I rise today on behalf of Ontarians living in rural communities, who lag behind provincial averages in quality of health and health care. Across Ontario, we have seen a real problem, intensified by COVID-19, such as a shortage of nurses, family doctors and other health care workers. We’ve seen the toll it has taken on people’s faith in Ontario’s health care system.

To see the Minden hospital shut its doors is just another example of this Conservative government’s health care crisis. Closed emergency facilities and an absence of medical support services are a reality through many of our rural communities.

Dr. Paul Zalan recently wrote in Minden’s newspaper, The Highlander, “Closing an emergency department causes more than inconvenience. In case of a stroke, heart attack, embolism ... every minute counts. Interceding quickly is crucial for recovery. Delay results in death or permanent disability.”

Outraged by the lack of planning and consultation, residents brought a petition calling for a moratorium on the closure, with over 17,000 signatures.

As the summer season begins, Minden’s population triples, with cottagers, kids attending camp and other tourists. The new Haliburton plan has not yet filled its doctor shifts for the summer, while the Minden hospital had its schedule filled until September 2023. Community members are seeking full transparency on the decision-making process and access to the transition plan. They need to know the impact of closing the hospital on vulnerable populations, health care staff and regional growth.

If this government cannot keep Minden hospital open, it’s a signal that they have given up on rural health care. The people of Ontario—

It’s my honour to present the following petition. It reads:

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas the Haliburton Highlands Health Services board of directors has, without consultation with the affected stakeholders, announced the permanent closure of the emergency department located in the municipality of Minden Hills, Ontario, effective June 1, 2023;

“We, the undersigned, petition that a moratorium of this decision be implemented by the Ministries of Health and Long-Term Care immediately for a period of a minimum of one year to allow for consultations with all affected stakeholders to occur.”

I fully support this petition, will affix my signature and deliver it with page Senna to the Clerks.

I’m glad to be able to weigh in on this budget debate for budget 2023, which is indeed disappointing for a lot of folks across communities. I’m pleased to share some of their voices in this space, because many of them were not heard.

I will say that it has been a disturbing trend for quite some time that many community groups and agencies and voices are directed to a different door when it comes to presenting to this government. The finance committee, as we know, is a multi-party committee that travels across Ontario—arguably not enough. However, they travel to communities and hear from folks.

But then there’s this side process where the Minister of Finance and government MPPs invite folks to this community chat, community consultation, where agencies might get three minutes each to share with the minister, and then people think, after they’ve done that, they’ve spoken to the Minister of Finance and to various local MPPs, that they’ve made a presentation on the budget. What they don’t realize is there’s no record of that that is public, whereas if they present to the finance committee, there’s a record that the opposition parties have a chance to hear, have a chance to ask questions. There’s Hansard—thank you to the folks who travel with committee and keep track of the voices—but these folks are directed to that side door that says, “Hey, come and present on the budget.”

Disappointingly, there are a number of our community agencies in Durham who have been rerouted and their voices did not make it into the committee hearings, so I wanted to share a few of those folks. But I just wanted to say, Speaker, I think that is really problematic. Now, I will say, it’s always important, if you get a chance to talk to the minister face to face, you take it. But in addition to that, there is an accountable process that folks have been routed away from, and that is—well, I think it’s a bit dirty, but anyway, it isn’t how this place should work.

Some of the things that are missing from this budget are important to the folks in Durham region. There are seven members of this Legislature who represent at least part of Durham region—seven of us. I am the only non-government member, so my office is busy hearing from people who have concerns when it comes to government priorities.

I would like to share that something that was missing from this budget was funding to get the wheels turning for a new Lakeridge hospital. I want to read here from the Durham Business Alliance, which, as they say, represents the eight chambers of commerce and boards of trade of Durham region and a combined membership of approximately 2,500 local businesses and organizations.

They have said, “We are following up on our previous letter today to express our deep disappointment in the recent budget announcement which made no provision for funding a planning grant for a new regional hospital and trauma centre for Lakeridge Health in Durham region. We believe that the lack of funding for a new hospital is a major oversight in the budget. Durham region, with its growing population, is in dire need of additional hospitals,” and they list the various reasons.

They’ve said, “A new hospital for Lakeridge Health would not only address the issue of aging infrastructure, but also provide much-needed capacity to serve the growing population of Durham region. Lakeridge Health is ready to meet these demands ... we urge the government to recognize Lakeridge Health’s recommendation and reconsider its decision and allocate funding for a planning grant for the new hospital in Durham region,” and they said “no later than” the fall economic statement.

Of course, I support that, Speaker. As I said, there are seven of us in this chamber who are hearing the need is great and to not see it reflected in the budget is too bad, but there is a chance for this government to course-correct.

We’ve also been talking about mental health and health care in this House. I wish, though, that we were seeing more funds directed to places that would make a difference.

Here I have a submission from Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences, affectionately known as Ontario Shores. They have said, “Despite the urgent need, Ontario Shores does not currently have an emergency department to provide the necessary acute mental health care to Ontarians in need. We are requesting funding and approval from the government of Ontario to build and construct Canada’s first emergency psychiatric assessment, treatment and healing unit,” or EmPATH for short. “EmPATH is a psychiatric emergency care model that is transforming mental health care in the United States.

“We require a $1-million capital planning grant and approval of our stage 2 submission with the Ministry of Health.” They go on to explain how this model sets itself apart from others and would make an unbelievable, immeasurable difference in our community, but beyond our community, in the province.

It says, “The benefits of an EmPATH emergency department at Ontario Shores would have wider implications for Ontario’s health system. A model like this at Ontario Shores would reduce the strain on the province’s emergency rooms, allow for better, more specialized care for people in mental health crises, and free up resources for other emergency services.

“As one of only four provincially specialized mental health hospitals in Ontario, we are uniquely positioned to introduce this concept to Canada and are requesting a capital planning grant for this project as part of the upcoming Ontario budget....” They go on to say they have support from the “Durham MPPs, mayors of Oshawa, Whitby, Pickering, Durham regional chair, health care professionals, staff, and people in the wider community supporting our vision of transforming mental health care in the province. Partners such as Durham Regional Police Service and Region of Durham Paramedic Services have endorsed this project....” They’ve garnered over 8,000 signatures of Ontarians who want to see this first EmPATH emergency department built at Ontario Shores.

But alas, it was not in the budget. I would love to know why. If mental health is actually a priority for this government, here is a really big opportunity, and this would be a significant ribbon to cut for this government, but more importantly, would have remarkable impacts on people in need.

Speaker, I also wanted to raise the topic of hospice. I had actually a quick chat with Joyce Marshall in our community the other day at a community event, and she was very excited to be an ambassador for Hospice Whitby. They have decided on a name and unveiled that: the Hospice Whitby–Roger Anderson House. A lot of community care and interest and involvement in this project, but Whitby and Clarington hospice folks are asking for money. I know that they asked at these community consultations I was telling you about, that were a side process to the budget hearing. They did not actually get to present to the finance committee because they didn’t know they hadn’t—they thought this community consultation was sufficient. Hopefully, it was. And yet, the money isn’t in this budget.

I hope that the two or two and a half million each that they are asking for is something that this government can figure out, because what hospice would mean and those beds and that care for the community of Durham—as we have seen, Port Perry is a good-news story, the hospice there. As someone who has seen hospice up close and personally when my mother passed, and I know how important it can be and I know, frankly, how beautiful that the pieces that they add to a very challenging time for families can be, I do believe that this should be a priority for this government or any government.

Speaker, I want to go on to also share how challenging it is for folks. I got a letter from someone named Jennifer in Owen Sound. She had seen remarks that I made in this Legislature and said, “As you are aware, life on ODSP is hard. But the real nightmare is living with the knowledge that life will only get harder. A few years ago my fridge broke so now I use my 12-year old-freezer and a cooler, my shoes are coming apart so I hot-glue them back together, my electric kettle can take anywhere from five to 15 minutes as it shuts off repeatedly before the water boils. But I wait for the day the freezer breaks down, when my shoes are too bad to be glued and the kettle doesn’t boil at all. And that day is coming.

“I appreciate that you ... see myself and people like me as persons who are doing all they can and wish every day that we could do better. But the fact that we can’t shouldn’t mean we live everyday with the terror of a hard life becoming an unbearable one.

“Thank you for fighting for us to live without this fear,” wrote Jennifer from Owen Sound.

Speaker, people are hurting, as we have talked about with food banks. I have a really thoughtful letter from Ben Earle, the executive director of Feed the Need in Durham, who laid out recently in the paper for us about: “more clients than ever before who are fully employed, who own their” own “homes, and who would have historically been able to meet the demands of their household budgets. That is no longer the case.” Speaker, there is need in this province not being met.