THE GOOD AND THE BAD

Parsing the Ontario budget

Re: Wynne budget reveals battle plan, April 28.

I was gobsmacked after reading the budget details from the Ontario Liberal government. Providing free access to 4,400 prescription drugs without a deductible is an insult to seniors who are required to pay a deductible for the same coverage, at a time when they are on fixed and diminishing incomes, in part due to the misguided policies of the Ontario Liberals.

I encourage all seniors in this province to write Premier Kathleen Wynne and their MPP and demand that the deductible on senior drug benefits be dropped. This is a simple fairness and equality issue. Eric R. Stephen, Ottawa

Pharmacare just a scheme to buy votes

I cannot believe how the premier and finance minister can out-and-out lie about this not being an election budget. They are not decreasing the debt, which costs a fortune in interests costs.

The only reason they are providing free drug prescriptions to individuals 24 and under is to obtain their vote. Amazing how they think they can fool the public. Stan Painter, Kanata

Long-term care needs more funding

While I mostly applaud the new Liberal budget in its effort to help low-income earners, children and students with the OHIP-Plus program, the first thing that came to mind was that maybe this is why I didn’t get a raise this year.

I’ve worked in the same group home for adults with disabilities for more than 20 years, and arguably been paid far too little all along. During this contract negotiation, the full-time staff was given a lump-sum payment of just over $900, one-third of which disappeared in taxes immediately.

I can’t help but feel we’re moving in the wrong direction when professionals aren’t being compensated fairly, and insult is added to injury by throwing a relative pittance at a very dedicated group of caring long-term employees, instead of at least a cost-of-living increase.

Maybe the provincial government should consider investing more in the longterm care facilities they fund. I, for one, am getting a little tired of feeling disrespected and unappreciated. Matthew Ellis, Gatineau

THE CANADIAN PRESS/NATHAN DENETTE Premier Kathleen Wynne reacts to a standing ovation after announcing free prescription drugs to those 24 years old and under as part of the 2017 budget at Queen’s Park in Toronto on Thursday. Some argue that it is vote-buying.