For Immediate Release
May 30, 2008

MCGUINTY LIBERALS TURN THEIR BACKS ON MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN DURHAM REGION

Tory and Elliott urge local Liberal MPPs to stand up, fight for retention of local mental health services

(Ajax, ON) – Ontario Progressive Conservative Party Leader John Tory and PC MPP Christine Elliott (Whitby-Oshawa) today condemned the McGuinty Liberals for their plan to allow the removal of local mental health resources instead of investing in the Durham Region’s health care system.

“The McGuinty Liberals are like the Keystone Cops when it comes to providing Durham residents with access to mental health care services,” said Tory. “They announced nine new mental health beds last February at the Ajax-Pickering Hospital. Yet, a year later, they stand idly by while those same beds are closed up and shipped off to Toronto. How does this make any sense?”

Tory and Elliott made the remarks in front of the Ajax-Pickering Hospital. In March 2008, it was announced that 20 mental health beds would be removed from the Ajax-Pickering Hospital site and shipped to the Scarborough Centenary Hospital as part of the Rouge Valley Health System’s Deficit Elimination Plan. It’s estimated that this will save the hospital $600,000. The Rouge Valley Health System currently has a debt of $78 million. The decision to move forward with this plan was approved without any public consultation.

“This plan isn’t about saving money. It’s about the McGuinty Liberals trying their best to cover-up a reduction in local mental health services for some of this region’s most vulnerable citizens,” said Tory.

In April 2008, four Ajax psychiatrists, including Dr. A. Gnaneswaran, issued a letter underlining the importance of timely, local access to health care for Durham residents. The letter said the “elimination of acute care beds will compromise the quality and safety of care for those seriously ill patients” and that “the lack of speedy access to service for these patients could place them at great risk.” When asked about the issue in the Legislature by Elliott last month, Ontario Health and Long-Term Care Minister George Smitherman said the beds were being ‘consolidated’ and ‘co-located’ to one site.

“Whatever double-speak the Minister wants to use, it all means one thing to the people of my riding and all Durham residents: the McGuinty Liberals are forcing the elimination of a vital health service the people have come to rely upon,” said Elliott. “It’s long past time that the Minister and this government listen to the voices of the community and reverse the decision.”

Tory and Elliott said this is the latest in a long line of incidents in which the Durham Region and the Eastern GTA have been given the shaft when it comes to transportation, health care and now mental health care services. The Durham Region is one of the fastest growing communities in Ontario.

“Instead of reading the same petition day in and day out in the Legislature, it’s time for the local Liberal members to stand up and speak out on this issue,” added Tory. “Our party will continue to fight for the retention of quality mental health services locally. The residents of Durham Region deserve nothing less.”

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