Ottawa area health-care workers react to Ontario throne speech
In a message to Ontarians about their plans for the province, the Ford government hinted at a “bold” new strategy for health care.
Some fear it’s the first steps on the path to privatization.
“As the province continues to pursue these [health care] reforms, it will not be limited by conventional thinking that stifles innovation and preserves a status quo that struggles to respond to growing challenges and changing needs. Instead, guided by the best evidence and the successes of other jurisdictions, your government will take bold action that prioritizes patients and their health above all else,” Ontario Lieutenant-Governor Elizabeth Dowdeswell read.
The province acknowledged the struggles affecting the health-care system across Ontario, including emergency room shutdowns in the capital, but pushed back against claims the system is in crisis.
The PC government says that nine out of 10 high-urgency patients are finishing their emergency visit within target times, and that surgeries at happening at 90 percent of pre-pandemic levels.
Ontario hospitals say it is thanks to the ability of health-care workers to pivot that they’re able to continue operating at an even higher capacity than pre-pandemic levels.
“It is short-staffed but running more beds than [Kingston Health Sciences Centre] did before the pandemic,” Dr. David Pichora, President and CEO of Kingston Health Sciences Centre said. “Short-staffed today really means we’re running a baseline number of beds that’s far greater than we ever did before the pandemic.”
The province highlighting the more than $40 billion being spent on health care, and the creation of more than 3500 new hospital beds, 30,000 long term care beds as well as the expansion of current hospitals like the $29 million allotted for new Civic campus In Ottawa.
The Ottawa Hospital said in a statement that it was pleased to see the Speech from the Throne highlight health care.
“The Ottawa Hospital is pleased to see that the provincial government is continuing to invest in our health-care system, as we work through the COVID-19 pandemic and plan for the future of health-care. We continue to work productively with the Ministry of Health to ensure that we provide high-quality care to everyone in need,” the statement said.
But health-care leaders say virtually every aspect of the system needs to be upgraded.
“We certainly need strategies for training and retaining or recruiting professionals. Physicians, nurses, RPNs, respiratory therapists, social workers, there’s a long list of people that we need to expand that capacity. We need to modernize our hospitals,” Dr. Pichota said.
Others are warning the new investments touted by the province will have little benefit if they cannot solve the root problems that have led to a health-care exodus.
“You can put as much money as you want into infrastructure in new beds, and new facilities and new training programs but if you’re not addressing the root cause of why are people not staying, all that money is for nothing,” Rachel Muir, a Register Nurse and the Bargaining President for the Ontario Nurses Association Local 83, said.
The province says it needs more help, calling on the federal government to increase health transfer from 22 per cent to 35 per cent.
Muir says the province needs to start by admitting the system is in crisis.
“How long do we have to keep repeating this message until it finally gets through? Honestly, I think we’re going to have to keep repeating it until people start to die. And that is coming,” she said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
BREAKING Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
'Unacceptable': Trudeau reacts after AFN chief says headdress taken from plane cabin
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief said her headdress was taken from an airplane cabin this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the incident 'unacceptable' and a 'mistake' on the part of Air Canada.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The World Health Organization said on Friday that the current overall public health risk posed by H5N1 bird flu virus is low, but for those with exposure to infected birds or animals the risk of infection is considered low-to-moderate.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
'Violation': CSIS had officer investigated after she reported a superior raped her
A CSIS officer's allegations that she was raped repeatedly by a superior in agency vehicles set off a harassment inquiry, but also triggered an investigation into her that concluded the alleged attacks were a “misuse” of agency vehicles by the woman.