Budget 2016 Includes No Credible Plan for Northern Ontario

QUEEN’S PARK – Today, Leader of the Official Opposition Patrick Brown blasted the Liberal Government over the lack of a credible plan for Northern Ontario in Budget 2016, which was tabled last week.

“The government has no credibility in the North. The Liberals say they value Northern Ontario. But not once did the Minister of Finance mention the North, Northern Ontario, or the Ring of Fire in his Budget Speech,” said Brown. “This is the third straight Budget the Liberals have re-announced the funding for the Ring of Fire. It’s a re-announcement of a re-announcement. But despite three years of announcements there is not a shovel in the ground or a dollar spent.”
During the government’s pre-budget hearings, the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs traveled across Northern Ontario and learned about the Liberal Government’s chronic underfunding of the health care sector. The Temiskaming Hospital in New Liskeard closed its operating room for 50 per cent of the time resulting in one of 10 staff getting cut. The Timmins and District Hospital was forced to cut 26 beds and fire 40 staff. In Sault Ste. Marie, the hospital was forced to cut 50 beds in acute and complex care.
“There is nothing in this budget for Northern Ontario except reduced health care and a higher cost of living,” concluded Brown. “Why has the Premier completely turned her back on the North?”
VIDEO LINK: https://youtu.be/OLLp_7UacAo