SoVote

Decentralized Democracy

Ontario Assembly

43rd Parl. 1st Sess.
October 26, 2023 09:00AM
  • Oct/26/23 11:00:00 a.m.

Thank you for the question—already on it. Our government is working with Indigenous partners, such as the ministry’s investment in 21 Indigenous primary health care organizations across Ontario, with sites both on- and off-reservation and delivering a wide range of services. We’ve invested $10.31 million in 2021-22 from the Ministry of Health to expand culturally safe and Indigenous-led mental health and addictions services for Indigenous people living on- and off-reserve.

In 2021, our government announced $1.5 million in annual funding to expand access to specialized mental health and addictions services in northwestern Ontario.

We’re getting it done.

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  • Oct/26/23 11:30:00 a.m.

Well, I’m not sure where the member opposite has been when we announced a $30-million expansion to primary care in the province of Ontario, and we are assessing those interests right now. I believe the member opposite and his NDP party voted against that investment—$30 million, an increase in primary care multidisciplinary approach, one that I may add is the first time that we have had an expansion in the primary care multidisciplinary area since we formed these projects in the beginning.

We absolutely understand that we need to expand, but that is why we are doing so much, whether it is working with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario and directing them to review, expedite and ultimately license internationally educated physicians who are waiting to practise in the province of Ontario.

So you understand that we are making investments in Niagara region with a new hospital, with expanded primary care clinics that are going to make a real difference in his community and communities across Ontario. We will continue to make these investments whether or not the member opposite and the NDP vote against them.

But I must say, when we make investments and expansions in residency positions, the NDP vote against it. When we make investments in primary care expansion—$30 million—they vote against it. When we make investments in over 50 capital builds, whether they are new builds like the South Niagara Hospital or expansions and renovations, the NDP vote against it.

We’ll get the job done. The NDP continue to oppose all of these health care investments.

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