For Immediate Release – Friday February 9, 2007

Local Hospital Care Remains Key Issue for GTA/905 Voters

Toronto:  Once again the need to improve local access to hospital and health care services was a key factor in provincial by-elections in the GTA/905.

“The by-elections demonstrated that voters in the GTA/905 want their tax dollars spent in a way that also improves their local access to hospitals and social services.” said Kirk Corkery, Chair of the GTA/905 Healthcare Alliance.  “The growing gap in provincial funding for hospital care, home care and key social services in GTA/905 communities has become and is continuing to be a top-of-mind concern for voters.”

A recent PricewaterhouseCoopers report found that there is a $1.5 billion annual funding gap between provincial funding for hospitals and social services in the GTA/905 when compared to other regions of Ontario. The gap means that residents of the GTA/905 received $181 less per person in funding for social services and $246 less per person for health care services in their communities compared to other areas of Ontario. The gap in provincial funding has widened over the last several years even though GTA/905 residents are paying $570 million more in provincial taxes annually due to the health care tax.

In Burlington, the expansion of Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital and the growing gap in per capita funding for health care were key planks in candidates’ platforms.  In Markham, all candidates made commitments to fight for fair provincial funding for local health and social services and speed up the redevelopment of the Markham Stouffville Hospital.  Similarly, in the Whitby-Ajax by-election in 2006, fair funding for local health and social services including the hospital was seen as a deciding factor.

“We are concerned that residents of the GTA/905 are waiting longer for services, being forced to leave their communities for care or simply going without until their circumstances spiral out of control and they require costly interventions by the healthcare and child welfare systems,” said Corkery.

Corkery added that timely access to health and social services close to home is an important factor for building strong, prosperous and vibrant communities across the GTA/905.

“We hope that all provincial parties recognize this and offer GTA/905 residents a concrete plan for bringing better health and social services close to home and addressing the funding gaps for these services when they announce their platforms,” Corkery said.  “We look forward to working with newly elected MPPs in Burlington and Markham to bring fair funding to local health and social services.”

The GTA/905 Healthcare Alliance is the collective voice of acute care and mental health hospitals across the GTA/905 regions and is a member of the Strong Communities Coalition. Alliance hospitals provide care in communities representing more than 25 per cent of Ontario’s population.  The GTA/905 area is the fastest growing region in Ontario, accounting for more than half of Ontario’s annual population growth.  The Alliance represents more than three million residents to ensure that they get better care close to home.

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For information contact:

Tariq Asmi, Executive Director

GTA/905 Healthcare Alliance

Cell: (416) 948-2033  Office: (416) 205-1331

Email:  tariq.asmi@gtahealthcare.com  Website:  www.gta905health.com