Budget: Doug Ford will not change the lives of seniors, protests Horwath

Leader of the Official Opposition in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, Andrea Horwath

Share November 5, 2020 5:05 p.m. Share Budget: Doug Ford will not change the lives of seniors, protests Horwath

Émilie Pelletier Local Journalism Initiative – Le Droit The Leader of the Official Opposition in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario Andrea Horwath said she was “horrified” by the Ford government's budget, unveiled Thursday.

Reacting to reading the Ontario government's annual budget, the New Democrat asked Premier Doug Ford “how dare he tell residents of long-term care homes that he's going to make their lives better, when he doesn't. 'offer no new direct and immediate funding to this sector'.

Since the start of the pandemic, Ontario has released nearly $ 800 million to protect people in long-term care homes, Finance Minister Rod Phillips said in his budget.

“The loss of life in long-term care homes remains the darkest chapter in the pandemic,” Phillips said in his statement in the House on Thursday. We know that action must be taken, now, to strengthen the long-term care system in our province. ”

The finance minister promises to increase the average number of hours of direct care to residents of long-term care homes, but no new investments are attached to this pledge in his budget.

Ms. Horwath pointed out that there is a dangerous shortage of staff in the institutions for the elderly, and the employees who are currently in place are underpaid.

She hammered that if she were prime minister, she would send an army of new employees, paid an extra $ 5 an hour, to long-term care homes.

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