Premier Doug Ford says the province is already spending billions in Niagara on health care
Doesn't look like Ontario's premier will intervene to keep Fort Erie and Port Colborne urgent care centres open around the clock this summer.
Mayors Redekop and Steele asked the province to do something after Niagara Health reduced the hours due to lack of staff.
Doug Ford said it's up to Niagara Health, then repeated billions have been spent in Niagara so far. "It's unfortunate with summer hours, and everyone's on holidays. But, you see this every single summer, it's like Groundhog Day, over and over again. The doctors need holidays, the nurses need holidays."
Local NDP MPPs Burch, Stevens and Gates all slammed that response, saying this doesn't just happen every summer. They add it's not about holidays, but about lack of government action.
The premier also pointed to massive investments in medical schools. "It's unprecendented, the amount of money we're spending. Folks, it's $91-billion... I just got back from Boston, was with 6 Governors, and I told them we're spending $91-billion, which is larger than complete budgets of certain states on health care."
He also spoke of the billions spent on the South Niagara hospital, as well as millions in other parts of Niagara.
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