For immediate release:
February 10, 2010

Dalton McGuinty Caught Putting Politics Ahead of Patient Care
 Deb Matthews must answer for why Liberals consider by-election more important than health care in London

NEWS:

Dalton McGuinty and Deb Matthews have been caught spending taxpayer dollars in a blatant attempt to influence the recent by-election in Toronto Centre. 

When the Liberal candidate in the Toronto Centre by-election began facing public criticism over the closure of Toronto’s Grace Hospital, the McGuinty Government was quick to respond with an unprecedented $15 million payment to the hospital in order to help the Liberal campaign. 

Unfortunately, the families of cancer patients in Southwestern Ontario have had less luck getting Deb Matthews’ attention.  While health care dollars were being spent on Liberal candidates in Toronto, the London Health Sciences Centre is being forced to cut 20% of the nursing staff in its cancer clinic.

QUOTES:

“Dalton McGuinty has once again been caught placing partisan politics ahead of health care services in the community.  Millions of dollars materialized overnight in order to help elect his Toronto Centre Liberal candidate, while the pressures at London Health Sciences remain.”


-- Ernie Hardeman, Ontario PC MPP for Oxford


“In his desperation to elect more Liberals, Dalton McGuinty has forgotten Ontario patients.  In her desperation to please Dalton McGuinty, Deb Matthews has forgotten Southwestern Ontario.”


-- Ernie Hardeman, Ontario PC MPP for Oxford

QUICK FACTS:

  • “Thank God for by-elections”

-- Al Duffy, vice-chair of the Toronto Grace Hospital’s board of trustees, confirming that partisan electoral politics were behind Dalton McGuinty’s decision to offer a $15 million grant.  (Toronto Star, February 4, 2010).

  • London Health Sciences Centre has disclosed plans to cut the number of nurses at the hospital’s cancer clinic by 20%.  Brian Orr, the vice-president of the London Region Cancer Care Program at the London Health Sciences Centre, places the blame on the provincial government -- “It is the fiscal challenges of the province that are forcing us to consider making some difficult decisions.”  (London Free Press, February 10, 2010)

 

CONTACT:
Ernie Hardeman
416-325-1239