..."It's more about what's not there that bothers us. Past speeches from the throne failed to mention health tax or HST. You start to wonder ... what's in store for us next?" Mr. Shurman said.
..."There's nothing in this speech about controlling spending. One wonders about the urgency assigned to this deficit by a government that created it. As for the new projects announced in the speech, there's not enough detail to get your head around," Mr. Shurman added.
..."Emergency departments are designed for immediate trauma and disease treatment, not for managing ongoing acute care, but York Central, like most hospitals, is hard-pressed to do anything about that. The Liberals talk about solving the problem, but they haven't presented anything viable," Mr. Shurman added.
Health care challenges remain despite rosy throne speech
BY KIM ZARZOUR and ADAM MC LEAN - YorkRegion.com
March 11, 2010
How will it impact us? Especially if we have concerns about cutbacks at our local hospital?
Those are questions asked by many, following Premier Dalton McGuinty's speech from the throne this week, unveiling a five-year Liberal blueprint for provincial growth in education, business and health care.
Richmond Hill MPP, Dr. Reza Moridi, attended the throne speech and said it covered much of what he hoped to hear and provides a plan of attack to improve Richmond Hill, along with the rest of the province.
Yet his Conservative counterpart representing Thornhill, MPP Peter Shurman, felt the speech was rather vague.
"It's more about what's not there that bothers us. Past speeches from the throne failed to mention health tax or HST. You start to wonder ... what's in store for us next?" Mr. Shurman said.
"There's nothing in this speech about controlling spending. One wonders about the urgency assigned to this deficit by a government that created it. As for the new projects announced in the speech, there's not enough detail to get your head around," Mr. Shurman added.
Dr. Moridi admitted some challenges are ahead, most notably the area of local health care.
In a transcription of Mr. McGuinty's speech, the premier is quoted, "We have faster care at emergency rooms and improved and expanded hospitals."
That's perhaps a general statement province-wide, but one that appears to clash with the current status at York Central Hospital.
Yes, the hospital has recently undergone renovations and expansions, but began the year facing a debt of $12.5 million, forcing bed and staff cuts to aspects of care not funded by the province.
Therefore, wait times at York Central have climbed to new levels.
Although Mr. McGuinty's government has provided a 42 per cent increase in health care operating budgets over the last six years, even Dr. Moridi admits more must be done and there must be a new way of thinking to tackle health care obstacles.
"York Central Hospital serves an area of roughly 500,000. As population increases, life expectancy increases and advances in health care technology continue, the cost adds up," Dr. Moridi said.
"This cost is paid through public funds, but people don't want to pay more taxes, so we need to formulate new health care legislation to secure that future. Lots of work needs to be done," he added.
Mr. Shurman echoed similar sentiments, but remains skeptical about Liberal promises.
"Emergency departments are designed for immediate trauma and disease treatment, not for managing ongoing acute care, but York Central, like most hospitals, is hard-pressed to do anything about that. The Liberals talk about solving the problem, but they haven't presented anything viable," Mr. Shurman added.