NDP Health critic responds to Jones's announcement

QUEEN'S PARK--Ontario NDP Health critic, France Gélinas, responded to the Health Minister's announcement and the Ford government's continued push to privatize health care:

"Ontarians shouldn't be fooled - when Minister Jones says ‘innovation,' she means privatization. The Ford government created a crisis in our health care system by grossly underfunding it, capping workers' wages, and driving health care professionals out of the system.

Giving private, for-profit clinics freedom to offer health care services will mean that those who can afford to pay will get better, faster care while everyone else will be forced to wait longer. Privatization will further drive away nurses and doctors from our public system.

We do need bold action and bold investment in our public health care system. We need to end Bill 124 and implement a massive staff recruitment and retention plan, ensuring workers are respected and paid fairly."