ontario: $8 per year per person less.  But even that is changing.  In 2010, Quebec spent 7% less than Ontario, now they spend less than a quarter of a percent less.   With  a policy of real cuts in Ontario,  per capita public sector spending on health care has gon