Windsor-Essex New Democrats pledge support for new hospital and improved healthcare in region
A trio of New Democrat candidates in Windsor-Essex reiterated their support for a new acute care hospital plan in the region, while also promising to improve healthcare for local families on Friday.
Windsor West NDP candidate Lisa Gretzky was joined by Essex candidate Ron LeClair and Windsor-Tecumseh candidate Gemma Grey-Hall out front of Windsor Regional Hospital’s Ouellette campus Friday morning for a media conference.
“Families in in Windsor-Essex deserve a health care system that actually meets their needs. They shouldn’t have to face long emergency wait times or contend with hallway medicine because there aren’t enough beds or staff available,” said Gretzky. “An NDP government would bring in universal mental health coverage and undo years of cuts to hospital funding. We would repeal Ford’s low wage policies so that Windsor can keep the nurses we have and attract more, instead of losing them to hospitals across the border.”
Gretzky said the NDP would immediately repeal the PC Party’s Bill 124, which freezes wage increases to one per cent annually, a measure she said has led to many leaving the profession. The party also plans to hire 30,000 additional nurses across the province.
Grey-Hall committed to prioritizing the new regional hospital and make sure it is built on schedule.
“We’re going to make sure the new regional hospital gets built quickly and that we have the right mix of services there for families,” said Grey-Hall. “The new regional hospital is critical to the future of health care here in Windsor, and we’re going do what it takes to make sure it’s built on schedule. We’re going to provide enough nurses and health care workers so that we don’t have long wait times and hallway medicine, like we had under the Liberals and Conservatives.”
Gretzky said the timeline for building the hospital is too long, with a scheduled completion for 2031.
She says the New Democrats can bring it faster, while also ensuring 24-hour emergency services are retained at the Ouellette Campus.
“We worked across all party lines, and then Doug Ford came in who then started politicizing the hospital, which only slows the process down,” said Gretzky. “So we would take that out of the equation and we would ensure that hospital is able to move forward much faster than it is right now.”
The trio also pledged to improve emergency services to shorten wait times, and clear out the surgery backlog that existed prior to the pandemic and only worsened over the past two years.
“We’ll make sure the regional hospital offers the services Essex families need,” said LeClair. “Over the years, we’ve seen cuts to critical services, like advanced gastric and cardiac surgeries, and some cancer treatments.”
“No one here should have to drive to London, Toronto or Detroit to get the health care they need. With an NDP government, communities and families across Essex will able to get the care they need right here at home.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
CFIA monitoring for avian flu in Canadian dairy cattle after U.S. discoveries
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is encouraging veterinarians to keep an eye out for signs of avian influenza in dairy cattle following recent discoveries of cases of the disease in U.S. cow herds.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
Vancouver firefighter in rehab at home after losing leg to flesh-eating infection overseas
A family trip took a frightening turn for Christopher Won when he was diagnosed with flesh-eating disease while in Hong Kong and now, after weeks of treatment overseas, the Vancouver firefighter is back home recovering.
WATCH Video shows dramatic police takedown of carjacking suspects chased through parking lot north of Toronto
Police have released video footage of a dramatic takedown of a group of teens wanted in connection with an attempted carjacking in Markham earlier this month.
WHO likely to issue wider alert on contaminated cough syrup
The World Health Organization is likely to issue a wider warning about contaminated Johnson and Johnson-made children's cough syrup found in Nigeria last week, it said in an email.
Advocacy groups speak out against domestic violence comments by Nova Scotia minister
Several Nova Scotia groups that assist women are speaking out against comments on domestic violence by Justice Minister Brad Johns, and at least one is calling for his dismissal.