Queen's Park – The McGuinty government must announce steps to ensure no one can buy their way to the front of the line at private clinics offering the H1N1 vaccine, NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said today.

“While parents were left waiting hours in the rain, private clinics provided the vaccine to people who could buy their way to the front,” Horwath said. “Why do the premier and health minister refuse to clamp down on these private clinics? Whose side are they on?”

The New Democrat leader noted in question period today that the private Cleveland Clinic has advised it hopes to be offering the vaccine by end of week.

Still, the McGuinty government again refused to commit to prohibiting private, for-profit clinics from giving priority access to the vaccine to their wealthy clients.

“Dalton McGuinty and his health minister say they’ll take a look at this shameful buy-your-way-to-the-front policy after the H1N1 pandemic has passed,” Horwath said. “That’s not good enough for the Ontario families who were forced to wait hours and hours for this vaccine.

“This government should be announcing today that the vaccine will be available strictly on the basis of need, not by the size of your wallet.”