Local MPP ignores the inconvenient truth

Re: Ontario’s investments in health care have paid off — June 1

It was with surprise that I read our Liberal MPP’s article patting herself on the back for the wonderful job she was doing for health care and how horrible other politicians are.

Daiene Vernile has cherrypicked facts while ignoring inconvenient facts like the previous four-year freeze on hospital funding or that Ontario’s funding per person is below the national average.

Facts are important and here are some important ones. Ontario’s population is growing and getting older. Older people need health care. The rate of inflation

for health-care costs is significantly more than the general rate of inflation (partially due to better technologies, higher drug prices and private health care).

Many costs are transferred to patients; $30 for this form, $40 for that test; bring $125 for this procedure. Family members provide necessary services but if family members are unavailable specialized people must be hired and paid. Hospitals have centralized treatments to “save” money but patients face additional transportation costs. For years, I have driven someone to Hamilton for medical care. Parking fees at hospitals and private clinic add to the costs.

Health care is important and there is a broad need for dental care, pharmacare, assistive medical devices, etc. Hopefully, our Liberal MPP does not pat herself too hard on the back, thus requiring physiotherapy. I suspect she has a package to cover all this benefit — I do not.

To the people who argue the system is unsustainable, it would be sustainable if corporations and the wealthy paid their fair share of taxes.

The Liberal government has repeated this propaganda about investments in health care — which may use true facts — but avoids talking about serious problems in health care. More money is needed.

Larry Aberle

Kitchener