Parry Sound-Muskoka Green Party

To genuinely listen to the opinions, concerns and ideas of the public and acknowledge their input by governing in accordance with them reflects participatory democracy.  The potential to empower the public in the decision making process of all sectors of government is a key component of what attracted me to Provincial politics.  However, we currently seem to be living in a dysfunctional system, in which our resident’s voices are only being heard, and not listened to.  This has never been more apparent than today’s conflict between the community of Burk’s Falls and Ontario’s government.  The people who live in Burk’s Falls have been told that an Urgent Care Clinic, Long-term beds, and other services are not necessary for their town.  Whereas, it is those very people who have rallied together to clearly express that they are extremely necessary.

Who is correct?
There are scores of points that have affirmed Burk’s Falls position (proximity to an essential service, impact of population growth, loss of potential business investment, and the list continues).  However, the government relied on one determining factor: Money. And their quick fix, first step focused on eliminating services that Burk’s Falls deserves to save $1.8 million to help Muskoka Algonquin Health Care (MAHC) out of their deficit. Burk’s Falls has been used as the scapegoat to bailout a much larger problem, which is the Provincial Government’s mismanagement of our tax dollars.

Consider that in 2004, Burk’s Falls’ health care services were included in the Ontario Health Care budget which stood at $29 billion.  Today, the Ontario Health Care budget has increased to $42 billion, yet health care services in Burk’s Falls have been decimated.  Nearly a 50% increase in funding has resulted in a decrease of services.  How is this possible?

I question the illogical choices and ineffective results that our Provincial government has recently made.  Following are but a few examples: The disastrous spending of $1 billion on e-health; The contradictory provision of financial assistance to auto manufacturers in need, while slashing health care services; The unnecessary establishment of the Localized Health Integrated Network that pays staff well over $10 million to inform how cuts to health care can proceed; The ill-conceived introduction of an Ontario Health Premium (tax) that has evidently resulted in less health care; The bizarre notion to hike taxes (HST) on products that promote health (e.g. bicycles, vitamins).  The list could truly continue in the format of an entire special section for this newspaper. 

From an economic, environmental, and social point of view it simply makes sense to reinstate our health care services.  If our riding’s voice accepts the cuts to Burk’s Falls, our complacency will reward the incompetence of how our Provincial Government handles our money, thereby leading the way to further inferior funding for health care in Huntsville, Bracebridge, Gravenhurst, Parry Sound, and all communities between.  Hopefully, we recognize that our current problems are more a lack of management rather than a lack of tax dollars.  Early in the New Year, the powers that be will return to present the MAHC deficit recovery plan.   This will be your opportunity to get involved, share concerns and solutions, and show your support for communities like Burk’s Falls.  

Matt Richter
Parry Sound-Muskoka
Provincial Green Party Candidate