QUEEN’S PARK – With Ontario home care service contracts set to expire at the end of March and with Brockville as an example of what’s to be gained and lost, NDP Leader Andrea Horwath today demanded the McGuinty government put an end to competitive bidding in the home care sector.
“When the McGuinty Liberals quietly ended the moratorium on competitive bidding just over a year ago, it became clear this government was shamefully choosing private profit over quality care,” said Horwath during today’s Question Period.
“Ontarians who depend on home care are extremely concerned that their quality of care is threatened. The Premier needs to take the only sensible step and end competitive bidding once and for all.”
Ontario is the only province with a full competitive bidding system for home care. No other part of the province’s health care system uses competitive bidding.
“Since competitive bidding was introduced a decade ago, the quality of home care has suffered, working conditions have diminished and costs have increased,” noted Horwath.
She alluded to a morning press conference on the issue held in Brockville.
“Those home care workers and health care experts are holding a press conference because home care services are threatened in their community,” she said.
