The MyNorthBayNow.com newsroom reached out to all the candidates that will be on the ballot for the June 2 provincial election to get their thoughts on the issues that matter in the riding.
Each week leading up to election day, we will publish a story with each candidate answering a question that residents have as they head to the polls.
Reports say our hospitals have been dealing with staffing issues and a constant overflow of patients. As our riding and our hospitals continue to deal with pandemic-related pressures, what can we look forward to seeing in terms of relief to the health care system if you’re elected? Â
Vic Fedeli – PC Party of Ontario
Conservative candidate Vic Fedeli says his party made great improvements in the health care system. Fedeli says the Conservatives hired 5,000 nurses, and 8,000 Personal Support Workers, built 3,100 hospital beds and invested $5 billion in long-term care staff, all while increasing the daily average care for patients. He also says 31,000 new LTC builds are currently being built while upgrading 28,000 of them. He says here at home, 600 units are being built just in North Bay.
Fedeli says those decisions brought relief to the health care system, and his party invested consistently in many areas including health, education and long-term care.
Joe Jobin – Ontario Party
Ontario Party candidate Joe Jobin says they have simple but effective solutions to hospital staff shortages and patient overflow issues. He says they’ll demand all hospitals and companies rehire doctors, nurses, paramedics and staff that didn’t take COVID-19 vaccines for conscientious reasons and compensate them for losses incurred. Jobin says the Ontario Party will also pass legislation that no government will have that kind of overreaching power. He also says they’ll have extra beds and supplies on standby for possible future pandemics or mass emergencies. Thirdly, Jobin says the Ontario Party will pass legislation to allow private hospitals for those who want private care, freeing up staff in public hospitals.
Erika Lougheed – Ontario NDP
NDP candidate Erika Lougheed says healthcare workers are telling her they’re burnt out, tired and feeling underappreciated. She says Bill 124, which caps public sector wages, is a big contributor and needs to be lifted immediately. Lougheed says the other issue is the underfunding of healthcare over the past 20 years. She says investments in healthcare and education are needed, pointing out when people aren’t taken care of, whether it’s dental care or home care, they end up in the Emergency Room. Lougheed says that adds to the pressures, including financially and addressing issues like expanding and funding homecare, taking care of workers and addressing issues upstream is her number one goal.
Sean McClocklin – Green Party of Ontario
Green Party candidate Sean McClocklin says they’ll take a preventative approach to health and wellness. He says they’ll develop a healthcare capacity plan to reopen hospital beds, operating rooms and services based on the population’s need for care. McClocklin also says they increase the number of nurse practitioners in long-term care and mental healthcare and push for a federally-funded pharma-care program. To deal with overcrowding in hospitals, McClocklin says they’d look at a system-wide strategy to better use existing resources for homecare, long-term care, nurse-led clinics and community care.
Tanya Vrebosch – Ontario Liberal Party
Liberal candidate Tanya Vrebosch says they have numerous policies when it comes to healthcare and it’s fully costed so they can hit the ground running on day one. She says their plan focuses on redirecting people from emergency rooms in hospitals to places that are better suited to care for them and focuses on prevention to keep people healthy rather than treating them afterwards.
Vrebosch also says repealing Bill 124 on day one gives raises to healthcare workers and those working short-staffed shifts. Among the many policies, she says they’re going to hire 100,000 healthcare workers, add more nursing and medical school spaces, ensure access to a family doctor or nurse practitioner within 24 hours, even in remote communities and more.
MyNorthBayNow.com was unable to obtain responses from the other party candidates prior to publishing.
