ER closures a symptom of Ford’s healthcare failures

July 25, 2023

QUEEN'S PARK — Ontario Greens leader and MPP for Guelph Mike Schreiner released the following statement in response to reports that temporary ER closures have become so commonplace in Ontario that the Ford government has created a protocol for hospitals to follow before issuing a temporary closure.

“Over the past weekend alone, eight emergency rooms in Ontario were forced to temporarily close or reduce services because they don’t have the staff to run them.

The closures have become so commonplace that this government had to issue a protocol for hospitals to follow when they are forced to close.

It’s shameful and it’s inexcusable. The government shouldn’t need a protocol to patch the holes in a crumbling healthcare system.

What our hospitals – and our healthcare workers – need is a government that sees the value in public healthcare.

Instead, we’re feeling the effects of a government that has consistently underspent on healthcare, undervalued frontline healthcare workers, and sold off public services to private profiteers.

Ontarians shouldn’t have to worry about whether they’ll be able to access emergency care when and where they need it.

If this government really wants to repair our healthcare system, they must start with fair wages and better working conditions for our overworked and underpaid frontline healthcare workers.”

-30-