NDP candidate comes out swinging – wants us to look closely at the hospital funding announcement.

By Pepper Parr

BURLINGTON, ON August 12, 2010 – She is certainly banging out the press releases and based on her words every announcement the government makes has a “crass political” purposes behind it. Peggy Russell is one tough lady – don’t mess with her.

NDP candidate Peggy Russell supports the need for a hospital upgrade – she just doesn’t like the way the government apparently wants to pay for it.

NDP candidate Peggy Russell supports the need for a hospital upgrade – she just doesn’t like the way the government apparently wants to pay for it.

She says: “After 8 years of silence”, and an in less than 60 days “the McGuinty Liberal government finally found their way to Burlington’s waterfront to announce infrastructure support for Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital. Ancaster Dundas Flamborough Westdale MPP Ted McMeekin was in town to make the announcement, surrounded by Liberal Party candidates.” Russell says she “was not surprised by this crass political move in the run up to an election. and says, “I have been an elected official during both the Harris and McGuinty governments and what has been clear in both cases is that between elections Burlington issues tend to get ignored and then come election time the promises begin. I have seen this story before.”   She said exactly the same thing in the last press release. Someone get Peggy a dictionary.

“Also unsurprising” says Russell “is the Liberal Plan to finance the hospital expansion and modernization through a private financing scheme. While the full details of what is planned have not been released, the Liberal government has indicated that it will continue with the P3 model of funding that they have renamed AFP (Alternative Financing Plan). Given the significant cost overruns and service reductions that have happened under this model, first adopted by Mike Harris”, Russell says the community has good reason to be concerned.

NDP candidate Peggy Russell says Ted McMeekin, Liberal Cabinet Minister, invited all his Liberal friends to the hospital upgrade announcement.  He didn’t invite Russell and he apparently didn’t invite the sitting member Joyce Savoline either.

NDP candidate Peggy Russell says Ted McMeekin, Liberal Cabinet Minister, invited all his Liberal friends to the hospital upgrade announcement. He didn’t invite Russell and he apparently didn’t invite the sitting member Joyce Savoline either.

“In Brampton this model meant an increased cost to taxpayers of over $200 million dollars. In Ottawa it has meant a reduction of 96 beds at the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre. McGuinty used to dismiss these private financing schemes as opposition leader but as Premier he has turned a Mike Harris pilot into an Ontario-wide private health plan.”

Them’s fightin words folks!

 

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