Horwath will build new Brampton Hospital, Ford will cut front-line health care

Ford’s cuts will mean 250 fewer health care workers in Brampton

BRAMPTON — With Brampton growing fast, NDP Leader Andrea Horwath was in the community Tuesday to say she’s committed to stopping Ford’s cuts, and building the new hospital Brampton needs.

“Brampton families counting on better health care are worried that Doug Ford’s $6 billion in planned cuts would tear down the services they need,” said Horwath. “Brampton families are ready to stand-up for better health care and education. For an end to painfully long waits for hospital care and skyrocketing costs for child care. Together, we can stop Doug Ford and fix the services we need.”

Kathleen Wynne has conceded the election, but Horwath said there’s just too much at stake to risk Ford’s slash and cut agenda – especially when it comes to Ford’s plans to cut and privatize as much as he can – which includes health care. In Brampton alone, just in health care, Ford’s across-the-boards cuts would mean 250 fewer health care workers, making wait times even longer.

“While Ford will tear down health care, we’re going to literally build it up, with a new hospital for Brampton and a major expansion to the Peel Memorial Centre, so it can function as a hospital and emergency room, finally,” said Horwath. “Where Ford would starve our schools of funding we’re going to fund them properly, and ensure our children get the support they need. And while Ford backs Wynne’s hydro borrowing scheme that will see electricity prices skyrocket by 70 per cent after the election, we’ll get prices down and put Hydro One back into public hands.

“In this election, Brampton families can come together to stop Doug Ford and choose a change for the better. We know Kathleen Wynne has given up the fight against Doug Ford’s painful cuts – but I haven’t, and I know Brampton families haven’t either.”

Instead of cuts, Horwath’s platform includes:

• Ending hallway medicine

• Fixing seniors care

• Lowering hydro bills by 30 per cent

• Creating thousands of student co-op jobs and internships

• Providing drug and dental coverage for everyone

• Placing a moratorium on school closures

• Dropping auto insurance rates by 15 per cent, and ending neighbourhood discrimination

The NDP’s fully-costed Change for the Better platform can be found at ontariondp.ca/platform.