Hallway Healthcare
In 2018 Doug Ford ran on a promise to end hallway healthcare, but today the problem is worse than ever. Our hospitals are understaffed while many healthcare workers are undercompensated, and the expansion of public dollars going to private nursing agencies is making staffing significantly less efficient. We are often paying 3x the cost for the same nursing hour with a layer of profit added to the price. ~2000 Ontarians are placed in unconventional spaces in hospitals every day, like hallways, break rooms, or whatever space they may be able to find. Understaffing is taking a serious toll on our system.
READ MORE:
https://www.thetrillium.ca/news/health/hospital-data-shows-ontarios-hallway-health-care-problem-is-worse-than-ever-9370235
https://www.insauga.com/patients-placed-in-hallway-pods-as-hospital-deals-with-overcrowding-in-mississauga/
Greenbelt
Doug Ford has had flip-flopping positions on the Greenbelt, promising insiders in 2018 he’d open it up for development and then backtracking in response to public backlash, then going back again with an $8.3 billion scandal that currently has his government under investigation by the RCMP, even now as we go to election.
READ MORE:
https://globalnews.ca/news/9694836/ontario-greenbelt-promise-timeline/
https://globalnews.ca/news/10684664/greenbelt-investigation-auditor-general-retrospective/
Toronto Star: Bonnie’s letter to RCMP https://archive.is/cBqkD
Middle Class Income Tax Cut
In 2018 Doug Ford promised to cut income taxes for the middle class, saving taxpayers $786/year.
He never did.
READ MORE:
https://ontariopc.ca/doug-ford-will-cut-middle-class-taxes/
https://www.taxpayer.com/newsroom/ford%E2%80%99s-five-year-report-card
But Ontario Liberals will. Bonnie Crombie will cut income taxes and remove the provincial tax on home heating and energy, saving the average household $1150 every single year.
READ MORE:
https://ontarioliberal.ca/bonnie-crombie-announces-the-more-for-you-tax-cut/
Jobs
Doug Ford speaks often about protecting jobs in Ontario, but the numbers tell a different story. In the past Ontario has outperformed Canada on jobs numbers. Under Doug Ford, Ontario falls short, month after month. Compare these consecutive unemployment numbers between Doug Ford’s Conservatives and the previous Ontario Liberal government below. Under Doug Ford, jobs are leaving the province. Youth unemployment has recently hit 18.2%, resulting in many young Ontarians choosing to relocate.
‘Believe the numbers, not the premier: Doug Ford’s unemployment numbers are worse than when he took over from Kathleen Wynne’ – https://archive.is/ourwB
Youth Unemployment Rates: (link)
Ontario Labour Market Report: https://www.ontario.ca/page/labour-market-report-october-2024
Housing
Ontario’s housing crisis was a significant part of the conversation during the last provincial election 2.5 years ago. Doug Ford promised his government would build 1.5 million homes by 2031, but they are falling short of the starts they need to come close to that number. Meanwhile, other provinces are making gains to achieve their housing goals to meet the needs of their current and future residents.
Ontario’s new housing starts are the worst in Canada. We need serious action and Doug Ford’s Conservative government isn’t helping us get there.
Ontario Liberals have a real plan to help deliver more affordable homes for Ontarians, receiving praise from experts and advocates. Learn more about it here.
READ MORE:
Trillium: ‘Ford government deflects from housing woes in budget update’ (link)
Dr. Mike Moffatt (tweet)(Missing Middle Initiative)
‘Ontario won’t hit 1.5 million homes goal, housing starts shrink in fall economic statement’: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/fall-economic-statement-ontario-2024-ford-bethlenfalvy-1.7367635
Ontario Place Private Spa
Doug Ford’s government decided to move forward without public consultation with a 95-year lease to Austrian spa company Therme to redevelop the natural park at Ontario Place. Ontario Place was originally created by Conservative Premier Bill Davis as a place for Ontarians to use as a lakefront cottage for everyone. Under the cover of darkness the government moved forward with clearcutting the forest at Ontario Place to prepare the property to transform from a public park to a private spa.
“There’s no public money in this deal,” Doug Ford claimed in April 2023, but the Auditor General’s report has recently found that the province is already on the hook for $2.23 billion to date. Those are taxpayer dollars – your money – going directly into this project.
Doug Ford gave Ontario Place to a foreign-owned spa and made Ontarians pay. Approximately $400 from every household is coming out of your pockets to help build a private European spa instead of helping to support your local hospital or schools.
READ MORE:
https://globalnews.ca/news/10792487/ontario-place-lease-released/
https://thenarwhal.ca/ontario-auditor-general-mzo-environment/
Autism
In 2018 Doug Ford said that no parent would ever have to protest on the front lawn of Queen’s Park again. 6.5 years later, the autism waitlist has tripled and children on that list will never receive the support they need.
In 2014, regarding the plan for a home in his community for people living with developmental disabilities, Doug Ford said, “My heart goes out to kids with autism. But no one told me they’d be leaving the house. If it comes down to it, I’ll buy the house myself and resell it.”
READ MORE:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-autism-program-waitlist-services-1.7319778
https://www.ctvnews.ca/toronto/article/doug-ford-defends-nightmare-comments-made-about-autism-group-home/
Crime, Public Safety, and Corrections
80% of inmates currently in Ontario prisoners are still awaiting trial. Many will have their cases thrown out before they’re heard. Ontario has a significant backlog due to a severe shortage of judges and prosecutors. Doug Ford has said he only wants “like-minded judges,” and is “not going to appoint some NDP or some Liberal”.
READ MORE:
https://www.ctvnews.ca/toronto/article/more-than-80-of-inmates-in-ontario-jails-last-year-were-legally-innocent-awaiting-trial-data/
https://globalnews.ca/news/10318686/doug-ford-like-minded-judges/
https://legalmatterscanada.ca/civil-courts-plagued-with-growing-backlogs-shortage-of-resources/
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/criminal-case-outcomes-ontario-delays-1.7378668
Ontario Science Centre
Without warning, Doug Ford’s government made the decision to close the Ontario Science Centre, citing needed roof repairs it suggested would put visitors at risk of harm from collapse. Their plan instead is to build a smaller Science Centre at the cite of the new Therme spa at Ontario Place in conjunction with their plan to build a parking garage for the spa. The firm that designed the landmark brutalist building has said the closure is unnecessary and the the roof panels can be repaired while the science centre remains functional. The firm has also offered to do the work for the province.
Worth noting: 1/12 Ontario schools of the same vintage use the same roof panels and there has been no suggestion they should be closed.
READ MORE:
https://globalnews.ca/news/10587747/ontario-science-centre-closure-architect-firm/
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/science-centre-moriyama-teshima-architects-1.7248162
re: Auditor General’s report link
Resources: https://www.savesciencecentre.com/resources