NDP Critic for Health and Long-Term Care France Gélinas today urged the McGuinty Liberals to halt their P3 hospital deals after a report shows Ontarians may be on the hook for up to $500 million more than planned.

“Today another report – this time by nurses – shows that the McGuinty Liberals’ P3 hospital scheme may be 27 per cent more expensive that traditional procurement. A far cry from the 16 per cent savings touted by the government. Taxpayers’ money should be spent directly on health care services, not to line the pockets of private, for-profit companies,” said Gélinas, the MPP for Nickel Belt.

According to a report released today by the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO) and the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA), Ontario taxpayers could be saddled with $585 million in higher costs due to the McGuinty Liberals’ decision to let the private sector build and operate hospitals. Equally worrying is cloak of secrecy that surround these P3 projects.

“At every step along the way, the McGuinty Liberals have blocked public access to the real costs of their P3 hospital scheme. If McGuinty’s P3s were good value for money, the government would not have any reason to hide the figures. Today’s report shows the government to be the great impostor – P3s will cost Ontarians up to $500 million more,” said Gélinas.

The joint RNAO and CCPA report examined 14 P3 hospitals from Sudbury to Brampton to North Bay to Hamilton. According to the Ontario Health Coalition the McGuinty Liberals have planned or built over 30 P3 hospitals in the province – meaning the full cost to Ontarians could be much higher.

“What scares me most is that the McGuinty Liberals have built or are planning over 30 P3 hospitals. When all is said and done, Ontarians may be on the hook for a great deal more than $500 million,” said Gélinas.

“Every health care dollar should be going to health care, not to the shareholders of a private corporation. Health care should be publicly funded and publicly delivered,” said Gélinas.