Dear Friends and Comrades,
We
are witnessing a tumultuous time in Ontario which constitute over 38% population
of Canada, housing more than 12.55 million people. Canadian population rose to
33.48 million in 2011 growing at the rate of 5.9% per year and the population of
Ontario followed almost same national growth rate at 5.7%. GTA (City of Toronto,
Region of Durham, Region of Peel,Region of York and Region of Halton) is the
main stay of Ontario lifeline which growing on a rapid scale at 9% and house
more than 6.55 million people, over 50% of the total population of Ontario.
Projected population of GTA will reach to staggering figure of 9.4 million in
year 2041.
Keeping
in view the huge human resource of Ontario, its very pertinent to look into the
provincial government policies about health care and status of Ontario vis a
vis to other provinces of Canada on health care services and spending. Its
a shocking fact that until 2014, Ontario witnessed 0% growth in its Health care
budget since last three years. From 1990 over 18,500 hospital beds has been cut
which is deepest cut in Canada. Public Private Partnership plan which was
initiated in Ontario in 2001-2002 has proved to be a boon for private clinics as
Auditor General of Ontario shockingly found out in his last year report that P3
has increased cost to $8 billion, whereas It has been a traumatic burden on the
Ontarians, resulting long waiting time, poor services, unavailability of
specialist and an economic hit as well.
One
will be surprised to know where Ontario stands in comparison to other provinces
of Canada in Health Care spending? Before coming to that point, let me tell you
the economic contribution of Ontario in Canadian economy. GDP of Canada in 2013
was $1.893 Trillion (per capita income $53,870), Ontario’s contribution was about 37%
(biggest) i.e. $695 Billion with an average per capita income below to the
national average $ 51,340. Now look at the figures government spending of
Ontarian's health which is lowest in overall Canadian provinces. Public Hospital
spending, per person in 2012 in New Found land was highest $ 2,519 where this
data for Ontario is only $ 1,372. Ontario stands on 8th position in the list of
10 provinces of Canada in terms of overall Public Health Care Funding, again New
Found land top the list with per person spending $ 5,399 and Ontario way behind
$ 3,963
Its
a wake up call for all of us, to fight for a better and healthy future, not only
for our future generations but for us too. Its time to tell policy makers that
Health is a state subject and we demand for total health. We demand the removal
of all private profiteering class which is being propped up at the cost of hard
working Ontarians. Remember, if we did not fight today, we will face its dire
consequences when we reach our retirement age. Don’t forget, average Canadian
life is 82 years.
Please
spare time for the seminar to hear more astonishing facts about deteriorating
conditions of Health sector of our province, we shall definitely take this move
to the next level by holding a protest demonstration on April 12 besides Civic
Hospital located in Brampton.
Best
Regards
Shamshad
Elahee Shams
People’s
Voice Forum
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