SoVote

Decentralized Democracy

Ontario Assembly

43rd Parl. 1st Sess.
April 17, 2024 09:00AM
  • Apr/17/24 10:50:00 a.m.

Perhaps the member opposite wasn’t here yesterday, when I answered this question very clearly. Because we have the benefit of Hansard, I will repeat that answer:

“Let me be as clear as I can possibly be: There is no one in the province of Ontario or in this Legislature who believes that putting well water testing at risk is on the table. I want to be very clear on that matter.

“Of course, the Ministry of Health funds Public Health Ontario to provide testing services for individuals who rely on private drinking water systems to serve households. We all know that.

“The ministry has not made any decisions about changes to the provincial well water testing program, including which laboratories conduct testing of water samples.

“I want to be very clear: There have been no changes.”

Yes, it is medical lab technology week today, and we have a Learn and Stay program—

Interjections.

That’s the expansion that we’re doing. That’s the investment that we’re making. The member opposite needs to get her facts right and actually look at the numbers to see the investments that we have made, not only in the training, but in our public health system as a whole.

207 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Apr/17/24 11:30:00 a.m.

What I would say to Elizabeth and the many individuals across Ontario who want to get their critical diagnostic and surgeries done faster is, first of all, why is your representative, why is your NDP member, opposed to innovation in the health care system? Why does your NDP member continue to rail against innovation in our hospital sector, whether that is expansion of surgical and diagnostic centres in our communities so that we, yes, can continue to decrease wait times for diagnostic and surgical interventions?

It is really unfortunate that we have a member who represents a party who is diametrically opposed, philosophically opposed, to innovation in our health care system. We need to encourage that innovation to make sure that your constituents like Elizabeth, organizations and individuals across Ontario get access to that—

Interjections.

And again, I will say an organization and an NDP—

145 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border