Horwath focuses on people and their lives during leaders’ debate

TORONTO – Ontario families are feeling a new hope – hope that with Andrea Horwath, they won’t have to accept cuts, wait longer for care, or accept less from their government. The contrast with Doug Ford was clear during Sunday evening’s leaders’ debate, where Horwath laid out her positive vision for Ontario, while Doug Ford relied on petty personal smears.

“There is this growing sense that we don’t have to settle anymore,” said Horwath. “We can end hallway medicine. Have good schools and better jobs. Fix what’s wrong and do what’s right. So that families get ahead, seniors live in dignity, and our kids have a great future.

“For years, governments have been making life harder in Ontario. Health care waits are long and hallway medicine has reached a crisis point. Life is expensive. Together, we’re saying it doesn’t have to be this way. We don’t have to accept Doug Ford’s $6 billion in cuts to health care, seniors care, transit and our children’s classrooms.”

Ford has promised at least $6 billion in across-the-board cuts. To do that, he’d have to close 36 hospitals, fire 28,000 nurses, close 780 schools, and fire 20,000 teachers. He has yet to release a platform, refusing to tell people exactly where the axe would fall and what he’d cut.

“Kathleen Wynne was a big disappointment – but instead of going from bad to worse, Ontarians have a choice this election. People can choose a premier that will invest in the services that matter most and help everyday families build a great life in our beautiful province. This election, Ontarians can choose change for the better.”

The priorities laid out in Horwath’s Change for the Better platform include:

• Ending hallway medicine and long health care wait times, and fixing the problems in long-term care
• Taking on student debt by converting provincial student loans to grants, and creating thousands of student co-op jobs
• Lowering hydro bills by 30 per cent
• Ensuring all Ontarians have coverage for prescription drugs and dental care helping Ontarians stay healthier, making life more affordable, and easing the pressure on emergency rooms
• Asking the richest people and richest corporations to pay a bit more to make it all happen