‘Unconscionable’: NDP slams Ford’s underspending on health care amid health crisis

QUEEN'S PARK — Ontario NDP Finance critic Catherine Fife responded to the Financial Accountability Office’s latest report on government spending, which shows shocking underspending in key areas like health:

“It’s unconscionable that, in the middle of a health care crisis, the Ford government is choosing to underspend on health care by almost $900 million. Pediatric ICUs across the province have been overwhelmed. Surgeries are being cancelled. Families with sick children are waiting upwards of 10 hours for care.

In shortchanging health care funding by $859 million, Doug Ford is sending a clear signal that his government doesn’t want to spend the money to fix the crisis in our hospitals. We should be investing more to ensure people get the care and treatment they need, when they need it, not spending even less than planned.

Health care isn’t the only critical place where Ford is withholding money. People in Ontario are struggling to get by due to high inflation and skyrocketing food and housing prices. Food bank usage is up. Kids are struggling with poor mental health. Instead of investing in the services people need, the Ford government is spending $3.5-billion less than planned. This government is shortchanging sectors including education, post-secondary education and children’s and social services.

Ontarians deserve a government that steps up to support them. The NDP will continue to fight for desperately needed investment in our health care, education and social services; to address our hospitals crisis, and ensure people have the services they need.”