Ontario NDP leader Andrea Horwath visited the Centretown Community Health Centre Thursday as part of a public consultation campaign addressing issues in health care.
Horwath spoke to health care professionals at the centre and asked for their input on how to improve the health care system in Ontario. Ottawa is the second major stop on her tour, which kicked off in Toronto on Tuesday.
“We are going out,” said Horwath. “New Democrats are going out, myself and my MPPs, across Ontario to engage with people in a conversation about their health care system – what’s working and what’s not working.”
The consultation process isn’t limited to input from health care professionals. The NDP also encourages patients and members of the public to read a discussion paper posted on their website and respond with comments and suggestions.
The NDP is seeking advice on a range of topics, such as how to make the health care system sustainable and how to support seniors as their health needs increase.
“What we want to do is bring these ideas and issues before the legislature and debate them and try to get the government to take action,” said Horwath.
Horwath lamented the loss of legislation aimed at reforming some aspects of health in Ontario due to prorogation. A hospital CEO salary cap bill and a bill banning tanning bed use for anyone under the age of 18 were both dropped when the legislature closed in October.
“But whenever it comes back,” said Horwath, “we’ll be ready with some of the ideas and thoughts of Ontarians.”
If the legislature isn’t recalled and the province faces an election, she continued, the NDP will incorporate the input gathered through these public consultations in their platform.